#40 Austin Heitzman

I recently sat down with the incredibly talented bonsai stand and furniture maker Austin Heitzman for a conversation that I’ve been looking forward to for a while. We got into some of the exciting projects he has in the works, explored his approach to crafting those signature bonsai stands, and talked through his perspective on pairing stands with trees in a way that really elevates the composition. I also brought in a few listener questions, which led to some great insights. It’s a conversation I genuinely enjoyed, and I think you will too.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - How To Dry Wood
• (00:04:41) - Does the thickness of a board affect its stability?
• (00:11:10) - How To Get A Hernia Fixed
• (00:18:52) - Bonsai Stand for Frank Lloyd Wright House
• (00:22:44) - Frank Lloyd Wright Made a Mahogany Planter
• (00:25:51) - Walnut and Manzanita Stand
• (00:29:10) - Have Your Tree Been Accepted Into the PBE?
• (00:30:54) - The PBE National
• (00:34:23) - How To Design a Bonsai Stand
• (00:41:34) - A Woodworker's Paint
• (00:42:53) - Green Felt Table Coverings
• (00:45:44) - How To Store Bonsai Stands
• (00:52:00) - Woodworker's Secret Lives
• (00:53:05) - Bonsai Wood Fits Well
• (01:01:14) - Blending OSMO and Osmo Wax
• (01:03:41) - ASMR: First Coat
• (01:06:52) - What is Joinery in Bonsai?
• (01:10:38) - What is a Miter Joint?
• (01:18:24) - Do you ever bounce ideas off of other Bonsai Stand M
• (01:24:41) - Tell the Bonsai Stand Story
• (01:29:20) - Bonsai: Less Liberal Than Some Other Arts
• (01:31:45) - Pacific Bonsai Entrance
• (01:35:27) - Frank Lord Reich on Root Stands
• (01:43:52) - The Secret to Trees
• (01:44:19) - There is one American who makes root stands
• (01:46:00) - Would You Take An Apprenticeship?
• (01:48:48) - Woodshop instructor private lessons and advanced classes
• (01:53:43) - Tree Stand
• (01:57:52) - Wood Stand
• (02:02:19) - Bonsai Artist's Top 10
• (02:07:33) - Ranking Bonsai Trees
• (02:10:29) - Tony Bonsai On His Surgery