Un-enamelled copper wire - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

mark_in_manc · 12th Dec 2020, 8:45 pm

Somewhere else on the forum today, I noted I had found a Variac in a bin. In the same bin, I found 6 old reels of fine-gauge (various different gauges) copper wire, which, rather to my surprise, turns out to be un-enamelled. So my question is - what do you think it was for? I should have included something for scale - the bobbin is about 4" dia and the same high. There's quite a lot of wire!

My current long-wire is enamelled, so I guess I can reclaim that for another purpose and put some of this lot up. That will leave me with 5 63/64 reels to go. Perhaps I can wind it between two pegs along the side ginnel, and when I have walked up and down a hundred times, put one end in a slow drill chuck and make some monster un-insulated jump leads

ETA - or monster un-insulated speaker cables. Wa-hey, I'm sure it's oxygen-free long-grain whatever, and it's definitely 'retro'

Beeseebulbchap · 13th Dec 2020, 3:30 pm

Interesting. It sounds like the sort of wire that could be useful for model railway / tramway layouts, as properly functioning OHLE. That said, I suppose it depends if the wire gauge is correct for the scale of the models (ie N or 00). I'm sure someone will know the answer.

McMurdo · 13th Dec 2020, 4:08 pm

Maybe for repairing fuses?

broadgage · 13th Dec 2020, 4:26 pm

Possibly, but tinned copper is more usual for fuses.

Graham G3ZVT · 13th Dec 2020, 4:49 pm

For coaxial cable braid? Although I would expect much bigger reels.
Perhaps it's not electrical wire at all. Maybe it's for weaving into mats for some purpose.

Interesting that they are of different gauges, that must be a clue.

On Ebay there's
Solid Bare Copper Wire Coil Wirework Jewellery Making Handmade 0.1-4mm DIY

0.1mm is around 42/43 SWG

Radio Wrangler · 13th Dec 2020, 6:23 pm

The clown in the back of my head thinks it must have been rather labour intensive, un-enamelling that wire. Just one of those quirks of language. I bet they cheated and never enamelled it in the first place.

There is footage of machines weaving braided outer for coax. Lots of spools of bare wire mounted on shafts mounted around a large ring. The big ring rotates and the groups of spools all rotate around each other. Sort of robotic highland dancing of the circular sort. Posher coax uses silver plated copper wire for the braid. Coax relies a lot on good contact between strands ar each overlay of groups of strands in the braid. Tarnishing from water ingress can push a TV downlead to over 1000dB loss (yes, a thousand dB, got by measuring a short piece and calculating the total)

David

Julesomega · 13th Dec 2020, 7:18 pm

Assuming your LW is 40m long and the spools are small enough for you to lift with 2.5km on each, this must be rather thin wire. My sister is always looking for bare copper wire for jewellery but this would be a bit too thin

mark_in_manc · 13th Dec 2020, 10:23 pm

My 5 63/64 was a bit of a joke since I didn't want to say 5.99 reels to mean 'nearly all of it remaining' - this is a vintage forum

The wire seems to be about 12 thou diameter so I guess that's 31swg. Julian, perhaps your sister could plait some!

Herald1360 · 15th Dec 2020, 11:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julesomega

Assuming your LW is 40m long and the spools are small enough for you to lift with 2.5km on each, this must be rather thin wire. My sister is always looking for bare copper wire for jewellery but this would be a bit too thin

The copper wire in T&E mains cable is plain copper, available in various gauges depending on cable rating. The PE conductor is thinner so you get two sizes in a length of cable.

Diabolical Artificer · 21st Dec 2020, 7:40 am

Are you sure it's unplated Marc? It looks very shiny if that's the case, copper goes dull and oxidises if untreated as we've all seen with copper clad board.

Andy.

Radio Wrangler · 21st Dec 2020, 8:34 am

It's probably waxed as a preservative and lubricant for spooling an processing.

David

mark_in_manc · 21st Dec 2020, 10:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diabolical Artificer

Are you sure it's unplated Marc? It looks very shiny if that's the case, copper goes dull and oxidises if untreated as we've all seen with copper clad board.

Andy.

Well - a meter probe placed near the free end, and another placed anywhere else, seem to have no problems making contact! Some of the reels are rather more crusty-looking than the one I photographed, looking like the oxidation you suggest.

bill knox · 21st Dec 2020, 2:11 pm

Hi all

On reflection, I have moved this enquiry to vintage radio.

Hello Moderators, I hope I have put this into the right place, if necessary, please move again and let me know where you have moved it to.

Regards.

