Bonsai wire
From BonsaiWIKI
Bonsai wire is aluminum wire or copper wire that can be used to reshape the trunk, branches and twigs into more aesthetically pleasing shapes. Bonsai wire also finds use in the task of transplanting when it is used to create wire staples to secure drainage screen and to make tie-down wires to secure the tree in the bonsai container. Bonsai wire can also used to make turnbuckles.
Contrary to popular belief, bonsai wire is not used to bind branches and restrict their growth. The wire serves to support the branch or trunk and hold it into place until sufficient growth has occurred that will stabilize the shape into a permanent form.
Both copper and aluminum wire are used to wire bonsai so that the branches and trunk may be trained.
Copper wire is a stronger material, and it is annealed to make it soft enough to apply to branches. As it is bent it work-hardens and becomes more rigid and resistant to bending. This is why copper wire cannot be reused or repositioned once it has been applied to your bonsai.
If you walk into a hardware store electrical center, they will have several spools of bright shiny copper wire, and you might be tempted to purchase and use it for your bonsai. You would find that it is very difficult to bend, because it hasn't been yet been annealed.
There is some information here on the annealing process
Aluminum wire, on the other hand, is not annealed. It is significantly softer than copper wire, and has less holding power, but it can be repositioned somewhat, so many beginners prefer to use it until they have developed some expertise at applying wire. Aluminum is also the preferred wire choice of many professionals for some thin-barked trees like azalea, where the raw holding power of copper isn't as important as the flexibility of aluminum.
Because aluminum is naturally a silver color, it is often treated by an eletrochemical process called anodization to give it a brownish color similar to copper wire. It's easy to tell the difference because the core will still be silver, and the color, a metallic brown, is unobtrusive, but not really that similar to the appearance of annealed copper wire, which is a dark, dull red when applied and becomes darker with time.
You can buy and anneal your own copper wire, or purchase aluminum or copper wire that has been pre-annealed for bonsai work.
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OVERVIEW
The purpose of wiring a bonsai is not to constrain its growth, but to direct growth. Wiring is a fairly recent development in the history of bonsai. Prior to the development of wiring, growth had to be redirected by pruning or by tying branches with weights or string.
Wiring is a skill that is learned through persistent practice. A FLASH movie has been provided to demonstrate how wire should be laid in place on the branch. For a detailed explanation, see Wiring bonsai in detail.
INSERT MOVIE HERE
CHARACTERISTICS OF BONSAI WIRE
Bonsai wire is available in both copper and aluminum. Each metal has distinct properties. Copper is recognized for its superior strength and holding power. A copper wire is much stronger than an aluminum wire of equivalent diameter. However, copper wire must be annealed before use, and when it is applied, it work hardens. This makes it very resistant to relaxing and allowing branches to creep back to their original position. However, it also makes it very hard to correct mistakes.
Most beginners find aluminum wire to be the easiest to learn with, because it is more forgiving and can be adjusted slightly on the tree. Aluminum is also preferred for many fruiting and flowering species, where its holding power is often more than adequate and it can provide a better "feel." It also is comparatively larger in diameter, and so has less tendency to "bite in" than thinner wires, so it can be a better choice for thin barked trees like maple.
Many of us use both wire types interchangeably and sometimes on the same tree. If aluminum and copper wires should happen to touch on the tree, you may notice some oxidation appear fairly rapidly, but this is of no physiological concern to the tree.
Copper wire has a natural inobtrusive color that blends quite well with most trees. To mimic its appearance, aluminum wire is anodized to provide it with a coppery color, similar in appearance. This coating is tough, but it will tend to bleach out after a few years. Usually, however wire has been removed by this time.
CAN BONSAI WIRE BE REUSED?
In a word, No! Reuse of wire is not recommended. For copper wire, it is impossible to remove the wire because it has work hardened after application. For aluminum wire it is very dangerous to the tree to attempt to remove it by uncoiling. For a few cents worth of wire, many a branch has been lost and who wants to risk a valuable branch at that cost? It is far better to remove the wire by cutting every coil, as described in another article. Always be sure to pick up loose wires from the floor and soil surface so that you don't step on a sharp bit of wire or break or dull a tool.
WIRING GUIDELINES
A number of good books are available which address the topic of bonsai wire. The best single source is probably Stone Lantern Publishing's Bonsai Today #2, which treats this topic exhaustively. Other references include John Naka's Bonsai Techniques #1.
- Put quite simply, wire is applied to a tree by wrapping the branch in a spiral fashion, but the hand must be trained to "lay the wire" by twisting and bending it slightly as it is applied. In this way, the wire is not wrapped so much as layed in place. A small gap may be left between the wire and the branch.
- Sufficient distance must be left between each coil of wire. The orientation of the coils of wire are said to be "at 45 degrees" to the branch, but the actual alignment is closer to 60 degrees. If placed more densely, The wire will not have much holding power.
- Each wire must be anchored on both ends. When wiring the trunk, we drive the free end of the wire a few inches into the soil and work our way up the trunk. When wiring a branches, we wire in pairs, beginning at the trunk and applying at least one full circumference of wire to the trunk.
- Crossing wires is to be avoided, not only because it looks unsightly, but the crossed wires can create pressure points that lead to scarring. Finding a method to wire an entire tree without crossing wires can be something of an intellectual challenge. The best way to avoid crossing wires it to wire the trunk, then the larger branches and finally work out to individual branches and twigs.
- A few dollars' worth of wire can make a dramatic improvement in a bonsai in just a few hours. Wiring is a skill that will provide great rewards and instant gratification and will improve the quality of your trees.
- After the wire has been placed in the branch it can be cut to size using a pair of wire cutters
Wire pliers are useful in wrapping heavy wires or tying-in
OTHER USES FOR BONSAI WIRE
Bonsai wire is invaluable in securing trees in their bonsai pots in a process called "tying-in" during transplantation . It is very important to secure the tree as the feeder roots develop. Later, these tye wires can be removed once the tree has stabilized itself. Wire is also useful for creating turnbuckles and guy wires.
