44 - EspritBonsaiInternational # 101�Shohin:
Small Bonsais
••• The branch was stripped of all its needles.
A pair of jin pliers was used to squeeze the
fresh branch slightly for two purposes: firstly, to
loosen the bark so it could be easily removed;
and secondly, to crush the wood a little, so fine
fissures could be shaped by pulling away thin layers
of it. Time will also do its job when the now soft
wood dries up, and the crushed fibres will form
natural fissures exposed to rain, sun and frosts.
The result is a natural weathered and
aged appearance, showing both the
strength and elegance of the tree.(^4) Theolddeadwoodneedsa thorough
cleaningformossesandrotten,softwood.
Asoft nylon brush is used for this first cleaning.
(^9) A cork is used to add distance between the
trunk and branch. When the branch dries up within
a year, the cork can be removed, and the branch
will stay in position.
(^10) A steel
brush cleans off
remaining bark
and finer soft
wood.
(^11) Wood-preserving lime sulphur is added to preserve
the wood from rotting and prevent fungal attacks.
(^6) The tree after cleaning up the deadwood.
(^5) Next, a hard copper brush is used to
remove all soft wood that will rot and
absorb moisture. Clean hard wood must
be left, to be more resistant to decay.
(^7) A pair of jin pliers is used to
remove the bark and add cracks to the
wood by squeezing lightly.
(^8) With jin pliers, wood is pulled
away, adding a natural pattern of
torn wood.