Ollie
Yamadori
Please could someone explain what a wedge cut is, its purpose, and post any pics if you have them? Can't find any good resources on this.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Wedge cuts
- Thread starter Ollie
- Start date
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
IMO...
A physical impossibility.
Reckon that's why there's no pics or good resources.
I think one of a thousand need to be done. That one is on a 50k Yamadori.
Trouble is newbs have picked it up and use it more to satisfy themselves than make good trees.
If you actually need to do it and do it well, I reckon Carpentry Videos will give you a better look at the physics.
Sorce
A physical impossibility.
Reckon that's why there's no pics or good resources.
I think one of a thousand need to be done. That one is on a 50k Yamadori.
Trouble is newbs have picked it up and use it more to satisfy themselves than make good trees.
If you actually need to do it and do it well, I reckon Carpentry Videos will give you a better look at the physics.
Sorce
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
if you have a trunk top or apex that lacks taper a V or wedge cut can be used so the trunk appears to break into two and can create better taper. its more used on naturalistic styled trees
Harry talks about using one on this elm
Thread 'Sleepy Hollow-English Elm' https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/sleepy-hollow-english-elm.22380/
Thread 'Acer Katsura project#1' https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/acer-katsura-project-1.37785/
Harry talks about using one on this elm
Deciduous Bonsai Design
Large Website located in the UK, Bonsai4me offers Bonsai Art, Species guides for Bonsai trees, Bonsai galleries and Bonsai Techniques.
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Thread 'Sleepy Hollow-English Elm' https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/sleepy-hollow-english-elm.22380/
Thread 'Acer Katsura project#1' https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/acer-katsura-project-1.37785/
Bending ‘Thick’ or Brittle Bonsai Branches
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Last edited:
Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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I tried to post the video here but wasn't able to, so here is the thread I started about it.
www.bonsainut.com
The amount of skill to do this is very high and not for the faint of heart.
Check this out...
I have no idea what species of tree is being worked on, but I was quite impressed with the speed and accuracy of the cutting and bending.
ABCarve
Masterpiece
ABCarve
Masterpiece
Post in thread 'Small Eastern Hemlock development'
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/small-eastern-hemlock-development.22756/post-341538. Post 2
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/small-eastern-hemlock-development.22756/post-341538. Post 2
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
That's what I was thinking of when I think "wedge cut". Removing a wedge out of a trunk or large branch to facilitate big bends.I tried to post the video here but wasn't able to, so here is the thread I started about it.
The amount of skill to do this is very high and not for the faint of heart.Check this out...
I have no idea what species of tree is being worked on, but I was quite impressed with the speed and accuracy of the cutting and bending.
Love the video, particularly the wood screw at the end. Would love to see what the tree looked like after a couple of years. It is one thing to do major work like this, another to have the branch survive it
Make sure to note - this is a tropical tree in a tropical environment.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
"V" Notching Made Easy
Was asked to start up a thread dealing with "V" notching, a technique which really is one of the best and easiest ways to change the angle of a large branch. I can't tell you how many times I have used this technique, it is very simple to do. For me, I think the term "V" notching is...
John Naka's Bar Branch Remedy
Hello all, I was wondering if anyone has ever used John Naka's technique for correcting bar branches. I tried to create 2 virts of what I am talking about. Basically, you take the one branch and sever the top part where the branch meets the trunk. Make the cut so that the pulled down part is...
Ollie
Yamadori
Holy sh*t!!! definitely won't be trying that, but Harry Harrington's method seems pretty achievable.I tried to post the video here but wasn't able to, so here is the thread I started about it.
The amount of skill to do this is very high and not for the faint of heart.Check this out...
I have no idea what species of tree is being worked on, but I was quite impressed with the speed and accuracy of the cutting and bending.
Zach Smith
Omono
Here's one on a BC. I needed to pull the branch down and it was too stiff to go easily. Done in December of 2019.
Zach Smith
Omono
Here's the result the following July:
Mayank
Chumono
Pretty cool stuff! Here I was thinking OP was talking about cutting wedges out of a root mass for a gentler repotting rather than bare root/ comb out the roots. Good thing I didn't respond first!
