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Author Topic: Trunk/Branch bending tools  (Read 3235 times)
bwaynef
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« on: July 17, 2012, 07:40 AM »
For those with experience performing bends that might need special tools, what do you use and recommend?  I've got rebar, but I figure there is a reason that folks use the fancy tools.  Does anyone have any experience making their own?  How'd that turn out?  Any instructions?

Thanks for the tips!
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Chrisl
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« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2012, 11:22 AM »
I've got one of these:  http://www.dallasbonsai.com/product-p/bb81.htm which does the hard work.  And two small versions of this
https://www.californiabonsai.com/product/masakuni-adjustable-branch-bender/  These are great for making bends along a branch, interior of the tree.  They provide great leverage.
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John Kirby
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« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2012, 12:23 PM »
Wayne,
what kind of bends are you trying to make? some of the really difficult bends can be made with the masakuni type bender posted above, but some may require heavy artillery- Rebar with iron pipe, wood fulcrum and heavy duty guy wires. Regardless,  I think 90 of the big bends can be made with, as Boon calls them "Jackie's (usually two linked together on big bends (for angles)) and a commercial bending bars. If you are an accomplished welder none of this looks together to assemble, but they are pretty inexpensive and rarely fail.......John
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Larry Gockley
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« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2012, 04:44 PM »
Good question Wayne. If I may tag along and add something to it. I can weld and also do blacksmithing, and am curious if anyone has used these benders, how could they be improved. It seems like the pressure points are extremely small. Larry
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cbobgo
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« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2012, 11:58 PM »
does anyone have pics or video of how those tools are applied to the tree to make the bend?

- bob
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John Kirby
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« Reply #5 on: July 18, 2012, 03:42 AM »
Bob, here (http://bonsaistudygroup.com/ponderosa-pine-discussion/ponderosa-pine-transformation/) is one from Akio Kondo 3 years ago, and yes the wire is still on and may be coming off soon. Also, Chris Johnson posted a nice little video of Suthin working on a shimpaku with a jack (I haven't found it yet, will look). The key point with all of these approaches is that guy/restraining wires are require to hold the bend in place, and appropriate protection has to be applied at the point of the bend.
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