Lead out wraps

[Tom Strom]

I know this has probably been covered somewhere, but I can't find it.  What size copper wire do you use to wrap leadouts, and where do you get it?  Can't seem to find anything that is not coated with something.  I found some real neat wire at Radio Shack, but it has a thin coating on it for insulation. (magnet wire)  Or is that OK?  Sorry for the questions, but figured someone would answer without laughing too hard at me.

Tom

[Bill Little]

Hi Tom,

The Radio Shack wire is fine.  I use the red spool for "UP", and the green spool for "DOWN".

Big Bear

[Tom Strom]

Great, thanks Bill.

Tom

[Jim Thomerson]

I also use beading wire from Hobby Lobby.  They have several different kinds, so you can get one, or more, to suit you.

[PJ Rowland]

I think I have the most expensive leadouts known to man. I got some pure silver speaker cable from Cord - Sivler carnival $ 50 Per Meter, stripped it down and used the wire out of that, its thicker that regular copper I normally use, solders easier.

Not for everyone, but I wanted to try something different.

[Frank Imbriaco]

After stripping insulated wire for decades, I recently discovered that Tom Morris sells  28 guage copper wrapping wire(Cat. # WIRE-28). It comes on a 1/4lb spool and sells for $6.95(excluding s&h).

 ctmorris@cableone.net

[Chucky]

I've used Radio Shack magnet wire and even tried .028 copper wire from the beading section at a local Michael's craft store.  Both were convenient but not very cost effective.  McMaster-Carr seems to have the best prices I've found online.  A 1/4 lb spool of .025 tin-coated copper wire is well under six bucks.  Slightly thinner, but works just fine and the tin resists corrosion.    http://www.mcmaster.com/#oxygen-free-copper-wire/=ce60nz

[Tom Strom]

Thanks to all for the reply.  I forgot about the Morris stuff.  I bought the Radio Shack wire, and will give it a try.  Thanks again.

Tom

[Mark Scarborough]

Tom, you know that soldering the wraps is now out of vogue right? just wrap them, maybe a drop of CA, then heat shrink,

[Tom Strom]

Yep.  Thanks Mark.  I wrapped and epoxied my Nobler, and Flite Streak.  But it has been a while, and I was out of copper wire.  Last stuff I had I got from Todd's dad Mac.

Tom

[Bill Heher]

Jim at CLC has Tom Morris line wrapping kits for a couple bucks. It has instructions, wire, and 4 thimbles so you can do 1 set of lines or a pair of leadouts.

I have plenty of wire- I always run out of thimbles, can't seem to find 1 once I drop it

[Don Curry AMA 267060]

I purchased wire at a fly tying shop. They have it in many colors and it is only about $2 a roll and they have spool bobins,cutters, clamps ect. lots of stuff we can use.

Don

[john e. holliday]

MBS Model Supply carries two types of wrapping wire.  One has a coating and the other doesn't.  Check out his site for other stuff also.