AusBonsai

I would like to ask about applying full strength lime sulfur to different types of trees and their deadwood. I think junipers work well with really white jins and deadwood but are there trees which you would not use such a white effect on. Today i did carving on two privets the first one i wasn't happy with some of my previous carving on it and i had treated this one with a blow torch and lime. Still not sure if i like the combo of the greyish colour of the bark with a grey white deadwood so i am thinking of mixing stain or ink with the lime which will give me a lot more shadow but may lose the effect of rotting dead wood. This is a photo of the tree when i first carved it and used blow torch and lime, i will take a photo of todays work soon. So do we use the ghostly white lime on all species or are some a no no, i do realise that we need to get the most natual looking appearance so trees look realistic and sometimes lime just doesn't work.
Cheers, Mark

Hi Mark,
I don't want to sound rude or unhelpful, because I have no problem with people asking questions. If we don't ask we don't find out. But this is something that has been brought up a number of times, so I am sure if you use the search function you should find some answer.
You can use ink to tint lime sulfur though. I know people use a black ink called india ink. You don't use much ink, but it can change the deadwood to a grey colour, rather than stark white.

G'day Nathan, not taken as rude. I am well aware of lime being coloured with indian ink and stains and i have read through the older posts. some people like it some don't some would rather use a blow torch, etc. I have read somewhere that Japan would use lime only on junipers and nothing else and so i'm asking if there are trees like say privets or others that are not accepted as having very white deadwood. I am not looking at putting any trees in shows and this is only as a example but if a privet was put into one with very white deadwood would it be marked down because it was not appropriate for that tree species. In the end i will do what i think will look best for the tree because it is my tree and rules can be broken. Sorry if i am walking in a well used path with topic.
Mark

OK, you know how to get different shades, what I think you really want to know is: How white, on which trees? Which is where it all gets into taste and stuff. Be very careful of not doing things "because it might be marked down". I agree with your reservations about stark white with the grey privet trunk - maybe go for a shade of pale yellowish-grey that looks like a rotting privet.

I'm looking forward to seeing the result, it's a nice stump.

Gavin

Todays work

looks great