Do You Take Pride in your Wiring?

Dale Cochoy

HB,
That was well said. Joe is definitely a great wirer. I tell people in demo's, classes or here at home all the time, wiring is what seperates the men from the boys ( or women from girls ). When you are watching a wanna-be pro doing a demo at the mall and he says ( I hate to wire), you can figure right off he never learned and doesn't know how. He's a "check-writer". I've seen it often.

Saint said:
"
From the display point of view... if you are displaying the tree it shouldn't have wires on it. "

Saint,
Ever been to Japan ?
Talk about gorgeous wiring on conifers in shows!!

Regards,
Dale

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If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
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Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
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Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

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susieq

"Tropicals grow really fast in the tropics, and I tend to use tie downs wherever possible. It does look nice when you wire up a whole branch but when you realise that because of growth you will have to take the whole thing off in three weeks or risk scarring it can really be alot of work"
(The Saint)


I have to agree with the Saint regarding the tropical thing. They do grow way to fast to be worrying too much about perfect forty five degree angles...
I go so far as using the "loose coil" method on them just so I can leave the wires on a little bit longer, especially on very tender growth. It isn't Japanese, it isn't traditional but I get some nice movement in what would otherwise be curveless growth.

I do admire a good wire job though. I try with the junipers and other non tropicals. There was some awesome wiring at the BSF convention last month.
Seeing wiring like that does make one try harder.

cbobgo

Thomas I'm not sure you should be using your pic number 2 as a demonstration of artistic wiring - I can see crossed wires in at least 2 different places.

Sorry to be nitpicky, no offence meant.

- bob

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Thomas_J.

Bob,
I never said that pic was a reference to artistic wiring. Was just showing the difference between a ho hum wiring, and something that took more time than usual, to try and look at least presentable. Maybe I should have worded the paragraph better so as not to misrepresent something.

But then again I never thought someone would comment on that either.

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Thomas J.

Carl_Bergstrom

Here's a further step in the right direction: a pretty darn nice set of wiring detail phots from Chris (bonsaikc):

http://www.bonsaikc.com/wiring2.htm

Best wishes,
Carl

bonsaikc

Why thank you, Carl! As Boon says, "For wiring to be acceptable, it must be both effective and beautiful." That's the standard I am trying to hold myself to every time I grab a wire.

By the way, I have seen Howard's wiring, and I am ashamed to call mine the same thing!

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Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

Aaron_K

I agree with John Dixon. While I always try and make wiring look as neat and tidy as possible, I ensure its doing its intended job first and foremost. It's probably my favourite aspect of bonsai (I'm warped I know lol), as its hands on work and you really feel you are creating.

Yes, sometimes it really peeves me off, when you have the heavy gauge wire, and it just wont shape as you want it too whilst in the midst of a dense canopy no matter how much you swear at it, but overall I really enjoy it.

Like the trees themselves, wiring is something that takes a few years to make beautiful.

All the best,

Aaron