What kind of wire is this, and where can I buy more?
October 5, 2018 12:10 PM Subscribe
My job is to build stuff. Some of the stuff I build depends on this spool of unique wire that someone got from a firesale a long time ago. There are no identifying markings on the spool, and no one knows what it is. The unique thing about it is how extremely thin the insulation is, which makes it very useful to me. Problem is, the spool is running out, and I'd like to find more, but all searches have failed. Please help me!
Clues:
- Wire is single-conductor, solid
- Wire is flexible, and holds its shape when bent
- Stripped wire diameter measures at 0.02", which puts it at 24 AWG.
- With the insulation, the diameter measures as 0.03", which gives it an insulation thickness of 0.005".
- The insulation is NOT enamel - it comes off easily with a wire stripper
- When examined after stripping it off, the insulation seems stiffer/harder than typical hookup wire insulation, kind of like plastic drinking straw material, only much thinner, of course.
- Here is an image of the wire under a microscope, with a standard 1/4 W resistor for comparison.
Any ideas? Thank you!
Clues:
- Wire is single-conductor, solid
- Wire is flexible, and holds its shape when bent
- Stripped wire diameter measures at 0.02", which puts it at 24 AWG.
- With the insulation, the diameter measures as 0.03", which gives it an insulation thickness of 0.005".
- The insulation is NOT enamel - it comes off easily with a wire stripper
- When examined after stripping it off, the insulation seems stiffer/harder than typical hookup wire insulation, kind of like plastic drinking straw material, only much thinner, of course.
- Here is an image of the wire under a microscope, with a standard 1/4 W resistor for comparison.
Any ideas? Thank you!
Best answer: From your description it might be wire wrap wire.
posted by fimbulvetr at 12:38 PM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fimbulvetr at 12:38 PM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Looks like wire-wrap wire to me. Very thin, holds its shape, intended to be wrapped onto sharp-cornered posts that knife open the insulation
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:39 PM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:39 PM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Can you identify the metal? Is it magnetic?
posted by agentofselection at 12:40 PM on October 5, 2018
posted by agentofselection at 12:40 PM on October 5, 2018
Response by poster: YES! That is the magic google term. Here's one, for example, that, I think, matches what I have.
Thank you!
And FYI, the metal looks like it's copper coated with something silvery. It is not magnetic.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 12:51 PM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thank you!
And FYI, the metal looks like it's copper coated with something silvery. It is not magnetic.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 12:51 PM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
>And FYI, the metal looks like it's copper coated with something silvery. It is not magnetic.
Tinned copper.
posted by no1hatchling at 12:53 PM on October 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Tinned copper.
posted by no1hatchling at 12:53 PM on October 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
intended to be wrapped onto sharp-cornered posts that knife open the insulation
The wire-wrapping tools I use all have a stripping widget for the common wire gauge for that stuff. And you really need to use it, especially with a hand tool as the force with which you pull the wire against the post can vary quite a bit, and then the corners either just cut through the insulation or you don't. Stripping the wire first guarantees a solid connection. Also, the unstripped wire often doesn't really fit in the wrapping end of the hand tool.
posted by Stoneshop at 3:13 PM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
The wire-wrapping tools I use all have a stripping widget for the common wire gauge for that stuff. And you really need to use it, especially with a hand tool as the force with which you pull the wire against the post can vary quite a bit, and then the corners either just cut through the insulation or you don't. Stripping the wire first guarantees a solid connection. Also, the unstripped wire often doesn't really fit in the wrapping end of the hand tool.
posted by Stoneshop at 3:13 PM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I made a lot of wire wrapped boards back in the day and yes, that's what you have a photograph of. That wire is brilliant for doing patch-up jobs on PC boards too, because it's silver-plated and solders beautifully.
posted by flabdablet at 7:25 PM on October 5, 2018
posted by flabdablet at 7:25 PM on October 5, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by terrapin at 12:19 PM on October 5, 2018