Using a Hatchet, Chipping Hammer and Power Tools
to Prepare Rocks for Bonsai
Early in my bonsai career, I learned that when you are on a tight budget, rock planting is much more economical than buying bonsai pots. My first sensei, the late Bob Kato, was a strong proponent of rock planting, and I picked up some pointers and enthusiasm from him. Using my mechanical and construction experience, I went beyond the usual methods of the time and found new and easier ways to accomplish the work.
Using a minimum of words, and 17 pictures, I'll try to illustrate the use of both hand and power tools to carve and hollow out lava rocks for use as bonsai planters.
THE TOOLS
In my power tool collection, the most versatile machine for working on rocks, both hard and soft is the Bosch rotohammer. It's intended use is for drilling and coring holes in concrete, so it is readily usable for drilling and carving rock.
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Fig 1. Stone Carving Tools |
Pictured at left are the main tools I use for this work.
TOP: rotohammer with a 2 1/2 inch core drill in the chuck. Also shown are 2 more drill bits (center), a hatchet (far left) and a pair of masonry hammers (bottom).
PROJECT #1 - Kingsville Boxwood
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Fig 2. Rigging the Stone |
Welcome to Hanging Rock, California!! (no zipcode yet). This is a chunk of what is called in the landscape rock trade, "feather rock", so-called because of its high porosity and relatively light weight.
Even so, it's too heavy for my old back, hence the rigging to handle it.
Before beginning, I soaked the stone in water for several days. This way, when I start carving and drilling, the sharp dust won't fly all around.
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Fig 3. Kingsville Boxwood |
A 10 inch tall, 30 year old Kingsville Boxwood for the main tree.
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Fig 4. Washing Roots |
Preparing the Kingsville for planting by first washing all the old soil from the fibrous root system using high pressure from a garden hose.
Here's where the work begins.
- I'll begin by leveling off the bottom of the rock with the hatchet so it will be stable.
- This will be followed by carving out the planting pockets with the rotohammer,
- Carving the lower planting pocket
- Drilling drainage holes to the back of the rock,
- installing screen over the drain holes,
- and using the hatchet to "sculpt" the face of the rock.
- This work will be followed, by planting the three Kingsvilles into the rock.
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Fig 5. Leveling the Stone |
STEP 1. Leveling the bottom of the feather rock with a hatchet so it will sit level in the suiban.
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Fig 6. Carving the Pocket |
STEP 2. Using the rotohammer to carve out a planting pocket to accommodate the Kingsville.
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Fig 7. Drilling for Drainage |
STEP 3. To provide drainage, a hole is drilled through from the bottom of the upper pocket to drain towards the back of the rock.
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Fig 8. Drainage Screen |
STEP 4. In order to retain the soil, plastic screen is installed over the drain holes. To accomplish this, I drilled ¼ inch holes and installed plastic anchors. Then I put screws through the screen into the anchors.
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Fig 9. Lower Pocket |
STEP 5. This photo shows the lower planting pocket. It also has drainage to the back
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Fig 10. Sculpting the Face |
STEP 6. Using the hatchet to make the face of the rock more interesting.
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Fig 11. Completed Planting |
STEP 7. After planting the Kingsvilles, the work is complete.
This planting has been set into a large suiban, which would be my preferred method of display.
Height is 23 inches.
PROJECT #2 - Collected Juniper
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Fig 12. Stone #2 |
Here is the rock I'll be using for the second project. It's also feather rock, about 20 inches tall and 18 inches wide.
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Fig 13. A Collected Juniper |
Rock 2, pictured with an old juniper, (collected from my front yard 25 years ago), Together the planting will suggest a mountain tree growing on a ledge.
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Fig 14. Carving the Ledge |
Preparing the second rock by carving a pocket to simulate a mountain ledge.
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Fig 15. Finished Planting |
A different style of rock and tree. This bonsai started out life as an innocent garden juniper, growing happily in my front yard, and is the first tree I collected. Its been carved on, and carved on, until the lifeline has shrunk to one small area. My idea for this composition is to show a tree high on a mountain peak, growing out of a pocket on a ledge.
Height is 33 inches.
With the creation work for these two new projects completed, I want to close by showing pictures of two rock plantings done in years past. One is a tall, penjing-like, hatchet carved feather rock. The other is a different kind of rock. Not being a geologist, I can't give you the proper name, but in the rockyard trade they call it "Desert Rose". It's very hard, and takes a long time to drill. This one has a 2 1/2 inch hole cored all the way through. The roots come out of the bottom of the rock and grow in the tray. When its time to repot, just pick up the rock, trim the roots, put fresh soil in the tray, and set the rock down. Easy!
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Fig 16. Tall Planting |
This tall rock has Kingsvilles in the upper pockets, and a dwarf ivy in the lower left pocket. The three pockets connect together and drain out the back of the rock.
Height is 33 inches
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Fig 17. Desert Rose Planting |
The "Desert Rose" rock with the Kingsville.
Height is 14 inches.
In conclusion, I hope that this article inspires more bonsaiists to work with rocks. Of course, not everyone has these tools available, but if you have a friend in the building trades, or access to a good tool rental agency, it's possible to get some experience.
And so, dear readers, thanks for your attention, and thanks to Matt for the opportunity to make this presentation.
Photos & Text by Mike Page, used with Permission
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