Aluminum Guy wires....stretch out?

[just.wing.it]

I have a bunch of branches guy wired down on one of my Taxus'.
I noticed yesterday, after the first "good, hot day" that every one of my guy wires is now loose.
It seems like they stretched out in the sun and heat....!
Anyone else had this happen?
I'm gonna try to re-twist em to tighten up.

 

[Dav4]

Aluminum wire will stretch, though I've never had it happen due to heat... yikes! You either need to use a heavier gauge of aluminum or switch to copper wire which doesn't stretch as readily.

 

[just.wing.it]

Aluminum wire will stretch, though I've never had it happen due to heat... yikes! You either need to use a heavier gauge of aluminum or switch to copper wire which doesn't stretch as readily.

Yeah, I was chalking it up to that, too thin...
I'll step it up next time.
Or get more copper....my copper is too heavy...

 

[Dav4]

Yeah, I was chalking it up to that, too thin...
I'll step it up next time.
Or get more copper....my copper is too heavy...

I've had the thin aluminum wire snap when it's overloaded, but never the thin copper. It seems to really have a much higher tensile strength then the aluminum.

 

[M. Frary]

Try Spiderwire fishing line.
Zero stretch.
Thin as a thread.
10x stronger than steel.
Be prepared for it to dull cutters.

 

[just.wing.it]

Try Spiderwire fishing line.
Zero stretch.
Thin as a thread.
10x stronger than steel.
Be prepared for it to dull cutters.

I'll look into that, and I'll cut it with my ceramic folding knife....it cuts endlessly thru material that I use at work, as opposed to the steel utility razor blades which dull after 2 slices thru the same stuff.

 

[Adair M]

These days, the Japanese apprentices are using thin stainless steel wire. 20 gauge. They say it's stronger than copper. And cheaper.

 

[M. Frary]

These days, the Japanese apprentices are using thin stainless steel wire. 20 gauge. They say it's stronger than copper. And cheaper.

Guitar string.
I got oodles.

 

[PiñonJ]

Electric fence wire. The 16 gauge is excellent for wiring trees into pots. Also comes in 17 gauge.

 

[Adair M]

Electric fence wire. The 16 gauge is excellent for wiring trees into pots. Also comes in 17 gauge.

That stuff stretches easily.

 

[PiñonJ]

Not at all. It's steel. Much stronger than copper.

 

[Adair M]

Not at all. It's steel. Much stronger than copper.

If it's steel, then yes, it's strong. My electric fence is aluminum.

 

[PiñonJ]

If it's steel, then yes, it's strong. My electric fence is aluminum.

Yes, both are available. I buy the galvanized steel, although at the moment, 16 gauge is not available on Amazon. The 17 gauge is still rated to 250 pounds.