Aluminium verses Copper

[Brian]

You wired a cedar ? I hope it was only small branches. I've never seen a cedar hold its shape long term with heavy branch bending, they always eventually spring back. As you very well know, the only way to shape a cedar is to grow it that way !

[Grant Bowie]

You wired a cedar ? I hope it was only small branches. I've never seen a cedar hold its shape long term with heavy branch bending, they always eventually spring back. As you very well know, the only way to shape a cedar is to grow it that way !

Hi Brian,

I have been wiring and bending cedars for many years without drama and have found the bigger the bend the easier they set. I did snap a trunk once but that was about 36 years ago. i don't consider a crack in a branch a major disaster; just a set back.

They also take well to other techniques as old Joe Micallef showed with his many gloriously bent cedars now distributed throughout the ACT, NSW and Vic.

Grant

[Ray]

I won a bunch of .5/1mm wire in a Bimer club raffle years ago. I prefer to use it in that size, over aluminum as it holds the wired shape better. I've not used any copper over 1mm so have nothing to compare against there.

[alpineart]

Hi Grant , me being a rebel with cause, i have never used bonsai wire so this may not apply .I use electrical cable copper as fime a 0,3mm up to 2mm bare and 1mm up 1.5 mm with the insulation left on .As for aluminium i use over haed electricity wire , high tension from 1.5mm to 3mm . While it is spiraled around high tensile single center wire it is very solid .If anealled it softens for i one use only then requires re- anealing .I have had more breakages with copper than aluminium of this type .

If this type aluminium wire over 2mm is not anealed it will kink about every 150mm as it it has a soft spot to allow it to be wound around the center core wire . The bonus with silver aluminium is a can see it after prolonged use ,i have left or missed copper on a couple of trees as it turns to the bark colour.I find the alloy is better for the bigger jobs and fine copper for the ramafication work .As i said its all electrical cable so it may not apply in this case

Cheers Alpine

[Bretts]

I doubt I will have much to contribute but I did purchase some copper wire a few years back as it was implied that you where not profesional unless you used copper so I thought I better try some to see what the big deal was.
I still have most of it left mainly I guess because I am used to using aluminium. I understand you can use copper wire at a thinner grade for the same job but as I don't often show my trees it is not a big deal for me so far. I remember one aussie stated aluminium is better because if the dog nocks a branch out of place it can be moved back easily.
I like the idea that copper will not snap as easy. I might start using what I have left to tie my trees into the pots and for guy wires as that is the only time I have aluminium snap on me.

I have read some articles that suggest copper is the only wire sutibale at certian times of the year for certian trees but never really got my mind around that and have not come accross any issue.

[Brian]

I won a bunch of .5/1mm wire in a Bimer club raffle years ago. I prefer to use it in that size, over aluminum as it holds the wired shape better. I've not used any copper over 1mm so have nothing to compare against there.

Joe Macaleffe, that brings back memories. I went to his house once many years ago and he showed me his advanced bending technique of sawing 3/4 way through the trunk with a japanese saw and bending down to close off the cut to aid the cambium to heal up. It was a fantastic technique 20 years ago but its commonly done now.

Thats another old bonsai enthusiast thats passed away.

[Paulneill]

Aluminium does not conduct heat as like copper does peter Adams said to avoid copper on maples in hot climates to prevent heat damage . Also aluminium is thicker than copper and will not bite in as quickly . And it's cheaper. I have never used copper . I also heard if displaying bonsai at a show and wire is essential copper should be used .

[PaulC]

Hi Brian,


I sed the same technique only a few weeks ago on a fig to bring a large low branch into position at a workshop a few weeks ago, but used cable ties rather than wire to bring it all together, worked a treat.


Regards,


PaulC