Seeing these water jasmine you have such access to makes me want one. However they wouldn't be hardy in my area. Maybe when I get that green house...

Trying to understand the cautions behind using a die grinder; your pretty free to do what you want as long as you don't girdle the tree, right? I have become interested in trying shari on a trunk but wasn't sure how to start it. Seeing this makes me think I just need a relatively thick trunk that can sacrifice some skin. Is this the basic idea? I like the basic shape. Are you going to lime-sulfer that now?

That was just the beginning, it needs more work to reduce the mass where it was chopped off originally. The idea behind Jins and Shari is to give the illusion of age. I was doing that plus mass reduction as well as hiding some bad branch cuts made before I got the tree. Girdling happens when you cut through the bark and cut the cambium layer completly. On most trees, like pines and junipers, where you see shari they have stripped the bark to the cambium.

I like the jasmine because of the rough bark and the tiny leaves/compact growth they have. There is no lime sulphur here, I'll eventually figure something out but in the meantime just let it weather naturally.

They are pretty forgiving, with just a little preperation you could keep one inside during your winters.

I'll post some more pics as it progresses but there is one big caution with a die grinder and the monsoon season...you don't use a 250vt power tool in the rain!! LOL

Bob