AusBonsai

just wondering what people think about what type of wire (copper or anodized aluminium) is best, and where the best place is to get it online (price wise)

i only have around 10 small tress, with branches ranging from 15mm (only a few, mostly immature trunks on plants) and smaller.

What size wires do you think i need, and how much, considering i only have around 10 tress?

gareth

gday mate

having only a few trees i would still get more wire than necessary as you will continue to grow your collection as time goes on, having said that i think you will need a heavier guage for trunks, 4-4.5mm will usually suffice for the size you are saying then you will want a smaller guage for branching, 2.5-3mm and then for the little twigs, 1mm is what i use for small twigs.

they are the three sizes i use, i have some other sizes but rarely use them. the three i use i bought as a bulk purchase, 1kg of the two larger sizes and a half kg of the 1mm, i only got a half kilo roll of the 1mm as there is a mammoth amount of metreage in a half kilo.

aluminium is usually the cheaper and more available option. it is easier to work with too.

you should be able to get it online from one of the nursery men on here, im sure they will be able to sort something out for you

hope that helps a bit

jamie

it does help jamie thanks mate.

Anyone who has online supplies feel free to PM or post, or anyone who has an online contact or anything else further to add i would appreciate it too.

gareth

hey mate

give Leigh Taafe or Chris sirre a pm, im sure either will be happy to help

jamie

Not that you come across it often, but Power lines are aluminum wire and i have found it good for thicker gauge that is still flexible and easy to work with.

It is not annealed and is rarely made smaller than 1.25mm. ( I worked for a cable company for years)
Something you'd use if your desperate I reckon or willing to anneal it.

Glenn

Hmmm, I picked some up out of a skip bin once, after taking the plastic off the cable wire was really jerky and difficult to work with so that was that. I might try annealing it but I don't wire all that much anyway. Anyone want some wire?

Damien I was referring to the aluminium overhead TRex was was quoting.
Aluminium power cable is never annealed unless it is made for tying off.
Did you strip cu or al?

Glenn

Frankly, I find it annoying that some suppliers switch at 4.0 or 6.0 to alu. I would be happy to work with either, but only if I can get full range in one type. My local switches.. I am sure this is for a reason... cost/ease of use etc. but I find I need to adjust my technique to suit.

I get al mine from Ray Nesci
He stock only Aluminium wire and in sizes from 1 - 6+ mm

Ken

kcpoole wrote:I get al mine from Ray Nesci
He stock only Aluminum wire and in sizes from 1 - 6+ mm

Ken

Yeah I realised that the other day... I know where I am going next time..

I use aluminium for deciduous trees and 'home annealed copper' for the few shimpaku and pines that I have.

Scott Roxburgh wrote:I use aluminium for deciduous trees and 'home annealed copper' for the few shimpaku and pines that I have.

Oh come on!! " 'home annealed copper' " and your not going to elaborate??.?? I insist on a topic! Or at least a brief explanation....!!

that topic will definitely be worth a read..

Glenn C wrote:Damien I was referring to the aluminium overhead TRex was was quoting.
Aluminium power cable is never annealed unless it is made for tying off.
Did you strip cu or al?

Glenn

Hi Glenn,

I think that the cable I have is used to connect to the dwelling, usually from a temporary pole on building sites. It is definately for Aluminium, about 6 to 7 oval shaped wires at around 3mm ø inside a black pvc coating.