Reusing Wire

[Chris H]

Every year I throw away endless pieces of wire which are long enough to wish I didnt have to throw them away.

Does anybody reuse their wire and if so how do you get it straightened out.

[Bretts]

I have a tin that I put short bits in and often use it for securing the mesh in and sometimes for wireing. O just run it through my fingers to straighten it out as best I can.

On a different note I often put old soil in the garden but as the garden was looking neat I was not sure what to do with the last lot and thought I would sift it and reuse on some stock trees. While repotting some very root bound junipers today I thought it would be the perfect mix to contrast with the tight root ball that was left.

[Leigh Taafe]

Hartos - I have streams of wire that are of re-useable lengths. I reuse alot of wire and to straighten it out I use a pole (either wooden or metal) I hold each end of the wire and wrap it around the pole and pull the wire back and forth. I hope this is easy to understand, it is such a simple and quick technique.

Cheers,
Leigh.

[Jarrod]

When wearing thick pants you can do the same around your knee. Though thick wire can hurt

it also pays to heat the wire up them let it cool to make it easy to work. When you do use it. It will work harden again.

[Bretts]

I guess we are talking about aluminuim wire?

[lakepipes]

i just work it backwards and forwards in my fingers while i'm thinking of how to wire the tree.
you will find it comes pretty straight in no time.

[Bretts]

Ok who ever unwinds wire of a branch instaed off cutting it?

[Jamie]

Ok who ever unwinds wire of a branch instaed off cutting it?

i have been guilty of this once or twice....


i couldnt afford more wire at the time though. i learnt how to cage wire very well.

[Leigh Taafe]

Holy crap!!! Once or twice?!!!! I do it all the time - every tree........thousands!! Never once have I damaged any tree - and yes - I do use aluminium.

[Jamie]

that makes me feel a bit better thought i was gonna be the only one to answer for a bit there.

i get pedantic with wire, i get worried i will smash of branches. especially on deciduous.
i have only done it on juniper.

jamie

[Mojo Moyogi]

Straightening wire is simple if you hold each end with pliers and pull sharply.

MM

[ceb]

To adjust all the kniks in the wire place it the the sun for a couple of hours to heat the wire up shorting the time to suit different gauge wire then use a metal pole of some sort to reuse te wire again it works for me, Also remember that unrevening the wire to wind it back it the oppisite direction you did coil it around the tree or branch to hellp with this as well
Black dog

[kcpoole]

Ok who ever unwinds wire of a branch instaed off cutting it?

All the time

Unless it will do obviousl damage to the tree

Ken

[Pup]

Like Leigh I do it very often up to 3 mm I just put one end in the vice a sharp yank with pliers straight.

Heavier wire up to 7mm I have some sheet angle so the seration of the vice dot not damage the wire.
I then straighten as much as possible by pulling then the kinks are put into the jaws and tightend not kinks and reusable wire.
I have a heap to do so I had better stop coming on here. Cheers Pup

[ozzy]

I reuse wire all the time, although if you were doing a particularly tricky bit of wiring a new piece may work best, I also remove wire from branches without cutting by grabbing it first with some pointy nose pliers to stop it spinning as I unwrap, the wire slipping around the branch is what can do the damage.