Dont measure the trunks every week. It will only lead to frustration. Do it once a month, or quarterly so you can see any difference.
The best of all techniques for thickening trunks in bonsai is to plant it on a garden bed outside. Let them grow there for several years, and dig them up back to bonsai training whn the desired thickness has been reached. Allow it to grow freely, specially the leader (apex/top branch).You will cut it down later. If it takes 1 year or 10 will depend on how thick you want the trunk to get.
That's what chinese comercial bonsai growers are doing to speed up the process and obtain large trunks on their trees.
This will work many times faster than "torturing" (is a joke!) your trees by scaring and pinching them.
If you dont have a garden then use a very large plant pot.
Do it with at least one of them and compare.
Hope this get you the result you wanted.
Gene