Hello -Is there any ideal age at which to wire/style a hinoki cypress. I was recently given one that's about 10 inches tall. Is it too early to start wiring it into pads?

The size or age cannot determine when to start training. It is all depending on your end goal for the tree, the conditions its grown in and your care.

As winnie the pooh would say: It is wise to know what you are looking for before you start searching.

What I do with my trees is staring at them for many hours during several seasons, just to find a suitable design. When there is something to use I start to create a goal for the tree. Just find out what you are looking for. Its the best feeling when after staring at an ugly tree for several years one day the tree just smile back at you

That beeing said. If you want to manipulate the trunk movement, there is a last date for that when the trunk is no longer flexible.

Very insightful Tropfrog. It has a nice solid trunk so I'm thinking of maintaining it as a formal upright. Appreciate your advice.

If you post a picture of the tree I am sure you can get more targeted advices.