[digger945]

Also in addition to the wire above I ordered some of this techflex looking braid.
Good price and much smaller quantities than other places online.
Super fast shipping on both techflex and wire, I ordered one day after work and had both 2 days later.

 

[Nemo de Monet]

You could always go the NOS route, and use cloth-covered copper wire from Ma Bell surplus. NOS tubes, NOS capacitors... why not NOS wire?

(There is new-production cloth-covered wire, but it isn't any cheaper than the vintage Western Electric stuff, so...)

I picked some up a while back, and will probably use it in my next project "just because I can"... otherwise, it's Navships' stuff all the way.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I like solid core wire because it's easier to bend into shapes and stays put. If you need to solder something underneath it, it won't bend back when you let go.

Also, I'm a huge fan of Teflon wire. If you accidentally touch it with your iron, it doesn't melt. Also, if things go wrong inside (hopefully not) it gives you an extra measure of protection. Teflon is worth the higher price.

And copper is plenty good for me.

 

[sachu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by digger945 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Also in addition to the wire above I ordered some of this techflex looking braid. Good price and much smaller quantities than other places online. Super fast shipping on both techflex and wire, I ordered one day after work and had both 2 days later.

The 1/2 inch techflex should be enough for 8 16AWG wires right?

 

[digger945]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sachu /img/forum/go_quote.gif The 1/2 inch techflex should be enough for 8 16AWG wires right?

I don't know for sure, but this stuff expands and relaxes like crazy.
This will be the first time I have ever used Techflex. The ½ inch stuff goes from ¼ inch to ¾ inch.
When I first opened it up I was thinking "OH NO, there is NO WAY that will work, it's just too small", but I played around with it and pinched it in two places about four inches apart and pushed together and it expanded like crazy, then returned to it's original size when I let go. Cool stuff. I got some of the Carbon Fiber looking stuff and it looks pretty good.

 

[sachu]

I think I have some techflex but it is good for star quad(not mini star quad) and i use it in my IC cables..
Do you use a heating iron or a special iron for termincating the techflex, or are you using your soldering iron (which you shouldn't really).

I wonder if a candle would work? or a cig lighter?

 

[digger945]

I gotta do some studying to learn how, this will be my first time.

 

[Coreyk78]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sachu /img/forum/go_quote.gif I wonder if a candle would work? or a cig lighter?

You could get a mini butane torch and use that, or a lighter works just fine, thats what I use.

 

[soloz2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sachu /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think I have some techflex but it is good for star quad(not mini star quad) and i use it in my IC cables.. Do you use a heating iron or a special iron for termincating the techflex, or are you using your soldering iron (which you shouldn't really). I wonder if a candle would work? or a cig lighter?

A hot knife is the proper tool, but a lighter or candle will work in a pinch. Be careful and don't get the techflex in the flame, you just need it hot enough to melt the very edge.

 

[indikator]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2 /img/forum/go_quote.gif A hot knife is the proper tool, but a lighter or candle will work in a pinch. Be careful and don't get the techflex in the flame, you just need it hot enough to melt the very edge.

hot knife, you mean 'burned' one? nice idea, never thought of that, thanks!

 

[Nemo de Monet]

No, there's actually such a thing as a "hot knife", meant for cutting plastics, foams, nylon cord and rope, and so on. It's like a soldering iron with a knife blade on the end - or a woodburning tool, if you're familiar with that kitschy 1970s hobby.

Personally, with techflex, I find head never does what I want it to, and generally just plan to use heatshrink instead.

 

[sachu]

that's it..i remmeber partsexpress selling that..don't think i can find it there now.

 

[m11a1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif my balanced Beta22

How's that coming along?

 

[Nemo de Monet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemo de Monet /img/forum/go_quote.gif You could always go the NOS route, and use cloth-covered copper wire from Ma Bell surplus. NOS tubes, NOS capacitors... why not NOS wire? (There is new-production cloth-covered wire, but it isn't any cheaper than the vintage Western Electric stuff, so...) I picked some up a while back, and will probably use it in my next project "just because I can"... otherwise, it's Navships' stuff all the way.

Just in case anyone is interested, or wants something a little "different" to use on their next project, someone pointed out to me - and I've since confirmed - that both the new-production, and NOS Western Electric cloth-covered wire on eBay are actually silver-plated copper. The WE stuff has an internal insulating layer that might actually be teflon, as well; the new stuff has stranded "Celanese", which I guess is probably polyester. The NOS wire is fairly stiff, but the new stuff is as flexible as you could ask.

Either way, if you like silver-plated copper wire, you've got another couple of choices to play with.

(This is the "regular" Western Electric wire, BTW, whose outer sheath is - I think - cotton. There's also some stuff out there which is sheathed in silk, and while I assume the wire is also silver-plated, I don't know for sure, as that stuff's pricey.)