Using large diameter training wire is often difficult, especially for those who have limited strength in their hands. There are few good alternatives to large wire when bending very stiff material and when making severe bends. The first difficulty encountered is applying the wire without damaging the bark. Ideally, the wire is wound around the branch so that the wire is touching the branch, but is touching it with very little pressure. When applying heavy wire, the tendency is to use the branch and its bark as a fulcrum against which the wire is bent. This leads to wrapping the wire too tight and often damages the bark before the bending has even begun. Use of wire pliers to absorb the application force allows the branch to be wrapped with good contact between the wire and bark but without too much pressure on the bark. The unique design of wire pliers' jaws allows one to grip the wire very tightly. Use the wire pliers to hold the wire tightly where it contacts the bark and use your free hand to bend a complete turn of the wire around the branch. Move the pliers up to the last point of contact and repeat the process. The result will be a branch that is undamaged and ready to bend. Figure 1 illustrates the start of this process on the trunk of a young black pine. Figure 2 shows the completely wrapped trunk before bending is begun.
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