There are many who ask how to do hoses and things and the answer inevitably comes down to wire . Or fly fishing line . The funny thing is this . Most of you have had a neighbor throw out a T.V. , Microwave or other electronic device . Do you know how many modeling goodies reside within these throw-aways ? Especially for you scratch - Builders.
Yup , I have the fine wire from old Cathode ray tubes as well as the old style transformers . I just drop them in a can of lacquer for a day and the wire peels off like a ribbon . Now insulated wire , as we all know , comes in various sizes and they can be found in old electronics and old cars too ! I got some fine wire once that had the woven insulation on it , Boy , it made great radiator hoses !
An old wiring harness holds at least four different sizes of wire and it is all useful . Need hard rails But , can’t handle brass rod ? Then the proper sized copper wire , clean and polished will work fine and allow you to get great bends at curved areas .
Also the stiffer large wire is drillable , so you can get a hollow end ( this is for the heavier wire with no insulation .) . Well , If you can think of anything to add , I am listening .T.B.
Actually, I try to unwrap the wire without soaking in anything- I can usually remove it okay. Most of the bare wire in transformers and coils is coated with a form of varnish (I think they called it Formvar or something like that). The reason I want to leave the varnish on is that paint sticks to it and you don’t need to prime it- just spray or brush on the color paint.
Those electrolytic capacitors - they look a bit like barrels, sometimes aluminium in colour, sometimes coated in shrink-wrap - if you cut them apart, they would give you nice aluminium tubing in many different sizes. Once I have made air cleaners out of one of those capacitors. Hope it helps and remember - there will be enough time to throw it away some day, so in doubt keep it!
No , I guess I could use thinner ( lacquer ) but I have been using lacquer since I don’t remember when . Of Course it’s lacquer thinner ! Did I say lacquer ? Oh My , My brain must be fried from the fumes . T.B.