Copper vs aluminum wire for bonsai — what do you prefer?
- maxwellhart22
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Copper vs aluminum wire for bonsai — what do you prefer? was created by maxwellhart22
Posted 1 week 1 day ago #87223
Hello,I know the usual advice is annealed copper for conifers and aluminum for deciduous trees, but I’ve seen people use only one type for everything.What’s your preference? Do you stick with copper, aluminum, or mix depending on the tree?
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- m5eaygeoff
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Replied by m5eaygeoff on topic Copper vs aluminum wire for bonsai — what do you prefer?
Posted 1 week 1 day ago #87224
I only use aluminium now. I bought some copper but I found it much more difficult to use. I gave up trying. Almost everyone I know use aluminium only.
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- Tropfrog
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Replied by Tropfrog on topic Copper vs aluminum wire for bonsai — what do you prefer?
Posted 1 week 1 day ago #87225
Same for me. Aluminium only. Cheap, readily awailable, reusable and easy to use.
I have bought a few imported trees with steel wire on them. Proboably cheaper. The benefit is that on slow growing trees they rust away before biting which proboably is a big advantage in comercial production not needing to remowe wire.
I have bought a few imported trees with steel wire on them. Proboably cheaper. The benefit is that on slow growing trees they rust away before biting which proboably is a big advantage in comercial production not needing to remowe wire.
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- FrankC
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Replied by FrankC on topic Copper vs aluminum wire for bonsai — what do you prefer?
Posted 1 week 1 day ago #87226
Copper wire is less vissible, so for trees on display it's? desirable to use copper wire
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Replied by Tropfrog on topic Copper vs aluminum wire for bonsai — what do you prefer?
Posted 1 week 23 hours ago #87227
One type of aluminum wire I use is copper anodized and looks pretty much as aluminum wire. I also have black anodized aluminum wire, for some species of trees they are less visible than the copper anodized one. It depends on the color of the bark. I have never seen plain aluminum wire sold as bonsai wire in any shop I have visited.
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Replied by Tropfrog on topic Copper vs aluminum wire for bonsai — what do you prefer?
Posted 1 week 13 hours ago #87231
Typo. I ment that the copper anodized amuminum wire pretty much look like copper wire.
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Replied by Albas on topic Copper vs aluminum wire for bonsai — what do you prefer?
Posted 4 days 4 hours ago #87257
Hello...
For me, it depends.
Aluminum wires are much softer, it's easier to put on and it's very good with thin wires and branches (it's good with thicker ones too, but when wiring thinner branches, aluminum is better). I use it MUCH more often.
Copper is denser, it is very good for bending thicker branches with less wire diameter, and the copper wire has a little diference from aluminum.
Copper wires need to be annealed in order to get softer and be easier to handle, that will make it a lot easier to put on, and there's the thing, the annealed copper stiffen up over time! It goes tru' an "age-hardening" process, so after a few months you can actualy add firmer movements on already-wired branches.
You'll see more use of copper wire on conifers, since you'll generally deal with thicker branches, as they allow.
So I'll use it when I consider needed, and on conifers only.
For me, it depends.
Aluminum wires are much softer, it's easier to put on and it's very good with thin wires and branches (it's good with thicker ones too, but when wiring thinner branches, aluminum is better). I use it MUCH more often.
Copper is denser, it is very good for bending thicker branches with less wire diameter, and the copper wire has a little diference from aluminum.
Copper wires need to be annealed in order to get softer and be easier to handle, that will make it a lot easier to put on, and there's the thing, the annealed copper stiffen up over time! It goes tru' an "age-hardening" process, so after a few months you can actualy add firmer movements on already-wired branches.
You'll see more use of copper wire on conifers, since you'll generally deal with thicker branches, as they allow.
So I'll use it when I consider needed, and on conifers only.
Last Edit:4 days 4 hours ago
by Albas
Last edit: 4 days 4 hours ago by Albas. Reason: Broken English xD
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