Prewaxing Coil Wire

tonedeciple · 10-22-2009, 06:11 AM

I've noticed when peeling off old coil wire from a potted bobbin, that very little if any wax reaches the innermost portions of the coil. To improve wax penetration, I came up with an idea to prewax the wire by letting it run over a block of paraffin as I wind the coil. Then when I pot the bobbin, the thin layer of wax would melt and flow together. Would this work?

David Schwab · 10-22-2009, 12:35 PM

You don't need the wax to get all the way in there. Many people feel that's not good for tone either.

They make bondable magnet wire. After you wind it, you stick it in the oven and it becomes a solid mass.

Possum · 10-22-2009, 01:03 PM

Most squeal from humbuckers if they are covered, comes from the slugs interacting with the cover, put some tape over the slugs and clamp it closed when you solder. Coil squeal mostly comes from the outer layers, you'll only get squeal from the inner coil if you really wound it loose. Tape your coils tight. Or you could go nuts and do vacuum potting, way overkill.

Electricdaveyboy · 10-22-2009, 05:58 PM

Hello,
most wire today is prewaxed.
They do it in the production, you can see the letters mslub on some spools and you know it is waxed wire.

ShannonH · 10-22-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Possum

Or you could go nuts and do vacuum potting, way overkill.

You mean like Duncan does. I'm not sure it helps either. They use a pure paraffin too, which I don't really want to deal with.

belwar · 10-22-2009, 09:07 PM

I've seen thier vacuum pots. It's a freakin work of art.

They dont pot everything though. I just a bought a sweet pair of seth lovers and released when I got them that I forgot to specific "un-potted".. but when the took the covers off, they weren't potted. SWEET!

I know from my own experiments that vacuum potting at 27 inHg or higher will pot to the core in a few second ... particularly if you release the vacuume quickly it will suck the wax to the core.

Down Time · 10-24-2009, 04:20 AM

I pot humbucker coils before the hook up leads are installed and before they are taped. A half an hour in a wax pot at 150 degrees I get the wax to penetrate right down to the first layer of the wind. I have cut open the coils to check this. However, I personally prefer an unpotted humbucker myself.

LtKojak · 10-24-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Schwab

You don't need the wax to get all the way in there. Many people feel that's not good for tone either.

Yeah, tell me about it!

After dealing with a number of Epi p'ups, I can assure you, too much wax=no tone.

HTH,

Zhangliqun · 10-26-2009, 02:45 AM

5 minutes in the pot with a thin mix (more beeswax) seems to solve all squeal problems for me without affecting the tone.

10-22-2009, 06:11 AM	#1
tonedeciple Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 82	Prewaxing Coil Wire I've noticed when peeling off old coil wire from a potted bobbin, that very little if any wax reaches the innermost portions of the coil. To improve wax penetration, I came up with an idea to prewax the wire by letting it run over a block of paraffin as I wind the coil. Then when I pot the bobbin, the thin layer of wax would melt and flow together. Would this work?

10-22-2009, 12:35 PM	#2
David Schwab Pickup Maker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 5,597	You don't need the wax to get all the way in there. Many people feel that's not good for tone either. They make bondable magnet wire. After you wind it, you stick it in the oven and it becomes a solid mass. __________________ Those who create are rare; those who cannot are numerous. Therefore, the latter are stronger. - Coco Chanel www.sgd-lutherie.com www.myspace.com/sgdlutherie www.myspace.com/davidschwab

10-22-2009, 01:03 PM	#3
Possum Old Timer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Planet Mongo in the country of PAF Posts: 3,113	..... Most squeal from humbuckers if they are covered, comes from the slugs interacting with the cover, put some tape over the slugs and clamp it closed when you solder. Coil squeal mostly comes from the outer layers, you'll only get squeal from the inner coil if you really wound it loose. Tape your coils tight. Or you could go nuts and do vacuum potting, way overkill. __________________ http://www.SDpickups.com Stephens Design Pickups

10-22-2009, 09:07 PM	#6
belwar Supporting Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 764	I've seen thier vacuum pots. It's a freakin work of art. They dont pot everything though. I just a bought a sweet pair of seth lovers and released when I got them that I forgot to specific "un-potted".. but when the took the covers off, they weren't potted. SWEET! I know from my own experiments that vacuum potting at 27 inHg or higher will pot to the core in a few second ... particularly if you release the vacuume quickly it will suck the wax to the core. Last edited by belwar; 10-22-2009 at 09:20 PM.

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10-22-2009, 05:58 PM	#4
Electricdaveyboy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: hessen,germany on planet earth Posts: 249	Hello, most wire today is prewaxed. They do it in the production, you can see the letters mslub on some spools and you know it is waxed wire.

10-24-2009, 04:20 AM	#7
Down Time Supporting Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 55	I pot humbucker coils before the hook up leads are installed and before they are taped. A half an hour in a wax pot at 150 degrees I get the wax to penetrate right down to the first layer of the wind. I have cut open the coils to check this. However, I personally prefer an unpotted humbucker myself.

10-26-2009, 02:45 AM	#9
Zhangliqun Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 585	5 minutes in the pot with a thin mix (more beeswax) seems to solve all squeal problems for me without affecting the tone.

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