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"Wiring is simple; However, it is not easy to do it right"--Boon Manakitivipart.

Wiring is a simple thing, yet it tends to be a source of controversy over and over again. One American view is, "if it holds, it doesn't matter how it looks." Utility is only one aspect of proper bonsai wiring. Another is beauty.

Why would wiring a tree beautifully be important? If a tree is not being shown with wire, or at all, who cares if the wire doesn't look good?

Beautiful wiring is important for several reasons. The first is, that working to make your wiring beautiful requires you to focus on technique. This will serve to train your mind to think along those lines, which will enhance your thinking about branch placement, trunk line, nebari, pot choice, etc. It is a discipline which will improve every aspect of your bonsai.

Another reason beautiful wiring is worth pursuing is that beautiful wiring is more frugal. Now I know from my own experience, that learning to wire beautifully is expensive in that wire must be cut off and replaced if not done up to "code." But in the long run, wiring beautifully will use the minimum amount of wire to get the job done, which will save material, time, and money in the long run. For example, look at this type of wiring:



This method of wiring is being taught here and there, in which every wire is buried in the soil and follows the first until it reaches the branch it is to shape, where it splits off in that direction. The result is trunks completely covered by wire.

There are things to commend in this particular wiring job. Each wire follows its mate very well, and the coils are well placed, for the most part. The problem is that most of the excess wire is doing nothing except obstructing the trunk or branches. This can cause a problem when the wire begins to cut in, as then the question arises, "how hard will it be to cut just the wires cutting in as opposed to removing everything?"

In my estimation, this tree has perhaps 200% too much wire. In other words, the job could have been done with about one quarter the wire used.

There is more to say on this subject. For more information, check my article on wiring at http://www.bonsaikc.com/wiring2.htm

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Besides saving wire, there are other good reasons for using the fewest number of wires possible. For instance, what would happen to the bark on the tree below if I were to wire the trunk?



Excess wire can damage delicate bark, and so must be kept to a minimum.

Another technique taught in recent years is "air wiring" or "cage wiring." In this practice, to avoid rapid growth causing new shoots to swell and allow the wire to bite in, the wire is wrapped around a screwdriver or dowel, or just formed into a spiral larger than the branchlet to direct its growth as shown below:



The fallacy in this technique is that you cannot truly direct the branch this way, and it is usually used for branches that are too small to wire anyway. So once again we are wasting wire and effort, when proper wiring technique can solve both problems.

But if one buys the concept that good wiring is beautiful wiring, and hopes to achieve that, what are the techniques that are so important to making it happen?

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Prowler

Wow, that is some wiring job.
I don't know how the owner could see if the wire was cutting into the trunk or not. As far as removal, what a nightmare, i think the damage to the tree would be quite considerable, i cant see any reason why they need every wire to be anchored into the ground just to reach a top branch.
Looks a bit like binding feet that the Japanese used to do long ago, not unless they are showing their wiring skills and don't worry a hoot about the poor tree

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Rick Moquin

Although a beautiful wiring job (1st pic) the only thing this particular enthusiast has accomplished, besides aesthetics, is to choke the tree.

Wiring as we know is an extremely important aspect of what we do. I like Walter's approach to wiring and many others. Who state, know what to wire, how to wire, what are your anchors and what is the expected outcome.

A branch should only be manipulated/set once, this is where experience comes into play. Knowing what the final result will be (sketch) assists tremendously in this endeavour.

Wiring a tree is stressful (breaks cells). Therefore, the least amount of manipulation, the better and shorter the tree's recovery time.

Many favour copper over aluminium for holding power. IN the long run although copper is more expensive, it is indeed cheaper. Now do I profess that we all switch? No! Until we have mastered wiring, copper would be a waste of money.

As Chris mentioned, careful attention to detail in wiring will pay dividends in all we do, and I fully support that argument as simply good bonsai discipline.

PS: A good anchor on Chris' tree is the little jin on the elbow, be creative.

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akeppler

I see absolutely no correlation between beautiful wire and beautiful tree.

Thats like saying a 911 Porsche is not a good Porsche if it has muddy tires?

I also see no correlation between good wire appliers and good bonsai technicians.

I can look past bad wire to "what will be". I can't see past a poor tree.


Need more data Chris.

Cheers, Al

jhill

Hi Chris,
I truly get where you are coming from but I only have just one question?
Is there a reason this person used two small wires on the main branch on the right instead of using one larger wire enough to move this branch?
I may be wrong but I try and not use double wires when wiring. Just my opinion I guess.

A Friend in bonsai
John

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Prowler

Rick
I was always told wiring was a progressive thing.

I can see the reason behind this if it were green wood, but if you wanted to re-shape a branch that had already set you can only bend it so far without the dreaded crack you can feel. So that part i cant understand. Cheers.

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Rick Moquin

Perhaps we cannot see the correlation as intended, but when someone is sloppy in what they do, this normally transcends to all they do. Someone that keeps muddy tires on a Porsche, probably doesn't change the oil in it neither.

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Rick Moquin

Scotty,

You are right with progressive, what I meant was manipulate the branch as little as possible to achieve the desired results in each session. Know where the branch needs to be and position it there, do not constantly change your mind with regards to position as you are wiring/styling the tree. I hope this makes sense.

When it comes to older branches, this is where rafia and spines come in an is done over time as you stated. In many cases guy wires and turnbuckles are also used.

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Rick Moquin

By the look of things John, I believe this individual only had one or 2 sizes, and as previously stated has done very little to this tree with the exception of wasting a lot of wire.

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