Magnet wire sources
waffle, Tue May 01 2007, 11:43PMRadio shack has failed me(yet again), which stinks because it is the only electronics store around here. I'm building my first "real" coilgun and i'm trying to find wire for a coil. Is there somewhere that I can get this stuff cheap? I'm looking for 12-16 gauge wire. I took some largish transformers apart but they only had 20-28 gauge wire in them. If there is a home appliance I could take apar that would have magnet wire in it i'm open to suggestions. thanks!
Re: Magnet wire sources
..., Wed May 02 2007, 12:01AM
Technically I can't sell it to you (not enough posts) but I have a spool of .045" (diameter) magnet wire that might happen to that might show up on ebay if you tell me how much you need.
..., Wed May 02 2007, 12:01AM
Technically I can't sell it to you (not enough posts) but I have a spool of .045" (diameter) magnet wire that might happen to that might show up on ebay if you tell me how much you need.
Re: Magnet wire sources
Dr. Shark, Wed May 02 2007, 12:32PM
For a first coligun you can simply take one of the wires out of a few meters of mains cable. You might also want to try the ferrite transformers from a dead TV or monitor.
Dr. Shark, Wed May 02 2007, 12:32PM
For a first coligun you can simply take one of the wires out of a few meters of mains cable. You might also want to try the ferrite transformers from a dead TV or monitor.
Re: Magnet wire sources
Electroholic, Wed May 02 2007, 03:36PM
a MOT will have enough thickish wire.
Electroholic, Wed May 02 2007, 03:36PM
a MOT will have enough thickish wire.
Re: Magnet wire sources
Tesla_Cubed, Wed May 02 2007, 06:38PM
Check if you live near a shop that rewinds motors lots of times they have leftover bits of wire that they were going to scrap. To short to build a motor can be quite a bit, this gets more true with larger diameter wire. Expect to pay more then they would be able to sell it for scrap but not much more.
Tesla_Cubed, Wed May 02 2007, 06:38PM
Check if you live near a shop that rewinds motors lots of times they have leftover bits of wire that they were going to scrap. To short to build a motor can be quite a bit, this gets more true with larger diameter wire. Expect to pay more then they would be able to sell it for scrap but not much more.
Re: Magnet wire sources
Effilcdar, Thu May 03 2007, 02:41AM
Well automotive sources are great for this kind of wire. Try the starter to the oldest car you see in the junkyard. They are often quite large diameter wire. (some of the newer ones are seeled though) Other than that ebay is your friend.
Effilcdar, Thu May 03 2007, 02:41AM
Well automotive sources are great for this kind of wire. Try the starter to the oldest car you see in the junkyard. They are often quite large diameter wire. (some of the newer ones are seeled though) Other than that ebay is your friend.
Re: Magnet wire sources
FastMHz, Thu May 03 2007, 04:37PM
I sourced my wire from
Not exactly cheap, but brand new and no nicks in the wire so the risk of shorting inside the coil is reduced.
Copper in general has shot up in price over recent years
FastMHz, Thu May 03 2007, 04:37PM
I sourced my wire from
Not exactly cheap, but brand new and no nicks in the wire so the risk of shorting inside the coil is reduced.
Copper in general has shot up in price over recent years
Re: Magnet wire sources
rupidust, Sat May 05 2007, 03:30PM
Have you considered ordering wire through the mail? Yes, the shipping may be heavy but you have to do what you have to do. If it was not for mail ordering I would not even be envolved in electronics along with thousands of others.
rupidust, Sat May 05 2007, 03:30PM
... wrote ...
Technically I can't sell it to you (not enough posts)...
Please explain this Technicality to me.Technically I can't sell it to you (not enough posts)...
Have you considered ordering wire through the mail? Yes, the shipping may be heavy but you have to do what you have to do. If it was not for mail ordering I would not even be envolved in electronics along with thousands of others.
