AusBonsai

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 1:13 pm**

Hi all,
Just wanted to get a quick run-down of how many people here stick with the (plated) copper wire against how many use anodised aluminium wire?
Saw some anodised aluminium for sale and am curious as to whether it is actually recommended by anyone who isn't selling the stuff!
Is it cheaper simply because Al is cheaper than Cu?
or is it something more sinister, like it degrades quicker?
Might add a poll for the sake of it..

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 2:31 pm**

How about a both selection?

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 2:44 pm**

Nothing sinister just easier to get, used to use Copper when I first started because one of the nurseries stocked it. He has since moved onto other things.

I found the benefit of using Copper was thinner gauge was needed to hold, it hardened with work so holding IMO was better. Negative you could not recycle as it would cause branch and twig breakage.

Our biggest problem from what I have observed is that most people under size when using. This leads to a lot of breakages.

Never use Copper and Aluminium on the same tree as it will oxidise causing problems to the trees systems.

Cheers

Pup

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 3:00 pm**

At the AABC convention in Brisbane earlier this year, Bill Valovannis the guest speaker from the USA referred to aluminium wire as "SISSY WIRE"
I suppose that makes me a sissy

Gerard

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 3:01 pm**

I use copper mostly. Mainly becuase it seems to be more available. I don't have an aversion to either.

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 4:51 pm**

Jarrod wrote:How about a both selection?

Hey Jezz - I've added that as an option. (No offense intended to Bonscythe, of course!)

I use both copper and aluminium, as well as turnbuckles, guy wires, plastic cable ties, clip'n'grow, grafting, and any other method I can find in order to shape my trees. When I choose between copper and aluminium, the deciding factor is always the gauge of wire required, as I only have copper in one size (but I have lots of it

). Copper tends to hold its shape better, and is less 'springy' than aluminium, and when it is properly annealed, copper is every bit as easy to apply as aluminium.

Mr Pup is correct about not using both types of wire on the same tree: when I have done this, it is quite clear that the two metals react unfavorably.

Thanks!

Fly.

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 6:14 pm**

Thanks for the response so far

I guess i'll be buying whichever is cheaper and readily available at the time. Thanks for the warning Pup (about the using both wires at once) and for altering the poll FlyBri.
Do they measure the so-called 'sissy-wire' in mm or inches?

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 6:19 pm**

Thanks Fri. As mentioned using both on one tree isn't good, nut is this only when thy are in contact? Or even when the two type are on different parts of the tree?

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 7:21 pm**

I voted for the option of both copper and al, but like Fly I use any and all methods that I know of to get the results I am looking for. And when I see or observe a new method I give that a try on a tree as well!

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 7:47 pm**

Jarrod wrote:Thanks Fri. As mentioned using both on one tree isn't good, ut is this only when thy are in contact? Or even when the two type are on different parts of the tree?

Gday Jarrod!

I don't remember my high school chemistry/physics too well at my ripe old age, but so far as I have observed, the reaction only takes place where the different metals actually touch (or where water creates a bridge). In my case, the only thing I noticed was a blue-green deposit on the wire junction, which means that I've created a salt (copper sulphate perhaps?). I don't imagine that it would be an issue if you used different metals on different parts of a given tree unless they were in really close proximity and the tree (bark) was kept constantly wet.

Please bear in mind that I am not a chemist, but then again there are a lot of things I am not.

Thanks.

Fly.

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 7:54 pm**

Yeah that was my thought to mate, but I ain't a chemist

either

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 7:54 pm**

I use the aluminium and prefer the Japanese type [dark brown] to the Chinese type [mid brown] as the Japanese is stronger. Chinese tends to weather to silver far more quickly than the Japanese and once it silvers it is all but worthless to reuse unless you are loose wiring merely to guide rather than seriously shape.

Posted: **November 9th, 2009, 9:46 pm**

NathanM wrote:I use copper mostly. Mainly becuase it seems to be more available. I don't have an aversion to either.

you will find that if it is wire from tess (which is where i am presuming your getting it from ) that it is anodised alloy (aluminum) just letting ya know anyway mate

thats what my wire is from tess any ways

jamie

Posted: **November 10th, 2009, 7:21 am**

MelaQuin wrote:I use the aluminium and prefer the Japanese type [dark brown] to the Chinese type [mid brown] as the Japanese is stronger.

i completely agree, but still use both depending on the budget and what is available where i am.

also i find just as a material copper is stronger, so i use copper as tie wires and tourniquets because you can apply more tension in a thinner material.

Posted: **November 10th, 2009, 7:35 am**

Haha well don't I feel dumb now =P I assumed it was copper due to it's colour =P
Looks like I use mostly Al because of it's availability!

jamie111 wrote:
NathanM wrote:I use copper mostly. Mainly becuase it seems to be more available. I don't have an aversion to either.
you will find that if it is wire from tess (which is where i am presuming your getting it from ) that it is anodised alloy (aluminum) just letting ya know anyway mate

thats what my wire is from tess any ways

jamie

AusBonsai

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