cloth covered wire

[Doc Stitches]

Where can I find the smallest version of cloth covered wire for amps ?

What I have is from Antique Electronic Supply and it is very "fat"/thick cloth .....the white spool is stamped S-W709L-25

The 5E3 build I finished looks like this with the fat wires :

Thanks
Doc

[J M Fahey]

Donīt think youīll find a very thin version.
After all, they are really *rubber* + cloth covered.
Thicknesses add up.
And in the old days, they didnīt go that far into "miniaturization"

[Enzo]

They used to make plain cloth insulated wires too. Pinball machines had miles of it in them. We called it "pushback" wire. Cut it to length, then push the cloth back to solder. Of course pinballs were all relays running on 24v and 6v light bulbs. Not sure plain cloth and 500v go together. Search out "pushback wire."

Oh, I guess they still do:


StewMac sells it
STEWMAC.COM : Vintage Push-back Wire - 50 feet

Here is a thread about it from here
http://music-electronics-forum.com/t19299/

Mojo sells it
Mojotone Amplifier and Guitar Wire

[pontiacpete]

Hoffman Amplifiers has a really nice 22 gauge cloth wire and for a pretty good price, .30 cents a foot.

[Rhodesplyr]

Triode Electronics has genuine push-back wire with cloth-only insulation. I keep one of their fifty-foot rolls around just in case I need it for some of the Hammond Organ work I do.

Wire

But one question: why do you want to use cloth-covered wire, especially the kind that's cloth over PVC? To me, this has always seemed like the worst of both worlds unless you need abrasion resistance. I think it's mostly manufactured these days for people rewiring lamps where the wiring is exposed. The PVC insulation is going to cancel out any of the "vintage mojo" that some people associate with cloth-covered wire.

The nice thing about the old-style cloth-covered wire, with no PVC underneath, is that, as Enzo said, you don't have strip it. You just cut it and push back the cloth. Personally, I like 22awg teflon stranded for hookup wire--durable and easy to work with.

Also, in your build, you have the cathode bypass capacitor smack up against the cathode resistor. Heat is a major enemy of electrolytic capacitors, so you're going to cook that capacitor to an early death. I know it's the way amp builders used to do it sometimes, but it was only because it was quick and easy--not because it was a good idea.

[big_teee]

When I use cloth wire, I like the Mojo wire.
I use the 22 Gauge on Certain vintage Strat Pickups.
I just skin it with a good pair of sharp skinners.
Use what you want to.
Have Fun,
T

[soundguruman]

I only use Teflon.

[Doc Stitches]

Rhodesplyr........ I will be using Triode Elect. push-back wire for the vintageness of it. Also thanks for the tip on CB capacitor/resistor....I know better.
soundguruman... what do you like about Teflon ?

Thanks to everyone
Doc

[big_teee]

Rhodesplyr........ I will be using Triode Elect. push-back wire for the vintageness of it. Also thanks for the tip on CB capacitor/resistor....I know better.
soundguruman... what do you like about Teflon ?

Thanks to everyone
Doc

I'm not SoundGman, but I like Teflon because it doesn't melt when soldering.
It is not a sponge to Hold Moisture in Humid conditions.
And, Oh yes let's not forget how small and handy it is in Tight places.
To me There is no comparison in teflon vs Cloth in amps.
I like the pretinned Topcoat also but the plastic melts real easy if you touch it with an Iron.
The downside to Teflon, unless you have heated strippers it is harder to skin.
And, It costs more money than all the other wires.
Good Luck,
Terry

[Doc Stitches]

Thanks big_teee............good pionts.
Doc

[hasserl]

I love using push back wire, it is so easy to use, just cut the wire to length and push the covering back to connect it, not stripping required. Weber used to carry several colors of it, but the last stuff I ordered from them was cloth covered but not pushback. I don't care for that at all.