Deadwood preserver

I've been trying the natural deadwood preserver from Kaizen. I must admit I am delighted with the initial finish and thus far the length of time it lasts.

Has anyone here tried it as well?

Mike

Whats it called Mike. Is it a spirit based resin?

This one Will.

http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=95&products_id=896

But I notice there is now another option available as well called tree gum:

http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=95&products_id=2483

I can only comment on the first one, it has made some seasoned Shari's look very nice: very natural, and when watering you can see the moisture bouncing off. As I say, I know nowt about the tree gum but will try it because anything has to be better than LS...IMO.

Mike

i have also tried it and i was very happy to see that i did not get the white washed out colour produced when Lime sulphur is applied.

It wold be nice to know what was IN that stuff. It may be the same as Minwax Wood Hardener that we use over here.

Just FYI, the wood-preserving effects of lime sulfur are minimal, at best.

JimLewis wrote:It wold be nice to know what was IN that stuff. It may be the same as Minwax Wood Hardener that we use over here.

Just FYI, the wood-preserving effects of lime sulfur are minimal, at best.

Your spot on there Jim, regarding wood-preservation abilities of LS. I often wonder how it ever got started...was it simply that white wood was seen to be desirable?

It may be the same as Minwax Jim, and I suppose pretty much any wood hardener is going to be infinitely safe on dead wood anyway.

Mike

Hello again Mike. Does it say on the container, what chemicals are included?

will baddeley wrote:Hello again Mike. Does it say on the container, what chemicals are included?

No Will it doesn't. further info from Graham here:

http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/preserving_bonsai_deadwood.php#Natural_Deadwood_Preserver

Washing the brush out is just detergent so I feel it is likely to be a water based product. Slightly brown in colour. It does give a very good result and I have not experienced any problems at all, apart from the fact it smells, but no worse than LS for certain.

Mike

Natural deadwood preserver is a complex product designed primarily for use
with broad leaved species used for bonsai. It’s unique formulation penetrates
deep into the wood killing fungi and bacteria as well as nourishing the wood
with natural oils, resins and acids. Best of all once dry it imparts no colour
and so the wood ends up looking perfectly natural. The product also allows the
wood to breath naturally and so ensures moisture is not trapped deep inside the
wood.

That does not sound like Minwax Wood Hardener. And you definitely need to use a solvent to clean brushes afterward.

It sounds interesting . . . but as a natural skeptic . . . . . . . . . . Anyway, I doubt it's available over here.

As for Lime Sulfur . . . it is used in a dilute formulation as a fungicide, so I suppose folks extrapolated the benefits of using it full strength so that it became a "preservative."

It doesn't and isn't.

One more bit of bonsai folklore.

Thanks for that Mike, I think I'll give it a try. My problem with the spirit based resins/ plastics, is that they set very hard. I think extremes of hot and cold, wet and dry, leads to excessive cracking with expansion and contraction. Natural oils allow the wood to move in a natural way, rather than stressing a particular point. Application may have to be more regular but worth a try. Thanks for the info.