Use annealed copper only. Never use steel wire to wrap a bonsai, it is toxic to several species.
Copper wire is annealed by heat, this aligns the atoms and softens it. Once the wire is twisted onto your tree it hardens in place. This has the advantage of providing a much stronger hold with a thinner piece of wire.
KWire - Copper Wire Annealed for Bonsai
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Copper wire must be annealed first by passing it through a flame to almost red-hot before it can be used. This dulls the wire, making it less conspicuous, as well as easier to handle.
The part is annealed and quenched (cooled rapidly) so that all of the different elements are mixed together on an atomic scale - this process is known as solution heat treating.
Either aluminum or annealed copper wire is used for this purpose. The wire cutter commonly available at the local hardware store are adequate for cutting wire when applying it to bonsai.
It is available as anodised aluminium or annealed copper; aluminium wire is generally easier to apply for beginners and can be reused (though this is not recommended). Copper wire is more difficult to apply but has more holding power.
Basically, two kinds of wire can be used: anodized aluminum and annealed copper. For beginners it is advisable to use the anodized aluminum, which is easier to work with and sold in most (online) Bonsai shops.
Copper wire that has first been annealed in a low-temperature fire is preferred. After it has cooled, it is wrapped around the branches in the direction the branch is to be bent.
In order to make copper soft enough to apply on branches of bonsai trees, it must first be annealed. Once annealed, copper wire becomes fairly easy to be bent. Yet, as it is bent, the copper wire becomes more rigid and resistant to bending.
There are two types of bonsai wire - anodised aluminium and annealed copper. The copper wire is harder and more powerful than the aluminium wire. For this reason beginners are advised to start with aluminium wire.
WIRE: you will want to get several different thickness of annealed copper wire. It is very flexible until it is bent, then it sets and holds its position. You will use it to position and train branches.
17. Copper or aluminum wire is OK. Copper must be annealed.
18. Crossing wires is OK but not for exhibit. Crossed wire will be the first area to wire scar.
19. Wire when wood is firm enough to take wire.
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Here you will find Jim Gremel's annealed copper bonsai training wire, bonsai, bonsai pots, Japanese bonsai tools, field-grown trees, aluminum wire, bonsai gallery and more.
Wiring can be done at any time of year, but it is most easily done on deciduous trees in the winter when they have no leaves. Buy annealed aluminum or copper wire made for use on bonsai, which is much more pliable than regular wire.
Copper however is considered the more versatile and attractive when a lot of training or wrapping is required. If you decide to use copper Bonsai wire, make sure that you use the annealed variant.
 See also: Bonsai, Wire, Tree, Wiring, Pruning
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