How to Create Deadwood on a Pine Bonsai Tree

Creating deadwood in bonsai design is done by either making a wound that will later need to be healed or digging deep into the core fibers of the tree’s tissue-connecting pieces of deadwood that give the impression of wildness and age. Build your skills around non-traditional techniques and aesthetic creation of bonsai deadwood on a pine tree to remedy structural issues and create visual interest.

[@angelonieves8162]

You guys at Mirai are awesome. Not only are you cultivating amazing bonsai trees but you have also inspired me and many other bonsai nerds to learn more, to expand our knowledge and to dare to push the limits in order to lift upp and create an Awesome tree that is true to nature.

[@dalespringerwilson4233]

Your amazing knowledge, techniques, and skill, make me feel so inadequate. But at the same time as to motivating me to rewatch you dozens of times to learn and gain insight into this tremendous art I love. Thanks again for all this that you give us !

[@gavinhartley5454]

He talks about bonsai like Chael Sonnen talks about MMA.

[@erickonigsdorfer544]

This is the best Dead wood tutorial I have seen! I really love your approach. Thanks Ryan!

[@gregoryh4601]

Ryan this is Why you are a Bonsai Master, You don’t Sugar Coat anything, You shoot from the hips can’t wait to see this Bossai Tree in three years and hope you video the Next Step. I wish I keep the Emails that we talk about at the First Year you came Home. You a very special Bonsai Artist. Peace be With You and Family. Greg of Ohio

[@MauricioVarelaE]

Thank you to all Mirai team! Inspiring work!

[@matshagstrom9839]

The concept of how trees decay as described is a game changer. Thank you for pointing out this critical part of the bonsai puzzle. I have never had the process explained properly until now. If at all possible may I possibly suggest a session reviewing this theme in its full extent. I’m assuming soft wood trees rot from the inside but I have seen this in oaks which is fairly hard wood. Deciduous trees? Cypress? Redwood trees seem to have very a strong core despite damage from fire. They remain standing. I’ve been toying with buying a large potted redwood tree and have been pondering how I’m going to do the deadwood work. There was a great redwood at the Pacific Expo that was inspiring. It was almost completely hollowed out. Now I realize while it looked good in that glimmering light it is not at all how a redwood would ever deteriorate in the wild. Not that all trees need to imitate nature but they must tell a story. That story should ideally stay constant. Thank you again for another quantum step in my bonsai progression of knowledge. Mats H.

[@Jakub_Andrzejewski]

Thank you for your teaching. Hope one day I'll visit Mirai :)

[@pawoodsman1737]

He reminds me of my high school teachers. Well at least the parts I remember. I fell asleep alout. 😴

[@bmwrulesforeternity5218]

nice .. keep the videos coming ... I really enjoyed watching .

[@robertobreglia9224]

Ryan thank you very much for sharing this very interesting and instructive video! I really admire your great preparation,talent and professionalism and so you are for me a great source of inspiration....very compliments!👍👍👍👍🔥

[@vndustman]

Inspirational! Thank you' for what you do!

[@almac2598]

Thanks for the very informative video Ryan, but you need to use a chisel with a ferrule around the top of the handle and a woodworker's mallet to prevent it splittting when you hit it.

[@christiandgreat8127]

Thank you Mirai team for this!

[@t3dwards13]

Awesome demonstration! Thank you!

[@hermanvandervoort4807]

I agree on the fire aspect,natural aging,also depending on species I.e. wood and tissue.Nice one Ryan

[@TEPO--]

Ode to the pines To weathering wood To creative vision Sculpting and Our relationships with growth over time....

[@lindac446]

Soo much information .. thank you!

[@mehranashkanian2747]

I can feel how you're enjoying this 👍👍

[@erikragma8761]

Very informative. I like the way you explain in every detail. Thanks ryan

[@julesverne2509]

I've been doing bonsai for a few years now, it's become an obsession really. More than few really. I'm still an amateur but deadwood has crossed my mind zero times. I could create some, but I just don't have material that calls for it. I don't have many conifers either though. I do like junipers but I have only had those a couple years and are still in the growing phase. I'm hoping I can do a little more with them this year. I'm for sure gonna start doing something with them.

