Wire type and coil tightness

[Scott S.]

I have been experimenting with different wire types and noticed a difference in finished coil size even when all are 42 ga single build.

I assume this is from friction or some similar effect?

There seems to be a difference in how tightly the wire lays in the middle of the bobbin also, some types seem to want to "spring" out.

Any thoughts on this?

If you're trying to compare PE to SPN and the coils are noticeably different dimensionally how much is wire and how much is coil shape determining the tone difference.

[belwar]

I have been experimenting with different wire types and noticed a difference in finished coil size even when all are 42 ga single build.

I assume this is from friction or some similar effect?

There seems to be a difference in how tightly the wire lays in the middle of the bobbin also, some types seem to want to "spring" out.

Any thoughts on this?

If you're trying to compare PE to SPN and the coils are noticeably different dimensionally how much is wire and how much is coil shape determining the tone difference.

Handwound or machine wound?

Most of your difference is probably tension on the wire. A tighter coil is by nature going to be smaller. Also if one is wound with a rapid traverse (i.e. 10-20 TPL) and the next coil is done with a slow traverse (80-100 tpl) then you are going to see a size difference. The rapid traverse is going to leave more miniature air pockets in the coil because the wire is not lying right next to the previous wraps.

[Scott S.]

both are handwound, and I try to use the same winding pattern, but it is hand.

I don't think it is a stretching issue since the DC resistance and L,Q values are very close.

[Possum]

....

All 42 gauge wire is not the same out dimension. Most plain enamel wire I get is on the slim side and poly wire on the fatter side, they won't make the same size coils. You need to be a micrometer that reads to 5-6 places and take readings of your wire diameter. Even when you reorder the same wire from your source it can be a different diameter, I deal with this headache all the time, the tiniest difference will change the coil size and tones.....