Aluminium verses Copper

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,

I started Bonsai back in the Stone Age(41 years ago); when people were still talking about hanging stones or weights on branches to drag them down.

I started using Copper wire on all my bonsai as Aluminium (Congealed Electricity) hadn't been invented yet.

Anyhow I happily wired my trees for many years with copper until Aluminium wire was invented and I have hardly used any copper since. However recently I thought I would compare the use of copper vs aluminium on my trees at home.

I wired a small black pine without too much difficulty but did find it slower. I put some copper on a Cedar on Sunday and promptly cracked a branch. Not a good start.

I was wondering about other peoples experiences.

Grant

[Scott Roxburgh]

How was the branch cracked, was it from bending too severly or when applying the wire?

I recently started using annealed copper from Japan, but have used 'home annealed' electrician's wire for a few years. Wiring with copper is slower but I am really bad for applying aluminium that is too thin to do the job, so with copper I avoid that I have only ever used copper on pines and junipers.

I have made small cracks in branches that ended up helping to hold the bend, although I do not bend as severe as some of your trees have been bent.

I prefer to use aluminium on small shimpaku that are being twisted, because it is thicker and they snap really easy. With copper it is easy to be over zealous with the bends.

[DavidN]

Funny you should mention aluminium vs copper as just this weekend I was wiring up a couple of trees. On my decidious trees I only ever use aluminium. It goes on so easily and holds well once you know the right thickness. Also doesn't damage the bark on decisious. On large conifers, the larger thick branches I use copper. Smaller thickness required to do the work. On the smaller branches I use aluminium. I would like to give copper more of a chance but think I will need to get proper annealed copper from Japan to really be able to see if I can work with it. Its just a lot easier with Aluminium.

David

[NBPCA]

Hi Scott,

I am just so used to using Aluminium that I will have to relearn how to apply copper correctly. Wire; support; bend.Wire; support; bend.

And of course Cedars are world renowned for snapping but with Aluminium I never have had problems and have done some real big bends.

I will use Aluminium for Deciduous; Figs, Banksia(if ever needed).

Grant.

[NBPCA]

Funny you should mention aluminium vs copper as just this weekend I was wiring up a couple of trees. On my decidious trees I only ever use aluminium. It goes on so easily and holds well once you know the right thickness. Also doesn't damage the bark on decisious. On large conifers, the larger thick branches I use copper. Smaller thickness required to do the work. On the smaller branches I use aluminium. I would like to give copper more of a chance but think I will need to get proper annealed copper from Japan to really be able to see if I can work with it. Its just a lot easier with Aluminium.

David

Interesting technique; mixing it up. I always use copper for tourniquets.

I am using annealed copper from Japan.

Grant

[cre8ivbonsai]

I always use copper for tourniquets.

I am using annealed copper from Japan.

Grant

Is copper stronger/more resilient when twisting ends tight together? I find aluminium snaps fairly easily

Ryan

[PeterH]

Are the Japanese the only ones who can anneal copper?

[shibui]

Maybe I'm still in the dark ages Grant. I only use copper. Mostly recycled and annealed here by me in the fire. It is harder to find large diameter copper though.
I reckon it looks less intrusive - both colour and thickness and have not noticed a problem with breaking branches but then I don't have experience with Al to compare.
I'm happy to use recycled copper rather than 'congealed electricity' to do my bit for the environment.

[NBPCA]

I always use copper for tourniquets.

I am using annealed copper from Japan.

Grant

Is copper stronger/more resilient when twisting ends tight together? I find aluminium snaps fairly easily

Ryan

YES, definately. Thats whay I use it for torniquets; but not tying in trees(could do some damage)

Grant

[NBPCA]

Are the Japanese the only ones who can anneal copper?

Hi Peter,

What do you use

[PeterH]

Grant,

I have used copper in the past when I had access to old electrical cable. I used it on Pines and conifers. If was a bit stiff from age I would anneal it myself with a bit of heat.

I found the copper good for heavy bending due to it rigidity.

Also I found that if Cu and Al were used on the same tree/pot the Al would be eaten away due to electrolysis.


Peter

[Craig]

Hi Grant, i use a combination of both aluminium and copper wire. Aluminium for all larger sizes of wire .
Copper wire in smaller sizes under 1mm, i never anneal copper wire or had the need to as i don't use it
in larger sizes. The only issue with copper and uncoated aluminium wires used on the same area of
branch/tree, is the electrolosis between the 2 types of metals which shows as a white calcium type powder where the 2 touch. It works for me .

[bodhidharma]

I used copper early in the piece and when i discovered aluminium i declared it a no contest. If i think back now it was difficult wiring with copper and if you had to do very finicky wiring on a ramified tree it would be difficult. I sill have brand new rolls in my shed. I might revisit it and wire a tree and just see.

[lindsay farr]

John Naka said, "it doesn't matter so long as the branch is in the right place."

I don't mind, so long as it is recycled. That's not to say that I don't use new wire. Both copper and aluminium leave a huge carbon footprint.
In Japan they prefer steel wire to make the pine trunks thicken.

Perhaps we should go back to palm fibre wiring as seen in this vid http://vimeo.com/3194378
Cheers
Lindsay

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Grant, i use a combination of both aluminium and copper wire. Aluminium for all larger sizes of wire .
Copper wire in smaller sizes under 1mm, i never anneal copper wire or had the need to as i don't use it
in larger sizes. The only issue with copper and uncoated aluminium wires used on the same area of
branch/tree, is the electrolosis between the 2 types of metals which shows as a white calcium type powder where the 2 touch. It works for me .

Hi Craig and Peter,

I have never used both types of wire on a tree together except for looping the copper under the Aluminium as an anchor point for dragging branches together.

Thanks for that.

Grant