I can't remember who suggested "EmpireDons" on eBay as a seller of this quality wire, but HOLY SHEEP SHIT it's SOOOOO much nicer to work with this quality of wire vs. the Amazon BS.
Thank You whoever took the time to suggest this.
Don is good. Also is apexjr, albeit a blast from the past website. His prices are a little better but you either need to mail a check or pay higher eBay prices.
But yeah, mil spec ptfe is where it's at.
Mil spec Ag-plated Cu PTFE wire is about all I use for amps or pedals any more. Usually from Apex Jr. or John’s Wire Shop. I’ll have to check out Don’s.
I've been buying from Apex.Jr since I met Steve Slater at the Van Nuys amp show, about 20 years ago. Great prices on surplus PTFE and other wire. I use solid core as it works better when 'dressing' the wire at tube sockets since it stays where you put it.
This is where I'm at on my 5F6-A as of the day before 100mph winds scared the living crap out of me.... Fires ALL AROUND ME, but not a single ember in my town, and hardly any smoke. Knocking on wood.....
I saw about an 8'x8' sheet of shingles fly over the next door neighbor's porch, slam into a palm tree and splinter into spinning shingles and go up up and away. It was going at least 90mph, the entire thing from seeing it to out of sight was less than a second......
Needed some wire recently and ran into choices overload for pre-bond... Went with the multicolor 22G "Top coat" option for Remington on Amazon and I think it's excellent option for pre-bond... Now at least I know I can order a single color of what color I want for my builds later.. for now I have a hundred feet to go through that's really good and I'll buy direct from their website next time.
Needed some wire recently and ran into choices overload for pre-bond... Went with the multicolor 22G "Top coat" option for Remington on Amazon and I think it's excellent option for pre-bond... Now at least I know I can order a single color of what color I want for my builds later.. for now I have a hundred feet to go through that's really good and I'll buy direct from their website next time.
Remington is a great deal. I have the same multi box.
But it's nothing compared to the mil-spec stuff.
I particularly buy M16878 Type E. It's solid core, not stranded.
You don't want type ET, it's the thinnest insulation category. Type E is medium insulation and type EE is thickest insulation. I have some type EE and the insulation gets to thin or even cracks with hard bends.
Click for link^^^
Note, as it has been started before, you need the correct strippers for ptfe insulation. Standard multi strippers can be frustrating and auto strippers can pull the insulation without cutting it.
I recommend a set like these(properly calibrated for wire size)
Or carbide edge utility blades.
Getting you method for stripping ptfe down can take some practice. Especially for short lengths. The insulation isn't bonded to the wire like cheaper wire. It's extruded around it. There is a little bit of a bond but it's not uncommon for the insulation to slide up and down the wire especially on shorted lengths.
And unlike cheaper solid core(like tayda), it doesn't not break from bending. You have to bend it 180° 7-12 times to break it. Tayda solid core breaks if you jiggle it at the joint.
Alright, off my soap box.
I’ve been working my way through several spools of surplus solid core, which largely spoiled me. I almost always cut the length I want, and roll it under a knife to cut the PTFE; after a few tries, you get good at knowing how hard to press to not nick the wire. I typically hold the first bare end in some smooth jaw pliers to pull the other end off—as mentioned, there is no bond between the Teflon and wire, so it’s easy to end up with them separated on short lengths. But, re-insertion is usually not hard.
I’ve been working my way through several spools of surplus solid core, which largely spoiled me. I almost always cut the length I want, and roll it under a knife to cut the PTFE; after a few tries, you get good at knowing how hard to press to not nick the wire. I typically hold the first bare end in some smooth jaw pliers to pull the other end off—as mentioned, there is no bond between the Teflon and wire, so it’s easy to end up with them separated on short lengths. But, re-insertion is usually not hard.
I alternate between strippers linked and the carbide razors
Normal utility razors seems to loose their edge pretty quick, messing with the "touch" needed. But man, those carbides are great. Usual precautions to be had and all.
I'll roll the wire on the bench top with the left hand and lateral slice in the opposite direction with the right.
@jwin615 Thank you for reminding me about Apex Jr. I had seen his site before but my ADHD stopped me from even trying the ordering process lol.
