Where to buy short runs of wire

[SilverFox]

I've checked a couple places and it seems to me Tubesandmore didn't really have what I needed.

Where is a good source to purchase 50ft lengths of wire suitable for tube amps? What gauges should I keep on hand. Currently using a mix of stranded 600 Volt 20 gauge and solid core.

I would really like to standardize.. Thanks for the advice,


silverfox.

[sluckey]

Hoffman has a good selection of PVC, Teflon, and cloth insulated wire.

[bal704]

valvestorm

[Phil_S]

Apex Jr has a great selection and cheap prices. That would be my first stop. I don't consider 50' "short."

I've been told you really should use 18AWG for heaters. If your amp is not so many tubes and not drawing high heater current 20AWG is probably OK and I do that sometimes. To be clear, if this is a 4 holer 100W with 2 preamp channels, reverb, and tremolo, I think you should be using 18AWG. I prefer solid core for threading noval sockets, however, if you tin stranded wire properly, it should thread into the pin OK. Solid core should not be flexed excessively or it will get weak and subject to breaking. There is a difference between flexing and bending. If you make a real bend in solid core, you really shouldn't fiddle with it much after doing that.

22AWG stranded is good for most audio circuit work. I like to color code wire by function. Any scheme is good, but typical is found here: http://www.regiscoyne.com/tech/trannyCC/

I find that I run out of ground wire and B+ supply more quickly. Filament wire gets gobbled up in a hurry.

The easiest stuff to work with is topcoat wire. This is stranded wire that, when bent, stays where you put it. However, it is PVC jacketed, and unlike PFTE covered it will burn and melt if exposed to the soldering iron. Make sure you get 600V rated wire for audio circuits. It is all too common to be at or over 300V. IMHO, it doesn't pay to buy 300V rated wire.

I keeps some scraps of 16 or 18AWG black, white, and green for 120VAC power feed wiring on the primary side of the power transformer. These are often just stripped out of old extension cords or whatnot. You don't need much. You can buy a 25' extension cord in Target for cheap.

[ampfab]

Wire barn

[dkochan]

600V UL1015 from McMaster-Carr for PVC. I usually use 20 solid, 18 for heaters. This is good stuff, IMO.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-elect ... e/=101zfj6


PTFE from ApexJr in a cramped build.

[The Ballzz]

Have not used it myself, but have heard good comments from several friends about the wire from Valvestorm. Their prices are a little higher than others and it would be interesting to know their source to save a little!

My next build will likely use their wire and DEFINITELY NOT the cloth push back from MojoTone! I don't mind the solid core part, but maybe I just don't know the tricks. It just seems to be a pain to work with and generally looks like crap!

Just My $.02 & Likely Worth Even Less,
Gene

[bal704]

I always get the plexi wire kit, with generous lengths of different color wire:

http://valvestorm.com/products/wire

[telentubes]

I buy wire from McMaster Carr and Apex Jr.

[Deric]

Just my preferences....

Stranded PCV "Topcoat" from Mojo. No idea but looks the same as Valvestorm.

Solid core PVC from McMaster Carr.

Teflon (PTFE) from ApexJr. Steve has lots of other cool stuff too. And a nice guy - SUPER fast shipping too. I wish he had PVC topcoat as that's become my go-to.

[10thTx]

I always buy my wire from Hoffman. He has a nice selection including Teflon at a good price and you can buy it by the foot. He has the cloth wire and PVC also.


with respect, 10thtx

[SilverFox]

Thanks everyone. I like valvestorms product page; It's been a while but I did recently purchase some of Hoffmans Filament wire and coax. I'll probably peek in the windows over there again as I've got to pick up some Oranges too...

I just recently used some of the push back cloth-PVC wire to patch an OT in and really liked that. Brought back fond memories of capacitors that look like dominoes and point to point that looked like a rats nest but worked like a charm, even at shortwave frequencies.


By Top Coat wire are we talking about tinned multiconductor with a PVC or Teflon jacket?


Regards, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,

silverfox.

(something else that always amuses me, in a good way, are the various names I recognize from other forums I've frequented. I don't get around much anymore and have settled for living in the Garage, so to speak- But have fond memories of the early days of my learning curve, etiquette, protocol and all... Thanks for all your contributions.)

[rp]

When I was in the States I got my wire from here, looks like I'm the only one on TAG. If you are less than perfect go with PTFE it survives multiple f'ups and still looks pretty.

http://www.bulkwire.com/Default.html

[Structo]

Looks like that place only sells 100ft plus.

[rp]

Looks like that place only sells 100ft plus.

Nope, 25ft. at least PTFE. Nice thing is they have 10 colors.