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Micro wire

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  • Member since
    January 2018
Micro wire
Posted by BuildingCars4Fun on Sunday, January 28, 2018 4:42 PM

I’ve often seen people use what looks like tiny micro wire to make engines look more realistic. What is that product? Where can I find it?

thanks!

  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by steve5 on Sunday, January 28, 2018 4:51 PM

have you got any old tv's , heaters , any old appliance , strip it down . mile's of wire in it .

 

  • Member since
    January 2018
Posted by BuildingCars4Fun on Sunday, January 28, 2018 4:55 PM

I’ve sort of tried that - I read somewhere that if you cut open headphone wires there are microwires inside. 

Maybe I just had the wrong ones because while there was wire - they were still too large for 1:24 scale builds, and similar size to what I had been able to find in a hardware. 

yes - quite thin but I’m seeing guys use really really thin wires and I can’t for the life of me figure out where they are getting them! 

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Sunday, January 28, 2018 4:58 PM

See if you can find motor winding wire or magnet coil wire.

https://www.ebay.com/i/371713060055?chn=ps

A quarter mile for $ 6, it'll last a few models. Always handy to have around.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    September 2013
Posted by Les.61 on Sunday, January 28, 2018 5:00 PM

If your looking for coated wire try the landline telephone cord. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wideskall-25-Feet-RJ-11-Modular-Connector-4-Conductor-Phone-Cable-Telephone-Cord-White/911000655

 You get several different colurs and at 25 feet for each wire should have plenty.

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, January 28, 2018 6:47 PM

Apple charging cords have some of the finest wire in them that I’ve come across. The Apple ear buds do as well. The stuff is finer than the hair on my head. 

But yes, old appliances and electronics are a great source for various gauges of wire.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Orlando Florida
Posted by route62 on Sunday, January 28, 2018 7:56 PM

Fly fishing wire comes in several micro gauges and fly fishing shops also carry lead wire in several micro guages.

  • Member since
    January 2018
Posted by BuildingCars4Fun on Sunday, January 28, 2018 8:09 PM

Oh I love that idea! Thank you. Will definitely try that. 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, January 29, 2018 7:13 AM

steve5

have you got any old tv's , heaters , any old appliance , strip it down . mile's of wire in it .

 

Indeed, this is how I get much of my wire.  Used to be you could get this stuff at a Radio Shack, or several mail order houses that catered to hams and other electronics hobbyists.  However, hobby electronics is a dying hobby, so those sources are disapearing.  Jameco is one mail order source.  As far as local sources, I have found some pretty fine wire at Hobby Lobby or Michaels in the beading sections. Many folks make bead-strung jewelry.

Also, figure out or measure the size (prototype) you need, then figure out what the size is at the scale you are building.  Then look up wire gauge size you need on google.  Most wire products refer to their size in AWG (wire gauge).

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: N. Burbs of ChiKawgo
Posted by GlennH on Monday, January 29, 2018 8:24 AM
Next time you are near a Home Depot or similar take a look at their stranded wire display that they sell by the foot. Depending on the wire size and use the strand size will vary all the way from 'speaker' wire to stranded 14, 12, 10,......

A number Army Viet Nam scans from hundreds yet to be done:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/southwestdreams/albums/72157621855914355

Have had the great fortune to be on every side of the howitzers.

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Close to Chicago
Posted by JohnnyK on Monday, January 29, 2018 2:30 PM

 

I agree with GlennH. Home Depot has a wealth of wires of different sizes. You can also try Hobby Lobby for wire that is uninsulated. Following is a photo of my 1/12 scale Lotus 49. I used wires of all different colors and sizes. The bands that organize the wires are loops of insulation that I cut from larger wires. The actual car used rubber loops for the same purpose.

 

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by steve5 on Monday, January 29, 2018 8:43 PM

another good one , is thin solder , very good for hose's , exhaust pipe's etc. it's soft but stay's where you want it to go .

 

  • Member since
    January 2018
Posted by BuildingCars4Fun on Monday, January 29, 2018 11:40 PM

route62

Fly fishing wire comes in several micro gauges and fly fishing shops also carry lead wire in several micro guages.

 

 

Success (though expensive success!)

i live in Asia where this stuff is hard to find, the fishing option was awesome. I’ve bought 3M sinking fly fishing wire in red, black, clear and yellow... thanks for this awesome hack.

  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by Silver on Monday, February 5, 2018 2:20 PM

If you can.Get with a local car modeler about the types of wiring that’s out there on the web.

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