I just ordered some rolls of “100 Ft Roll ALPHA TFT 250 - 18 Awg Mil Spec TEFLON TUBING”. What a great price. I’ve been wanting something besides heat shrink for insulating bus wire, component leads etc.
As to the subject at hand ETFE/Tefzel too.
The Weico/Remington pre bond stuff is great to work with. Especially if your iron is good and you can get your solder joints done before the heat reaches the PVC.
Note, as it has been started before, you need the correct strippers for ptfe insulation. Standard multi strippers can be frustrating and auto strippers can pull the insulation without cutting it.
I recommend a set like these(properly calibrated for wire size)
Man, I love having dudes I can talk to about wire. For real. Wire and good storage boxes are important; normal people just don't get it.
Edit: link works now. Added to cart. I'm dying to see where this link resolves. It's currently not working for me.
My first batch of “Barry's Best” from GuitarPCB goes all the way back to 2010 (?) I couldn't strip it properly and gave up until I ran out of other wire. Then I learned how to strip it, and PTFE is all I use now. I switched to Empire Don when Barry's stock was dry.
I use an old-school Craftsman wire stripper and it takes a lot of effort to strip the teflon. It'll be nice to have the right tool for the job considering how often I strip mil-spec wire.
Man, I love having dudes I can talk to about wire. For real. Wire and good storage boxes are important; normal people just don't get it.
Edit: link works now. Added to cart. I'm dying to see where this link resolves. It's currently not working for me.
My first batch of “Barry's Best” from GuitarPCB goes all the way back to 2010 (?) I couldn't strip it properly and gave up until I ran out of other wire. Then I learned how to strip it, and PTFE is all I use now. I switched to Empire Don when Barry's stock was dry.
I use an old-school Craftsman wire stripper and it takes a lot of effort to strip the teflon. It'll be nice to have the right tool for the job considering how often I strip mil-spec wire.
They're really the most basic form of strippers, but once you dial them in for a wire size (and leave it for just that wire), they make easy work. Really small pieces can still be a challenge at times but usually a squeeze and twist and you're done.
Is Barry's best PTFE? I have 5 or 6 rolls from the last few times it was in stock, but there wasn't a ton of info on his site about it. I mostly got it because everyone here seems to like it.
Is Barry's best PTFE? I have 5 or 6 rolls from the last few times it was in stock, but there wasn't a ton of info on his site about it. I mostly got it because everyone here seems to like it.
I don't remember. I might be spreading misinformation because it was so long ago.
Perhaps I bought some other teflon wire after my Barry's ran out. And then that sat unused for a few years.
I just remember his was "pre-bonded" and that felt like a game changer.
Long story short: I wish I'd discovered mil-spec, silver strand, teflon wire a lot sooner.
Pressmaster designs and manufactures high precision tooling.
www.pressmaster.se
They're the OEM for a TON of companies. Phoenix contacts, knipex, gedore, molex, rs electronics, etc. Great strippers, though I find the weicons work better...generally speaking.
Geometry of the cutting blades is important for PTFE. V-shaped *sharp* blades work best.
Lots of autos use oval-shaped or flat blades. That'll work OK for MTW or automotive stuff.
I work a lot with THHN, which is PVC...but, like, *hard* PVC with a sacrificial nylon jacket. Commercial electrical stuff, used all over the place, typically in conduit. It's just about as difficult to strip as PTFE: the V-shaped blades do it quite well.
What I appreciate about the strippers posted above is that they have depth stops built in. It makes getting consistent legnths in strips easy. One pull tends to do the trick.
The Pressmaster linked above comes with a specific set of blades that is meant for PTFE. They offer three different sets: they basically boil down to gen purpose, heavy duty, and large diameter. I linked the ones with the heavy duty V blades.
Those have the advantage of having adjustable strip strength over the weicons, but that's a setting that requires a little fiddling to get set perfectly. Honestly, the weicons have tended to work perfectly for me without needing to adjust anything.
Honorable mention...jokari. they're the OEM for most of knipex's stuff. Their 20050s I don't recommend, but the 20100 is pretty good.
