there are quite a few polymers that wont melt at the temps used with every day soldering, but it probably is. its just the way the stuff I got is made, it doesnt seem to have been extruded on, but kinda coated and gets in the gaps of the strands, so while its possible to strip, its too easy to nick the strands. its thin, both types are thin, 28awg from memory, but its as thick as many solid 24awg wires I have due to the teflon; even at 28awg is incredibly stiff and stupidly microphonic. my main issue is the number of times it gets recommended for headphone cables, even IEM cables!! it completely baffles me and makes me think many people that do may never have made a headphone cable. most people i've said this to have already bought it and several have reported back confirming what I said, yet it continues to be recommended.
the stuff
apexjr has is as good value and is fully milspec all sizes, many colours, available in solid or stranded, coax, twinax etc and he'll make up bulk assorted packs. great to deal with as well.
great stuff for prototyping and I use it for power supply in final builds sometimes too, but I wouldnt use it for headphone cables either. Another one I personally like the belden solid-core copper network cable for prototyping, comes in bundles of 4 x 100ohms PTFE copper twisted pairs, with some kind of synthetic fiber for strain relief and covered in a thin outer sheath. Belden Datatwist CAT5E 1583A. its some kind of foamed teflon too I think, easy to strip with a fingernail, leaves no mark
Edited by qusp - 10/4/12 at 9:38pm