#101 EspritBonsaiInternational - 51Preparing for bending
The time has come to prepare for the two
bending procedures. Bandaging will protect the
bark and will keep it very damp. This technique
is quicker than using raffia. Moreover, the banda-
ging will not rot and can be removed as quickly as
it was applied. The rubber will form a protective
layer round the branches. Finally several wires are
applied to secure the whole. Note that they are
not stuck together, but placed at regular intervals
to keep the pressure distributed over a maximum
surface.(^1) A layer of
bandaging is wrapped
round the two areas to
be bent. The bandage
is then copiously
moistened.
A Bending the small trunk with tension wires can begin.
B The branch is quite flexible. One only needs to pull on the wires
under the pot with jin pliers and to progressively wind them. To
fine-tune the position, the two wires are twisted using a piece of
large-gauge wire.
C The foliage is now below the trunk’s very strong
movement, which makes it more visible and coherent.
(^2) It isthen,entirelycoveredwith
a thicklayerofvulcanisedrubber.
(^3) Large wires secure the whole.
Bending ...
Hint
The rubber-covered wire is wound twice around the small
trunk, which is to be bent by the tension wires, for two
reasons: the tension is more evenly distributed, which
gives more distance between the two anchor points. It
will allow for more latitude to lower the branch when we
twist the two wires. Likewise the two anchor points on
the pot will be 5 cm apart.