Jim Lewis wrote:

snip

Aside from ease of application, one's preference for copper
versus aluminum wire is somewhat a cosmetic one. It takes a
thicker "gage" of aluminum wire to hold a given branch than
copper, so the wire is more visible on the tree. Also, the color
of copper-colored aluminum wire varies considerably, and it
doesn't corrode to the same dull patina as copper so it can
remain quite visible.

That said, unless you do LARGE trees, I think aluminum is the
better choice.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

I do the opposite--I use finer copper wire, 12 or 14 gauge from Home Depot. I strip
the insulation, coil it up, put it on the electric burner, put the teapot with
water on top and turn on the burner. The wire gets annealed and I get hot water
for tea. I then pick up the hot wire and dunk it in water. Works great. I use
the heavy aluminum wire because it's easier to bend.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a

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