Re: Magnet wire sources
Michael W., Sat May 05 2007, 05:48PM
From the forum rules;
"D. No trolling, no flaming, no spamming. Trolling, posting purely with the intent of starting an argument or flamewar, is forbidden. Habitual trollers, and users who decide to make one of their first ten posts a "trolling" post, will be removed from the board. Similarly, no flaming -- posting an angry response that doesn't accomplish anything. Spamming goes without saying; if you're here with purely commercial intent, go away. Note: You must have at least 15 posts in order to post something for sale in the Sale and Trade Board. Do not register for the sole purpose of selling something."
Michael W., Sat May 05 2007, 05:48PM
rupidust wrote ...
... wrote ...
Technically I can't sell it to you (not enough posts)...
Please explain this Technicality to me.Technically I can't sell it to you (not enough posts)...
From the forum rules;
"D. No trolling, no flaming, no spamming. Trolling, posting purely with the intent of starting an argument or flamewar, is forbidden. Habitual trollers, and users who decide to make one of their first ten posts a "trolling" post, will be removed from the board. Similarly, no flaming -- posting an angry response that doesn't accomplish anything. Spamming goes without saying; if you're here with purely commercial intent, go away. Note: You must have at least 15 posts in order to post something for sale in the Sale and Trade Board. Do not register for the sole purpose of selling something."
Re: Magnet wire sources
teravolt, Sun May 06 2007, 05:02AM
alltronics and ebay
teravolt, Sun May 06 2007, 05:02AM
alltronics and ebay
Re: Magnet wire sources
waffle, Fri May 11 2007, 08:47PM
woah... I tried the local motor repair shop. I walk in and the guy asks if he can help me, and I say "do you have any scrap or spare magnet wire you could sell me?" the guy pauses and then goes... "what's that?" I can't believe I had to explain to the guys at the motor repair shop what magnet wire was.
so I told them I needed 16 gauge and the guy laughs and tells me "you're better off winding a peice of copper bar stock!"
16 gauge isnt that big...is it?
waffle, Fri May 11 2007, 08:47PM
woah... I tried the local motor repair shop. I walk in and the guy asks if he can help me, and I say "do you have any scrap or spare magnet wire you could sell me?" the guy pauses and then goes... "what's that?" I can't believe I had to explain to the guys at the motor repair shop what magnet wire was.
so I told them I needed 16 gauge and the guy laughs and tells me "you're better off winding a peice of copper bar stock!"
16 gauge isnt that big...is it?
Re: Magnet wire sources
Tesla_Cubed, Fri May 11 2007, 09:51PM
Nope 16 gauge is kind of small. the larger the gauge # the smaller the dia of the wire.
Link to basic wire info
Other cheep places to find wire are the yokes in CRT computer screens and TVs, though a pain to unwind and closer to 18 or 20 gauge, also doorbells and shaded pole motors (Hacksaw off the core to leave a nice bobbin of wire). All can be found if you know when trash day is.
Tesla_Cubed, Fri May 11 2007, 09:51PM
Nope 16 gauge is kind of small. the larger the gauge # the smaller the dia of the wire.
Link to basic wire info
Other cheep places to find wire are the yokes in CRT computer screens and TVs, though a pain to unwind and closer to 18 or 20 gauge, also doorbells and shaded pole motors (Hacksaw off the core to leave a nice bobbin of wire). All can be found if you know when trash day is.
Re: Magnet wire sources
Ragnarok, Fri May 11 2007, 09:53PM
I don't think so...
No, not really - Wikipedia quotes 16 gauge at about 1.3mm, which is fairly easily bent.
Ragnarok, Fri May 11 2007, 09:53PM
I don't think so...
No, not really - Wikipedia quotes 16 gauge at about 1.3mm, which is fairly easily bent.
Re: Magnet wire sources
Steve Conner, Sat May 12 2007, 01:52PM
You have to have 15 posts to sell something, but I don't believe there is any minimum number of posts required to have something sold to you.
Steve Conner, Sat May 12 2007, 01:52PM
You have to have 15 posts to sell something, but I don't believe there is any minimum number of posts required to have something sold to you.
Print this page