Proper wiring techniques

[Nybonsai12]

We've all seen lots of different ways of wiring. some wrong, some right, etc... But what is the right way. I have trees where its not too complicated with one branch being wired to another for anchoring etc...But when a tree is more ramified and more fine wiring is needed it gets harder. I don't want to overlap wires or do something incorrectly so I'm looking for advise/tips on the right way.

When wiring a tree as a whole, What portion of the tree do you begin with?

Below is a drawing of a branch. Can someone answer the following questions? If the tree is to be fine wired and no major bending is needed, how would you go about wiring each of these branches. Are each anchored next to each other, Should the wire start all the way down the branch and around the trunk? How is overlapping prevented if that is the way? etc....

 

[Skinnygoomba]

Wouldn't a properly ramified branch look much different from that? Two by two by two.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Wouldn't a properly ramified branch look much different from that? Two by two by two.

I'm sure we all have trees that aren't perfectly ramified. For arguments sake lets just say you are looking from above at this branch. What is the proper method for wiring.

 

[Dav4]

Dude, you have illustrated exactly why I never draw or perform virts here...ever...that is one UGLY branch...probably the best thing to do is cut it off. Anyway, I hope Adair will chime in here as he'll be able to express the process better then I will. My goal is to wire out each branchlet so that there is some overlap of wire along the entire main portion of the branchlet. With that in mind, I'll take wire and run it from the first branchlet on the branch nearest the trunk and run it to a branchlet toward the end but maybe not the last one. Then, I'll move to the next branchlet and repeat the process, laying down new wire next to the previously applied wire as I move down the branch, connecting one branchlet to another with a single piece of wire, until they're all wired out. While there is always a way to wire without crossing them, I've never been able to fully wire out a tree without having a few crossed wires here and there...I'm only human

Without having someone actually show you this, the next best thing is to look at pictures of trees (or the actual trees) that have been fully wired out...then go wire some trees. Then, in a year, take the wire off and do it again...and again...and again.

 

[tmpgh]

I am no expert, but my thinking is that you won't be able to wire that branch without some overlapping of wire. You generally wire two of the twigs together, anchored to the larger branch. One set of twigs won't have an anchor without overlap.

However, the reason that we go two by two is so that we don't get unsightly swellings at the joints. You'd certainly have a problem with a knuckle at the intersection of 4 twigs.

A few months back someone posted a wiring video featuring Colin Lewis. Maybe someone has the link to it and could past here. I think it might help clear some of this up for you.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Hey gimme a break! i'm using MS paint while trying to fake listen to a conference call. haha.

But thanks for the tips. I think i understand what you mean, I will look for some pictures also.

 

[jk_lewis]

Well . . . .

1. http://www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/styling/wiring

2. http://www.bonsaiexperience.com/BonsaiStyle3.html

3. http://www.inlandbonsai.com/articles/wiring/wiring.pdf

and . . .

4. https://www.google.com/search?q=how...org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=vid

 

[tmpgh]

JKL, thanks for the information on wiring. I don't know that any of those sources address this particular and specific problem, though.

 

[Dav4]

Fwiw, those references really are pretty good at answering most of the questions about basic wiring. I always start at the bottom branches and work my way up the trunk to the apex. I always wire branches or branchlets together when possible, overlapping wires as I go from the beginning to the end of the branch. Fwiw, JKL's second link had a good illustration of what I was describing with wiring branchlets together and overlapping the wire while you do it. Look at the branches you want to wire and use those illustrations as a reference...it may help.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Are you suggesting there is a time when it's appropriate to leave 5 branchlets emerging from a branch, or are you trying to determine how to wire an odd number? Sometimes I'll work with 3 shoots while I'm developing 2 with a plan to reduce the third. So in your example, I'd immediately reduce to 2 or 3 before wiring.

Here is a branch I found outside with 5 branchlets emerging...can't think of any instance I'd want to keep them all...but to play along, wire 1&5 with one piece, 2&4 with one piece alongside the first wire, and 3 up the middle.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

And what the same branch would end up being on a bonsai:

 

[jaholmes]

http://www.craftsy.com/class/bonsai-wiring-essentials/4616

You simply need to 'register' and then you can watch for free -- the total lesson is ~45 minutes and invaluable. I believe it addresses the specific issue you reference, in the last segment. Hope it helps. Colin Lewis is the instructor.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Are you suggesting there is a time when it's appropriate to leave 5 branchlets emerging from a branch, or are you trying to determine how to wire an odd number? Sometimes I'll work with 3 shoots while I'm developing 2 with a plan to reduce the third. So in your example, I'd immediately reduce to 2 or 3 before wiring.

Here is a branch I found outside with 5 branchlets emerging...can't think of any instance I'd want to keep them all...but to play along, wire 1&5 with one piece, 2&4 with one piece alongside the first wire, and 3 up the middle.

My question would have been how to wire an odd number. When drawing the branch I wasn't thinking odds and evens, but good to know now what to do in that circumstance.

So in your example, say i wanted to bend the main branch in addition to the 5 branchlets. would the heavier wire that is anchored on the trunk to bend the main branch, extend onto one of the branchlets for wiring that as well? and then the remaining four would be paired off?
or is that wrong and there is another more appropriate method? Or should I just be most concerned with getting the job done and less on technique.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

So in your example, say i wanted to bend the main branch in addition to the 5 branchlets. would the heavier wire that is anchored on the trunk to bend the main branch, extend onto one of the branchlets for wiring that as well? and then the remaining four would be paired off?
or is that wrong and there is another more appropriate method? Or should I just be most concerned with getting the job done and less on technique.

Yes, in this unusual case, heavy wire up the middle/main branch first, then pair off the opposing branches (see photo for pairing off opposing branches without the middle wire). Starting those two smaller wires on the opposite side of the branch allows you to wire without crossing the heavier wire.

Always be concerned with technique...learn to do it right.