Shamino
Yamadori
I read recently that Aluminum wire should be used on deciduous trees and copper should be used on conifers. Does it really make a difference? If so, what is the reason biochemically?
Aluminum or copper
- Thread starter Shamino
- Start date
RJG2
Omono
Biochemically? None (as far as I'm aware).
Other reasons one might choose one over the other:
* Copper holds better - will hold a larger branch in position with smaller diameter wire
* For above reason, you might like copper on a conifer that takes longer to set, or you're doing tighter bends
* Copper ages and blends in better with rough/dark bark of conifers (good if you're showing the tree)
* Aluminum is softer - good for smoother bark trees that damage easier
* Aluminum is easier to apply - same as above
* Aluminum comes in different colors - good if you want something bright to stand out to remind you to check if it needs removing (so you don't leave scars on deciduous that won't heal the marks). Or choose a color that blends best fit a show
* Aluminum is cheaper - good if you need to remove and reapply often (deciduous)
* Plus many more
It really comes down to preference and purpose.
Other reasons one might choose one over the other:
* Copper holds better - will hold a larger branch in position with smaller diameter wire
* For above reason, you might like copper on a conifer that takes longer to set, or you're doing tighter bends
* Copper ages and blends in better with rough/dark bark of conifers (good if you're showing the tree)
* Aluminum is softer - good for smoother bark trees that damage easier
* Aluminum is easier to apply - same as above
* Aluminum comes in different colors - good if you want something bright to stand out to remind you to check if it needs removing (so you don't leave scars on deciduous that won't heal the marks). Or choose a color that blends best fit a show
* Aluminum is cheaper - good if you need to remove and reapply often (deciduous)
* Plus many more
It really comes down to preference and purpose.
KikurageOtomo
Shohin
Less chemically, its due to several factors. Aluminum is softer, more flexible thus less likely to cause damage to the bark of deciduous material where a flawless complexion is a desirable attribute. Copper is harder so a particular gage of wire has more bending strength than that of aluminum which is sometimes necessary for conifers. There are exceptions regarding them both, some Deciduous have very hard wood and reaching for copper could be appropriate. And in the same vein, plenty of conifers may not be hardened off enough yet to justify the additional expenditure of copper wire, so aluminum would be much more sensible to use. One point of consideration is that many consider copper wire more attractive, so if one is planning on showing a tree with wire present, you may opt to use copper for those purposes alone.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Views vary.
There are lots of claims and reasons but for me wire either holds a branch or doesn't hold the branch regardless of what metal the wire is made from.
The only difference I've ever encountered is that Cu is stronger so we can use thinner wire to do the same job. Sometimes that thinner wire marks the bark more than the corresponding thicker Al wire.
Can't see any difference in application. Annealed CU is soft to apply, maybe even softer than corresponding Al because Cu is soft to start but work hardens as it is bent meaning it holds more than the effort to apply the wire. Anyone who has used hard Cu will undoubtedly like Al more but that's comparing apples to grapefruit. Properly annealed Cu is a dream to apply and bend.
The argument that Al is softer to apply does not hold water because if it is softer to apply it also will not hold the same amount. Need to compare application effort to holding power, not application effort to diameter.
There are lots of claims and reasons but for me wire either holds a branch or doesn't hold the branch regardless of what metal the wire is made from.
The only difference I've ever encountered is that Cu is stronger so we can use thinner wire to do the same job. Sometimes that thinner wire marks the bark more than the corresponding thicker Al wire.
Can't see any difference in application. Annealed CU is soft to apply, maybe even softer than corresponding Al because Cu is soft to start but work hardens as it is bent meaning it holds more than the effort to apply the wire. Anyone who has used hard Cu will undoubtedly like Al more but that's comparing apples to grapefruit. Properly annealed Cu is a dream to apply and bend.
The argument that Al is softer to apply does not hold water because if it is softer to apply it also will not hold the same amount. Need to compare application effort to holding power, not application effort to diameter.
RJG2
Omono
Mostly agree. The only argument I'd have with this is learning to apply it correctly.
If you're bending Cu a lot while applying (due to inexperience ), it's hardening while doing so - making it harder and harder to apply.
Or say if you start winding in the wrong direction than you need/intended, you pretty much need to start over.
Aluminum is forgiving of mistakes.
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