[@TonysBonsai]

Thank you Ryan and the team for a fantastic exhibition of deadwood work. Very inspirational, and I can't wait to try this technique. I don't have any big old pines, but I presume that I can use these techniques on a yew or European hawthorn tree?

[@angelonieves8162]

Also The level of knowledge in each and every video is top noch education 😎👍🏽 thank You Mr Neil and The Mirai team. Also did Troy quit Mirai? 😕

[@thuydao8945]

Very inspiring! Can not wait to make one my own. 🤓

[@dylanschultzable]

Top notch!

[@jaredwall7335]

The degree of teaching you provide is amazing, truely one of the best. You mentioned the tools used, type of chisels and root cutters that can with stand this degree of work can you tell us exactly what they were and maybe where we can get them

[@mizuko23]

Excellent, as usual! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@bobbymalta73]

Thank You Very Interesting Job!

[@gariktv8756]

Great video. Do you have part2 for the same bonsai?

[@ignaciogarcia7833]

Total 👏👏👏👍

[@alessandromassimo5717]

was it recorded this year? i'd love to see how is it now the tree

[@blockchaindomain]

Where do I find large starter trees like that? I'm in Colorado

[@haryartbonsai7630]

Amazing.. Salam dari 🇮🇩❤❤👍

[@acheronexile]

You mention the flame and its avoidance at times, I wonder what different results could be achieved from an imitated lightning strike.

[@Blejdiq]

Ryan, first of all, awesome video. Secondly, my colleagues thought I was watching an instructional porn video when you were peeling back the hreatwood.

[@michaelsalas8951]

Did Kimura ever teach his students to use power tools to create deadwood? I know he used them extensively himself, but was wondering if this was one of his "secrets"?

[@yaroslavpronin5111]

What grain size is appropriate for cleaning job? 400 or 600?

[@questionablecooking7019]

thought deadwood on pines a no-no because the wood is soft and won't hold up long time like a juniper's shari/jins will

[@stottpie]

How to treat deadwood on pine? I hear some say no lime sulfur, others say do what you like best... I have a JBP with a hollowed out trunk and am debating to LS, LS + ink, or just let nature do its thing.

[@julesverne2509]

I wish I could come across material like this but most the material around here doesn't get deadwood or grow anything but up. I also don't live in the Rocky Mountains and the only wild pines around here aren't one's I want.

[@jamesglenn520]

How many wood working people just about Flipped Out when he started beating on a hand chisel with a hammer?😳😬 There is a saying. The proper tool for the job works the best 👍 I do wood carving also and I just have to shake my head 🥴

[@SultonBonsai]

Good morning...

[@jimbakke6659]

Cool video, but annoyimg with all the commercial and ads, i drop out befare halfway

[@ErnestoDelVecchio]

Sottotitoli in italiano , cortesemente

[@bonsaipage_]

What is the name of that fancy piece of machinery at the end? I must have one 😅

[@matthewyakabuski9620]

The tool is a cable driven rotary carving tool . In confident he is using a fordon brand .top quality . They are far all round better than a hand held grinder . Heavily used by wood and stone carving artists . Great investment

[@sakkieviviers2755]

You talk to much

[@gn21631]

“when I invest my chisel into the wood…” why don’t you talk like a normal person and stop irritating everyone?

[@airic2897]

Learn to accept people for who they are, you'll be much happier in this life.

[@colemorton9338]

I think you are the only one who is irritated, don't speak for everyone.

[@blackfoot832]

Con esa cuenta re chatru pedazo d fantasmaaa

[@briankavanagh7191]

I do agree with the below comments but @57:50 his language is a bit over the top.

[@alessandromassimo5717]

are you irritated by people who speak better than you?