I have done spring chip budding with dormant wood and it worked.
You can see the chip outline on top under the parafilm, used electrical tape on top and bottom of bud first. I didn't do it on one graft and the chip slightly lifted on me.

Lapin to pin cherry, two grafts.
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Konrad

Until last month I thought spring budding wasn't doable as you couldn't count on the bark to slip, but following Lucky's comment to me then I decided to try again, and yesterday I did several on my apple. I used dormant scion wood cut this year. Also did some chips. Most of the chips I've done in the last two or three years have taken. Buds are nice when the rootstock isn't close in size to the bud, and I like doing chips when it is.

I used budding rubbers to hold the chips or buds in place and parafilm to seal them up. You could also use ordinary rubber bands and strips of bread bags.

So Thanks, Lucky, for setting me straight. And Good Luck, bfreeman.

Best,

Mark

T-bud or chip bud grafts are great for backups in case the main graft fails. If the main graft works I still sometimes keep the backup since it will be viable for a year or more. I only do backups if I am not having great luck on that kind of graft. These days the peaches and grapes are the ones I graft backups on (for the grapes I do extra side grafts). I am hoping those two will do better this year since we had an early heat wave -- they need warmer weather to callous.

Scott