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
the branch wedgy ive only seen done on conifers. WP has a spruce on his blog where the branch was cut and bent.
Deep Sea Diver
Imperial Masterpiece
This reminds me of a penjing style where they create two side by side trees, one much smaller, out of two!
btw: In a recent seasonal lite Michael Hagedorn says he's doing a series of cuts rather a wedge nowadays. He mentioned that the edges don't always meet properly with a wedge and a series of cuts gives one more control over the bend.
Cheers
DSD sends
River's Edge
Imperial Masterpiece
This may be an advantage for healing as well. probably applies particularly to bottom cuts where the wedge is meant to meet after cutting as Michael suggests, rather than wedge cuts above to create open space and bend the branch down. I have found that removing a wedge above works well. The opening can be filled with epoxy and the scar healed over naturally to give a more aesthetic appearance. For a first step I stuff the wedge with cut paste until the edges start to heal. This retains a humid environment and the callus forms faster with less die back. Then later I clean out the paste, fill and contour with epoxy so the callus can form a natural branch shape with healing.
Another use for wedge cuts in in treating the formation of taper when reducing the height of a tree! It is an alternative to winning the top or leaving the top flat. This approach was the result of encouragement and suggestion by David DeGroot. To is cut flat, Center drilled out consecutively with progressive larger bits but shorter distance each time to hollow the top section. Think of ice cream cone shaped excavation. The a wedge cut is made in two or three locations with the top being compressed with c clamps, fastened with screws to form tapered top. Any cavity is filled with epoxy and scars healed for a natural tapered top or better transition. PS: did mention that you should identify a shoot to become the new apex and protect it during the work so it begins to look even more natural after a few years.
This is a picture of my attempt at the above on my Ezo Spruce. Four years later and 18 inches shorter than the original. I am optimistic that four years from now the top will be quite improved. If I perform this technique again, I will drill down a deeper section to begin with. This was my first attempt and involved 3 to 4 inch depth. Next time I would try 6 inch depth overall. I would want to allow for some cut back as it heals to transition the new apex which can use up half the depth.
One needs to have confidence that once the apical sacrifice is cut back to the new top, back budding will fill in the top. With spruce this is a good bet!.
Another use for wedge cuts in in treating the formation of taper when reducing the height of a tree! It is an alternative to winning the top or leaving the top flat. This approach was the result of encouragement and suggestion by David DeGroot. To is cut flat, Center drilled out consecutively with progressive larger bits but shorter distance each time to hollow the top section. Think of ice cream cone shaped excavation. The a wedge cut is made in two or three locations with the top being compressed with c clamps, fastened with screws to form tapered top. Any cavity is filled with epoxy and scars healed for a natural tapered top or better transition. PS: did mention that you should identify a shoot to become the new apex and protect it during the work so it begins to look even more natural after a few years.
This is a picture of my attempt at the above on my Ezo Spruce. Four years later and 18 inches shorter than the original. I am optimistic that four years from now the top will be quite improved. If I perform this technique again, I will drill down a deeper section to begin with. This was my first attempt and involved 3 to 4 inch depth. Next time I would try 6 inch depth overall. I would want to allow for some cut back as it heals to transition the new apex which can use up half the depth.
One needs to have confidence that once the apical sacrifice is cut back to the new top, back budding will fill in the top. With spruce this is a good bet!.
MrWunderful
Omono
Here is a wedge cut on a deciduous to promote healing a gigantic wound (trident)
Also using it to as insurance against die back while I develop a new leader.
Also using it to as insurance against die back while I develop a new leader.
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
this is a V cut on a maple i used to create better taper on the trunk, to reduce a sub trunk to more of a branch and thus reducing the volume of heavy wood at the crotch...
theres a progression somewhere..
Acer katsura project 1
theres a progression somewhere..
Acer katsura project 1
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
On Bonsai Mirai Live Ryan has a live stream (2 parts/4 hrs) on "advanced bending" and shows/explains doing this very well. Recommended highly
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