Solid core hook up wire…..

[Paradox916]

So solid core wire, who uses it? Where is your favorite place to source it? I’m tired of the tayda wire I have, the insulation melts if you fart in the same room and no longer have the patience of treating my off board wiring like It’s made out of butter.

 

[GizzWizzKing]

Yes agreed. My wiring sometimes looks like someone melted colored cheese all over the insides

 

[Blooze]

I use silver plated stranded and solid with PTFE insulation, 18-20awg. I either get it off eBay or from apex Jr.

 

[Erik S]

I use solid. Not out of some logical trial and error process, just because I had some on hand when I started building pedals.

I’m just about out of the black roll after 20 something pedals, so I just ordered another set. I haven’t had any problems with it. The insulation is the regular melty stuff though.

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[Betty Wont]

I only use solid core. Belden 20 and 22 gauge. Mine is all vintage stuff harvested from an old lab. Whatever they made the insulation out of on the stuff that I have doesn’t melt or shrink at all. And I got a bunch of colors.
Edit: it’s Teflon ptfe.

 

[Laundryroom David]

Solid. Some topcoat. By the spool or foot from NextGen in Ontario for the most part.

@Paradox916 so THAT’s why my insulation melts???

 

[Paradox916]

I use to have an unlimited supply of m22579 but that was also stranded and you just can’t get the 90deg bends as nice as you can with solid.

 

[Paradox916]

I use solid. Not out of some logical trial and error process, just because I had some on hand when I started building pedals.

I’m just about out of the black roll after 20 something pedals, so I just ordered another set. I haven’t had any problems with it. The insulation is the regular melty stuff though.

Sorry! Something went wrong!

I think that’s about what the tayda specs are

 

[derevaun]

Ready for an upgrade here too. It might as well not have insulation at all if it's going to melt away from where it's needed most

 

[giovanni]

How do you guys avoid the solid wire to break? Or is that not really a concern if you are careful?

 

[Paradox916]

How do you guys avoid the solid wire to break? Or is that not really a concern if you are careful?

I have only ever had the stuff from tayda break once, and that was right at the solder joint, but I have had multiple wetting and solder adhesion issues with it, it’s not bad wire but it’s definitely not great, if you have a 90deg bend close to the soldering point you have to be quick or the insolation melts and wants to come off so for me it’s mostly an aesthetics issue.

 

[Paradox916]

Ready for an upgrade here too. It might as well not have insulation at all if it's going to melt away from where it's needed most

Most of the time I can get it done without it melting, but damn you have to be super careful, I don’t mind tedious, but there just has to be something better out there ya know?

 

[Laundryroom David]

Most of the time I can get it done without it melting, but damn you have to be super careful, I don’t mind tedious, but there just has to be something better out there ya know?

Same. It’s like avocados. Not yet not yet not yet not yet not yet too late.

 

[Betty Wont]

How do you guys avoid the solid wire to break? Or is that not really a concern if you are careful?

I use thick gauge and build directly into the enclosure. There never is or was a stress point.

 

[Laundryroom David]

How do you guys avoid the solid wire to break? Or is that not really a concern if you are careful?

Hasn’t been a problem for me.

Similar to what @Betty Wont wrote, I build in the enclosure. No stress or strain on the wire.

 

[Erik S]

I’m also wiring in the box. I imagine if you want to wire-then-stuff is where you might break a joint using solid wire.

I get jealous of the stranded wire stuffer builders though because I imagine that process is faster than what I’m doing…

 

[Paradox916]

I’m also wiring in the box. I imagine if you want to wire-then-stuff is where you might break a joint using solid wire.

I get jealous of the stranded wire stuffer builders though because I imagine that process is faster than what I’m doing…

All I can say is I’m never doing another project like this again…
That’s the one I had a broken wire on

 

[Laundryroom David]

All I can say is I’m never doing another project like this again… View attachment 52298
That’s the one I had a broken wire on

Fffuuuuuuuuuuucck

 

[p_wats]

I like the idea of how neat solid core can look, but I know I don't have the patience for those perfect bends. I also do too much fiddling with the circuits outside of the enclosure with my test rigs before boxing them up (if I ever do at all), so I figure it'd be too much stress on the joints. Might reconsider though seeing how many of you folks use it.

 

[KindCanuck]

I use silicone insulated wire, whatever’s on amazon. It’s so much nicer to work with than the PVC. Zero burning or melting, looks fantastic.