Where to buy copper wire online ?

[Njyamadori]

I don’t know where to buy the best beginner copper wire

 

[Hack Yeah!]

Adams-McKinney Copper Wire | Black River Bonsai

www.blackriverbonsai.com

 

[Njyamadori]

Adams-McKinney Copper Wire | Black River Bonsai

www.blackriverbonsai.com

Thanks so much

 

[Pitoon]

I don’t know where to buy the best beginner copper wire

Are you looking to buy copper wire already annealed or anneal your own? If you want to anneal your own search on here plenty of people have done it and documented the process, just get your parents to assist you as you're dealing with high temps.

Keep in mind aluminum wire is cheaper. I buy all my aluminum wire from Stone Lantern, 1kg roll will last you are really long time.

 

[Njyamadori]

Are you looking to buy copper wire already annealed or anneal your own? If you want to anneal your own search on here plenty of people have done it and documented the process, just get your parents to assist you as you're dealing with high temps.

Keep in mind aluminum wire is cheaper. I buy all my aluminum wire from Stone Lantern, 1kg roll will last you are really long time.

You have to use copper wire on pines and I love pines

 

[Pitoon]

You have to use copper wire on pines and I love pines

Says who?

 

[Forsoothe!]

It's silly for a beginner to try to use copper. And counter-productive.

 

[Njyamadori]

It's silly for a beginner to try to use copper. And counter-productive.

Oh why ? I shaped many bonsais already

 

[Forsoothe!]

Then you are not a beginner with wire?

 

[bwaynef]

I'd recommend someone new to Copper wire to buy from someone with a good reputation. Adams is known for good quality wire. (There may be slightly better out there, but they're difficult to get in touch with and Adams' wire is pretty close. The largest sizes show a slight difference in softness from Gremel, for instance.)

I do NOT suggest a beginner anneal their own wire w/o knowing what good quality annealed wire feels like.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I do NOT suggest a beginner anneal their own wire w/o knowing what good quality annealed wire feels like.

I do suggest it, because it's better to know this at the start than to learn it later. To me it took two annealings to learn, hear and feel the difference.

At some point, everyone manipulates their stored wire a bit too much before it's on a tree. A buddy of mine bent a bunch of my coils and bent them back so that it looked like nothing happened. I believe it's better to recognize work hardened wire before you use it.
The best way to get that feel is annealing it yourself and fiddling around with it.

 

[Forsoothe!]

And you grind your own whole wheat flour? Make your own sea salt? Weave your own hairshirts?

 

[penumbra]

If you have the time and space I would recommend annealing your own wire. Many years ago, about 40+, before there were so many places to buy wire, I used to strip wire from construction sites and anneal it myself. It was very easy to do and very satisfying and my results were excellent. Though I am using aluminum wire now, and have gotten used to it, I may look around for some copper to self anneal in the future.
Contrary to what almost everyone says, properly annealed copper wire is very easy to use. It is not easy to reclaim. It doesn't take long at all for it to become very stiff.
OK, I have talked myself into it, I will scrounge up and anneal some copper like I did 40 years ago.
BTW, If I lived near the ocean and could find really pure water, I would make my own sea salt. I make many of my own medicines. And if I lived at the beach I wouldn't need hair shirts and I don't eat wheat products.

 

[cchpg29]

 

[Adair M]

Wire wars!

Seriously folks let’s give the young man reasonable advice!

How could he know what quality wire is if he starts off by annealing scrap wire?

No, he should start off with good wire. Learn how to use and appreciate it. If he then finds he wants to delve into making his own, then he has a standard to guide him.

 

[penumbra]

Wire wars!

Seriously folks let’s give the young man reasonable advice!

How could he know what quality wire is if he starts off by annealing scrap wire?

No, he should start off with good wire. Learn how to use and appreciate it. If he then finds he wants to delve into making his own, then he has a standard to guide him.

That is the best advice. I feel I was just lucky when I starting annealing my own way back.

 

[River's Edge]

It's silly for a beginner to try to use copper. And counter-productive.

Pure nonsense, give beginners some credit, proper instruction goes a long way to assisting learning! Aluminum or copper requires practise to apply correctly and be effective!

 

[penumbra]

Pure nonsense, give beginners some credit, proper instruction goes a long way to assisting learning! Aluminum or copper requires practise to apply correctly and be effective!

Good argument and a valid point. Young people are resilient so there is no reason not to try.
You know me by now; there is no absolute black or white with me. I give full credit to both sides of the same coin.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Try everything, also...

At my skill level, I PREFER aluminum... because I often spend the next day or two AFTER wiring observing, and often “tweaking” my design slightly.. and this is MUCH more difficult to do with copper...

I DO like copper for larger, merciless bends, though.... i can not attest to the species which REACT poorly to aluminum.. as I have never ran across such a reaction.. but I work very little with Pinus.

Soooo... I guess I really have nothing to offer here. HAHA!

Thanks for letting me share.

 

[Adair M]

Good copper allows “tweaking”. The thing is, since it holds better, you don’t have to “overbend” and hope it stays in place after it “relaxes” the way aluminum does.

By the way, I sometimes “tweak” my copper wired branches a year later!