--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi, Everyone

I have a question about the thickness of the copper wire used to wrap the ends. For .008 nylon coated line (overall OD .015) I used a very fine .008/.009 copper wire. This seem to work well.

Now, the question is, can or should I use the same OD copper wire for thicker lines or do I have to increase it?

The copper wire I purchased with .012 and .015 line has a OD of .015 and is more difficult to work with and doesn't seem to produce as refine a wrap as with the thinner copper wire.

Thanks

Angelo

Thanks for the input Clint!

All the best.

Angelo

I use very fine stainless that I get at a craft store. Can't remember the diameter at the moment, but it's pretty fine.

 Ok. Thanks for info. I'll change to tin wire. But I will not fly in California because it may cause cancer there. L

Everybody's got junk appliance power cord lying around someplace!  I strip the insulation off about 3 foot lengths, then unwind a strand as I need it.  I wind the strand onto a 1" long piece of 3/8 dowel to make it easier to handle and wrap around with the control line in the wrapping jig.  The strands are about .008 dia. 

I buy copper wire at the local Hobby Lobby in the beading section.  A couple dollars buys a spool with enough wire to do several sets of lines. 

 FWIW ------ Most of the time you will not find copper wire around here sold be .008 dia etc. I use 24 gauge copper wire. It comes in 100 ft rolls and costs a whopping $2.05/100 ft. True Value Hardware is where I get mine. Any one of them will carry it and it is usually with the picture hanging stuff.

  "Billy G"   

Hello,

For quite some time now I have used size "A" nylon rod winding thread to make up the terminal ends on my lines and lead outs.  This thread is stronger than .020 copper wire and doesn't fatigue with repeated bending.  I wind the thread 3/4" down from the loop or grommet, fold the line back on itself, wind the thread back up to within 1/4" from the starting point, clip off the excess folded line, finish the wrap and tie it off with a whip finish knot.  Several half hitch knots will work also. Apply a drop or two of thin CA to the wrap.  Slide a 7/8" length of heat shrink tubing up and over the wrap, shrink it and it's finished.  Don't forget to slip the heat shrink tubing over the line -BEFORE- you start the wrap! I use green tubing for the down line and red for up. Your choice for colors.

I use a fly tying tool called a bobbin to apply the thread.  It's a device that holds the spool of thread and has a 2"-3" tube attached.  The thread goes from the spool through the tube.  The bobbin allows you to control the thread much better than just using your fingers and you can also control the tension by adding or relaxing the pressure on the spool with the palm of your hand as you wrap the thread.  A bobbin can also be used in the same way with copper wire if you choose. Most fly fishing shops carry bobbins and thread.  They also have copper wire on spools and of various sizes.  Cabela's also has this stuff.  Look in the fly fishing section if you might be interested in trying this method of wrapping lines.

Using a bobbin, you can speed up the process by holding the line with both hands (about 4" apart) and spinning the bobbin down or up the thread after you've started the wrap.  It's the same method used for "serving" bow strings.

I've wrapped lots of lines and lead outs for myself and others using the size A thread with the method described above and have never had a failure.  It's fast, strong and easy.

Joe

I went and looked. the stuff I'm using is 28 gauge.

I used the hardware store wire for awhile.  It works, it's just heavier and more bulky then it needs to be.  The beading wire I use for small stuff is 32 gauge, 28 is a little more tolerant.  I usually use the 28 for anything .015 and larger.

  There is a perfectly good reason I use the heavier wire and it's not because I think it is stronger. I have "Arthritis in both hands and the wire is easier to handle. Something us old guys have to think about. If I could I would use the smaller diameter.

  "Billy G"

Ty,

I have some Brodak .008" lines to wrap, but I'm afraid #28 gauge wire might be too heavy for that small line, particularly since it's bigger in diameter than the lines.

Have you tried wrapping the smaller size lines?

Bill

Thanks Andy,

Guess I'll just strip some fine electrical wire. High flex wire is usually made of very fine multi-strand conductors.

Bill

Hi Joe,

I read your post earlier, and found it very interesting.

Matter of fact, I have some rod wrapping thread around here somewhere. Even have a bottle of the varnish to seal the wrappings.

Found it, in two colors yet!  It's marked Nylon D, and it's very fine thread.

I agree with Bill Gruby though, and think copper wire would be lots easier to keep in place while winding. 

Bill

Bill,

I just picked up my first batch of Spider Wire at Wall Mart.  20 lb. test, moss green, 6 lb. test dia.  Says on package; Teflon coated microfibers to ensure smooth casting.  All looks good except the green part makes it hard to see in the grass.  I will try it this coming weekend and give a report.

                                 

Ty,

The knot most recommended is the Palomar knot, but it doesn't seem well suited for line clips. Here is a link to an animated instruction.

http://www.animatedknots.com/palomar/index.php

An earlier thread on Spectra lines reports that the test strength is only half the rating on the package! It also suggested that terminating the line with a small radius wrap (such as a small line clip), may reduce it even more.

I have a roll of small Teflon tubing that I picked up to extend CA nozzles, but found it's way too big for that purpose. Think I will try a short length of that around the end of a line clip, and see if I can tie a knot onto the tubing, instead of directly on the clip.

Spectra line should not be brittle, so I'm not sure what you have?

Bill

The AMA guidelines also note "full flow solder" or epoxy coating for all line ends except the crimped ones.