Q&A for How to Make Wood Flexible

Branches are easiest to bend when they're still living (green inside), but have had a little time off the tree. Soak them in hot water, bend slowly, then clamp in place until dry. For sharp bends, you can steam and bend repeatedly, scraping a little wood off the inner curve to allow for more compression.

Based on experiments, oak (both red and white) and hackberry lumber are probably the best choices for bending into sharp curves. Variation between tree species is complicated, but it likely has something to do with strength, moisture content, and the structure of the "lignin" that holds the tree cells together.

Cut a small, flexible branch off a tree, loop it in a circle, and fasten with florist's wire. Weave more branches around the main loop and fasten with more wire when necessary. If you can't find a tree with thorns, glue on your own thorns using toothpicks or skewers, then stain the whole crown with a dark wood stain.

The kerfing method would be best for this, as you can easily re-bend it whilst using the piece of wood.

Mango tree wood is malleable and is easy to bend and can be found in Indonesia.

No, but if it's a small hole you can use some sawdust from the same wood, and mix it with a little bit of glue, then add to the hole, and use sandpaper afterward, when it is dry.