I was wanting to make "regular trees" using wire for the trunk/branches and also bottle trees using hemp. What gauge wire do you use for making the trees? What type of twine/hemp string should I be using. I found this in the search: Natural color 180 lb. hemp cord
I have a menards, lowes, michaels, and hobby lobby in my area, so I'd appreciate it if you could recommend not only gauge/size but brand names that seem to work the best. Thanks, Jeff
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i like the tie wire you find by the rebar in the big box stores by the maesonery supply
I have made about 240 bottle brush trees and have a post of how I did it somewhere on the forum. I finally settled on floral decor green wire I found at Walmart. 97 cents for 30 pieces @ 18 inches. For short trees I bend a piece in half. I like using that wire because it is fairly stiff compared to a softer 18 gauge wire that I first used. For taller trees I use 2 pieces and save the excess (usually about 5 inches) for bushes I plan to make. I have found that the cissal hemp rope @ 3/4 inch works best for me. Lowes and Home Depot each have it. Remember to get the real hemp rope and not the plastic. The fibers are stiff enough for the trees. I have used about 20 feet of rope so far! I unwind the 3 large fiber bundles that are each made with a dozen or so smaller bundles that can be cut more easily into groups of progressive lengths. I lay a piece of wire on heavy board hooked to a nail, separate the fibers of a small bundle for the bottom of the tree and progress toward the top. You can adjust the amount and placement for the density you want, then place the second wire on top hooked to the nail and proceed to the drill winding. I use a heavy piece of metal to keep the fibers flat while I hook up the wire ends to the drill.
I recommend a visit to youtube and search for making model trees or something similar. Watch 2 or three versions to see how they do it and for tips. Have fun. Hope to see your progress.
Pennysnut, thanks for the info! I've watched a video or 2 on making the trees. it looks like something that i "may" be capable of doing with my limited talent and artistic ability. my guess for creating "maple" trees, i'd want the thinnest wire I can find to get the most branches. Thanks again, Jeff
the bottle trees make nice small trees for O, particularly good for HO, but not the size needed for large O. I have seen some museum quality rope trees at shows . They turn out really well.
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