Do You Take Pride in your Wiring?

Thomas_J.

Or maybe the question is "should you take pride in your wiring"?

Lets face it, for some of us, the wiring on our trees might be there for some time, especially if you replace it often and have to rewire.

Does your wiring look unimpressive and blah, like pic #1, or do you go out of your way to make it look like a work of art just like your tree? The wiring on pic#2 was part of a ten hour wiring job on a medium size shimpaku juniper.
That was the first and only time I spent that much time wiring one tree.

So I was wondering just how many think of wiring as a significant part of their bonsai detail work? The poll should give everyone an indication just how important or not it is in general.

Attached Images

	wire#1.jpg (63.7 KB, 80 views)
	wire#2.JPG (64.8 KB, 96 views)

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Thomas J.

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BrianBay9

I need a more positive, affirming option...like "Not yet, but I'll get it eventually"

Brian

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There's a difference between taking your art seriously, and taking yourself too seriously.

John Dixon

Thomas,

My first, and unchanging, rule (rule #1) of wiring is that it has to work. The whole reason for wiring is to style a bonsai. Having said that, I do it as neatly as I can while still following rule #1.

I always have several guidelines I follow. I will not cross wires, and I try to hide the ends or at least limit them to the back view. Usually it amounts to a neat job. I have found it necessary to space the loops a little wider or narrower in a specific area, but otherwise I maintain an even spacing. That would be a no-no on a "displayed" bonsai, but dictated by rule #1 for training.

I will say that wiring neatly, but not perfectly, can be a goal easily met.

John

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John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.

Will_Heath

If it's worth doing....

bnsaijim

After studying with Colin Lewis for a few years I take much more care in the way I train branches in general. He was pretty adamant about good wiring. I got abused enough times that I'm reformed.

The difference between poor treatment of material and good can often be attributed to attention to detail. It is the essence of the Japanese "style"

If I'm working on a piece of developing stock I might be a bit lax but I kind of have a guilty feeling about it...

10 hours is not the worst. If it's a first wiring on a decent sized tree it can easily take 16-20.

Jim Stone
Santa Fe, TX

RonMartin(deceased)

I am really meticulous with my wiring. Everything has to be so and so. But for me this has little to do with artistic considerations.
I find that the best strength of the wire can be realized when neatness it is considered important.
Those 45 degree turns do more than just please the eye. They are a combination of the maximum holding power and stress relief when bending a branch. It also makes removing that wire much easier.

JTriptow

Thomas,

Richard and I went by Ralph's place the other day and I brought up wiring to him. I have not done a whole lot of it, and have done no fine wiring OR heavy guage wiring (I really don't have trees advanced enough to need fine wiring yet). I find that each time I seem to get better with the actual wrapping of the wire, but I have a very difficult time with the real purpose of wiring---getting the wire in the correct place to make the right bends. I guess anyone can do what I do---wrap a wire around a stick.

I really need visual instruction. Unfortunately, cash flow prevents me from attending workshops and my time has been so incredibly limited for the last 8 months. So, at the moment, my talents are stagnant.

But, if I had to place an opinion about wiring, I think people should do the best possible esthetic AND technical job of it. If you are wiring rough stock it may not seem that important---but then you may get used to sloppy work. What happens when you need to detail wire on a more show-ready tree?

Jennifer

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Who knew trees could become an obsession?

Ralph

Even though it is still challenging for me, I consider it essential to good bonsai design. It should look neat as well.
Bad wiring of a tree on your bench in your yard may not been seen in a show, but you will see it, and so won't visiting relatives and neighbors. When you make an attempt every time at doing your best, you are going to get better.

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Emerging from winter slumber
Bonsai trees burst buds anew
Spring is upon us!


-Paul S.

HB Smith

Joe Harris (one of the best 'wirers' in the world) has often been quoted saying, "wiring is bonsai and bonsai is wiring". I believe that wiring is by far the single most important skill in bonsai. I am very partial to conifers, and these trees are rarely shown appropriately without wire, so the wiring job has to look good.

Smallest wire to do the job, not too loose, not too tight, evenly spaced spirals, at the most three wires at one point (prefer two), least amount of wire needed to do the job, no crossed wires, all anchored well, etc...

Wiring may be time consuming, but if done well a wiring job can last quite a long time. I have a Japanese Black Pine that has had the same wire on it for three years and won't have to be taken off until probably next spring or fall (and no wire marks).

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Sincerely,
Howard

www.BonsaiSmiths.net