Bill KNOX

12th Dec 2020, 8:45 pm	#1
mark_in_manc Octode Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,874	Un-enamelled copper wire Somewhere else on the forum today, I noted I had found a Variac in a bin. In the same bin, I found 6 old reels of fine-gauge (various different gauges) copper wire, which, rather to my surprise, turns out to be un-enamelled. So my question is - what do you think it was for? I should have included something for scale - the bobbin is about 4" dia and the same high. There's quite a lot of wire! My current long-wire is enamelled, so I guess I can reclaim that for another purpose and put some of this lot up. That will leave me with 5 63/64 reels to go. Perhaps I can wind it between two pegs along the side ginnel, and when I have walked up and down a hundred times, put one end in a slow drill chuck and make some monster un-insulated jump leads ETA - or monster un-insulated speaker cables. Wa-hey, I'm sure it's oxygen-free long-grain whatever, and it's definitely 'retro' Attached Thumbnails __________________ "The best dBs, come in 3s" - Woody Brown Last edited by mark_in_manc; 12th Dec 2020 at 8:58 pm.

13th Dec 2020, 3:30 pm	#2
Beeseebulbchap Diode Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Hyde, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 5	Re: Un-enamelled copper wire Interesting. It sounds like the sort of wire that could be useful for model railway / tramway layouts, as properly functioning OHLE. That said, I suppose it depends if the wire gauge is correct for the scale of the models (ie N or 00). I'm sure someone will know the answer.

13th Dec 2020, 4:08 pm	#3
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,271	Re: Un-enamelled copper wire Maybe for repairing fuses? __________________ Kevin

13th Dec 2020, 4:26 pm	#4
broadgage Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: North Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,129	Re: Un-enamelled copper wire Possibly, but tinned copper is more usual for fuses.

13th Dec 2020, 4:49 pm	#5
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,715	Re: Un-enamelled copper wire For coaxial cable braid? Although I would expect much bigger reels. Perhaps it's not electrical wire at all. Maybe it's for weaving into mats for some purpose. Interesting that they are of different gauges, that must be a clue. On Ebay there's Solid Bare Copper Wire Coil Wirework Jewellery Making Handmade 0.1-4mm DIY 0.1mm is around 42/43 SWG __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT Last edited by Graham G3ZVT; 13th Dec 2020 at 5:06 pm.

13th Dec 2020, 6:23 pm	#6
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,874	Re: Un-enamelled copper wire The clown in the back of my head thinks it must have been rather labour intensive, un-enamelling that wire. Just one of those quirks of language. I bet they cheated and never enamelled it in the first place. There is footage of machines weaving braided outer for coax. Lots of spools of bare wire mounted on shafts mounted around a large ring. The big ring rotates and the groups of spools all rotate around each other. Sort of robotic highland dancing of the circular sort. Posher coax uses silver plated copper wire for the braid. Coax relies a lot on good contact between strands ar each overlay of groups of strands in the braid. Tarnishing from water ingress can push a TV downlead to over 1000dB loss (yes, a thousand dB, got by measuring a short piece and calculating the total) David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

13th Dec 2020, 7:18 pm	#7
Julesomega Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 2,106	Re: Un-enamelled copper wire Assuming your LW is 40m long and the spools are small enough for you to lift with 2.5km on each, this must be rather thin wire. My sister is always looking for bare copper wire for jewellery but this would be a bit too thin __________________ - Julian It's good here

13th Dec 2020, 10:23 pm	#8
mark_in_manc Octode Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,874	Re: Un-enamelled copper wire My 5 63/64 was a bit of a joke since I didn't want to say 5.99 reels to mean 'nearly all of it remaining' - this is a vintage forum The wire seems to be about 12 thou diameter so I guess that's 31swg. Julian, perhaps your sister could plait some! __________________ "The best dBs, come in 3s" - Woody Brown

21st Dec 2020, 7:40 am	#10
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,662	Re: Un-enamelled copper wire Are you sure it's unplated Marc? It looks very shiny if that's the case, copper goes dull and oxidises if untreated as we've all seen with copper clad board. Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.

21st Dec 2020, 8:34 am	#11
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,874	Re: Un-enamelled copper wire It's probably waxed as a preservative and lubricant for spooling an processing. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

21st Dec 2020, 2:11 pm	#13
bill knox Hexode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Wilstead, Bedfordshire, UK. Posts: 367	Re: Un-enamelled copper wire Hi all On reflection, I have moved this enquiry to vintage radio. Hello Moderators, I hope I have put this into the right place, if necessary, please move again and let me know where you have moved it to. Regards. Bill KNOX Last edited by bill knox; 21st Dec 2020 at 2:17 pm.