centaura

I also can't see two of the three photos submitted, but it wasn't a mystery to me. My computer, browser and operating system are so far behind the times that its not funny. There are a lot of things that I can't view online. I followed the link, but not being a member of bonsaitalk I can't access the picture. Interesting discussions, though, even without the visual aids.

-Centaura

Shady Side Bonsai

No, I meant indisputable (not open to question; obviously true). So you surmised wrong. Sorry the typo threw you for a loop. Hitting the space bar unintentionally can be bothersome at times.

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J-Bog

Can you reuse old wire from previous trees or should you throw it away and use fresh wire?

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Glider

Personally, I usually throw old wire away, but this is not because it can't be re used. It's just that I was taught that to avoid the risk of damage to the tree, you should always cut the wire off.

Trying to uncoil work hardened wire can be a struggle and risks tearing the bark (particularly as it's likely to be a tighter fit by the time you remove the wire), and repeatedly pushing your hands into the foliage trying to unwind the wire (and the long end of the wire flailing about) can easily take off buds, shoots and small twigs.

However, all that risk is avoided if you cut the wire off. Simply cutting each coil at the same point along one side of the branch is like unzipping it; it just falls off in pieces with no risk to the bark or new shoots.

Having said that, if you do remove wire in such a way as you get usable lengths, then, if it's copper, I would re use it. Copper wire is easy to re anneal. You heat it till it's cherry red and then quench it. Aluminium is more tricky to anneal as it melts at a relatively low temp., so I'd probably not bother re using aluminium wire anyway.

bonsaikc

Reusing wire is one of those things that seems like a good idea at the time. I tried straightening aluminum wire as I had seen taught in one of the beginner's books out there, and occasionally I will do it if I have a kinked wire that is otherwise okay. Simply grasp each end with a pair of pliers and pull sharply to straighten it out. But wire that has been completely applied will have so many remaining irregularities that it is difficult to coil properly. For this reason I suggest saving it up to recycle for scrap (you get paid for metals if you do it right).

Copper wire "work hardens" to the point that it is usually better to cut off the wire, unwiring especially larger sizes is too dangerous to the tree. Unwiring a tree by uncoiling the wires is an excellent teaching exercise, but that's about the only reason I would suggest it.

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bonsaikc

Hmmm, it's a small thing to join to see the photos, Centaura, and perhaps that's why you can't see the two photos that I linked. I also recommend Mozilla Firefox as a browser. Its features and near immunity to viruses, etc. make it ideal for almost anything.

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bonsaikc

It is always better to use one wire of sufficient size when you can. Two wires together require wire almost as big as the one that is correctly sized, so it's no savings in time, labor, or expense. I recommend having ever size wire you might need on hand before wiring.

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Phil

Not to get off the subject here but I most definitely agree with Chris on this.
Mozilla Firefox is indeed the best way to go as for a browser. I.E. 6 or 7 as it is now can at times cause some strange problems and gets a tad irritating.

~Phil

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Rick Moquin

I also endorse Chris' and Phil's recommendation and extend it even further

... now back to wiring.

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Prowler

I think reusing wire is false economy.
I have just purchased a roll of Alum. anodised wire from Ebay, its 1mm gauge and 235 metre long, it cost me 22bucks US. it would have been cheaper but the postage put the price up.
You can re-use copper wire if you can get the damn stuff off, but you have to anneal it again.
The thing is, if we pay a lot of money on pots/trees/feed etc. why scrimp on wire? and its not as though you rewire a tree every week.
Anyway, back to the first pic. that sort of started this thread off, i have never seen a tree wired like that before, DO !! people actually wire a tree like that? Cheers.

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