my first heavy bending

[matty-j]

hey everyone

i got given this ficus and i did an air layer on the left hand side and i thought i would try and make something from the rest
this is the heaviest bend ive ever tried this is what i ended up with
any thoughts on how i can improve it would be much appreciated

i hope it survives

cheers
matt

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[Qitianlong]

wow! you've wrapped him back around himself... that is awesome!! should look gnarly!

[GavinG]

That's a very powerful bend, well done. I have a little reservation about the upward section and the downward section being more or less parallel - it might just be the photographing angles. You may be able to funk up the downward section so it's not quite parallel, or moves around a bit. Good start.

Gavin

[bodhidharma]

Keep at it Matty and i hope you have a plan But it might be one of those projects when after a few more years experience you will look back and go What was i thinking You have got my interest.

[siddhar]

I see a good trunk chop in there..

[Jason]

Didn't realise something so thick could be bent so drastically! Curious to see how it turns out

[matty-j]

hey eveyone

thank you very much for all the replies its very much appreciated

wow! you've wrapped him back around himself... that is awesome!! should look gnarly!

i hope so

That's a very powerful bend, well done. I have a little reservation about the upward section and the downward section being more or less parallel - it might just be the photographing angles. You may be able to funk up the downward section so it's not quite parallel, or moves around a bit. Good start.

Gavin

gavin i think you are completely right about the parallel line i added some more movement this afternoon into the lower section the upper section will have to wait because i have guy wires holding the 2 trunks together

Keep at it Matty and i hope you have a plan But it might be one of those projects when after a few more years experience you will look back and go What was i thinking You have got my interest.

hahaha bodhi i think this may well be one of those trees when i look back
yesterday i didnt have a plan or an idea i was shooting straight from the hip
i was thinking bout it a lot today at work and i thought i want to tilt it to the right................ then i had the idea of making this into a root over rock
i dont know if this would be a good tree to do it to but i'm leaning in that direction, if i were to could that be done in a week or 2 if its still kicking on?
what are your thoughts?

I see a good trunk chop in there..

i figure i bent the top that hard i might have inadvertently done a trunk chop if the whole top section dies off

Didn't realise something so thick could be bent so drastically! Curious to see how it turns out

i didn't think i could bend something that thick either



any way i tweaked it this afternoon some more i put a little more movement and tilted the pot what do you all think if there a ROR hiding in there

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cheers
matt

[kcpoole]

Nice work and i think the final pic is good

ken

[fireworks]

How impressive is that, Matty! I will look forward to seeing the progression. Well done, mate.

[Ces]

really nice big bend matty. should be a great and unique fig in the future.

I've got a question about the gaff tape. I've read that you should put it on sticky side outwards. this seems like it would be a bugger so i haven't tried it. Can you put it on sticky side in and let the sun break down the glue and not rip the bark when you peel it off?

love any tips.

ces.

[bodhidharma]

I have been doing a few ROR's and i am in Central Vic. Shouldnt be a problem there

[matty-j]

really nice big bend matty. should be a great and unique fig in the future.

I've got a question about the gaff tape. I've read that you should put it on sticky side outwards. this seems like it would be a bugger so i haven't tried it. Can you put it on sticky side in and let the sun break down the glue and not rip the bark when you peel it off?

love any tips.

ces.

Mate I was thinking the same thing at first about putting the sticky side out then I did some reading and I read that the adhesive will break down and will be quite easy to remove, BUT! If the tape is left on for more that a year the fiber glass or string in the table will start to get stuck in the bark as it grow's, In saying that if I had a tree with very delicate bark and was not very forgiving with scaring then I would use the sticky side out.

I have been doing a few ROR's and i am in Central Vic. Shouldnt be a problem there

Thanks bodhi I think I will be getting on to that this weekend

Thanks ken and fireworks!!!

Cheers
Matt