Who is actually making pickup wire these days

[the great waldo]

Hi All

I was just wondering how many manufacturers are actually producing magnet wire, as opposed to rebadging wire suitable for pickup winding. I know that Elektrisola is one. I am not sure about MWS. I would be interested for any forumite comments.

Cheers

Andrew

[Joe Gwinn]

I was just wondering how many manufacturers are actually producing magnet wire, as opposed to rebadging wire suitable for pickup winding. I know that Elektrisola is one. I am not sure about MWS. I would be interested for any forumite comments.

I bet that different makers make different kinds of wire, with little overlap on the less common types, and they supply one another, so if you buy from one, the wire may be made by one or another of their competitors. I doubt that these arrangements are any secret, so a question or two to the manufacturers will tell the tale.

[Telemachos]

I assume that there might be manufacturers that were formerly producing wire but due to labor costs, are now distributing wire they buy from China or other sources. Remington Industries is selling Elektrisola wire for instance.

[ReWind]

All the wire I've gotten from MWS and Remington has had Elektrisola branding on the spools.
PE, SPN, HF

[Telemachos]

All the wire I've gotten from MWS and Remington has had Elektrisola branding on the spools.
PE, SPN, HF

I received two 5lbs spools from MWS 4 days ago. No Elektrisola sticker here. Instead MWS sticker and physically different spools than what Elektrisola is using.

[big_teee]

In the 48 US, It looks like over 90% of the wire is coming from the Elektrisola Plant in Indiana.
I will send out some emails monday and see what is available now a days.
I think some custom wire still getting made, but Elektrisola seems to have the Lions share here now.

[David King]

Well I have 5 or 6 spools of Essex SPN wire so I'm thinking they might have been pulled by Essex unless someone knows better.

[big_teee]

Well I have 5 or 6 spools of Essex SPN wire so I'm thinking they might have been pulled by Essex unless someone knows better.

I had some Essex 42 SPN, it was very good wire.
I got it from MWS around 3 years ago.
When I got around to replacing it all I could find was Elektrisola SPN, and HPN.
That is what Diana at MWS said they had last year, when I tried to get some more Essex.
I ended up buying several rolls of wire from Remington, and it was all Elektrisola, except for a partial roll of Phelps Dodge 41 Gauge.
My biggest complaint is the wire per gauge is getting smaller and smaller.
T

[ReWind]

I received two 5lbs spools from MWS 4 days ago. No Elektrisola sticker here. Instead MWS sticker and physically different spools than what Elektrisola is using.

Did you look on the underside of the spool or under the MWS label? I've seen it there before. Different spools, yes. I'm sure Elektrisola offers several options on that.

[Telemachos]

Did you look on the underside of the spool or under the MWS label? I've seen it there before. Different spools, yes. I'm sure Elektrisola offers several options on that.

Yes I did. Just one sticker w. all the specs. and my name

[ReWind]

Well, I can send over some photos if you don't believe me, but I promise that is actually the case. They have had Elektrisola labels on at least half of the spools I've purchased in the last two or three years.

[Telemachos]

Well, I can send over some photos if you don't believe me, but I promise that is actually the case. They have had Elektrisola labels on at least half of the spools I've purchased in the last two or three years.

I didn't say that I don't believe you. I'm only saying that my spools have no other than MWS Stickers on them. I bought two spools of HFV from MWS. There is no HFV available from Elektrisola in Europe. Dunno if this is the case in the U.S.

[ReWind]

That's a good point about regions. Elektrisola has a manufacturing plant right in Germany. Mine is likely coming from the New Hampshire or Mexico plant (assuming all plants process all wire types, which may not actually be the case?). I've never bought HV from MWS. I have only bought HV from Remington (Which is labeled "Remington" and "Elektrisola" both on one label) or older spools on eBay. FWIW all the 6" SPN spools I bought from Remington were labeled only as Elektrisola. Other sized spools of SPN I've bought from Remington have always been labeled with both names on the same label.

Also, I found this on the global Elektrisola site here: http://www.elektrisola.com/spools-and-packaging.html

"Spools and Packaging

Enameled copper wire [magnet wire] is wound on spools of different sizes and shapes. The wire diameter determines the spool size which can be used. Ultrafine wire typically is produced on smaller spools while heavy wire is wound on very large spools.

Different global standards specify different spool types which are typically associated with each continents standard."

Looking at their charts for recommended spool types in different global regions, it appears that there is some overlap in biconical and cylindrical spools for typical pickup gauge wire in both Europe and America.

Europe

America

[ReWind]

Another interesting note….

I just spoke with a sales rep at Elektrisola. I've been considering becoming a dealer, myself. I use enough of their products and know plenty of others who do as well. I was told that they have an agreement with MWS, which makes MWS the exclusive dealer for their plain enamel and formvar products. SPN is open though, so I'm going to receive some information on dealership requirements and prices from them on that. I tried hard to get some rough guesses on prices/minimums from the friendly gal I spoke with, but she was steadfast by the books and wouldn't share much with me, or maybe just really didn't know. I'll have to speak with the VP of sales regarding setting up a new distributer contract. She did elude to the idea that a conversation about hundreds of pounds of wire might be wasted, whereas a conversation about thousands of pounds might not. This is all just for SPN though, which I don't personally use much of. MWS runs the show with their HV and PE.

Which leaves the question….

What's this all about, then? Fake? Bought by Remington from MWS and repackaged on smaller spools?

[ReWind]

While I had my phone camera out at the dereeling area …in case it's useful to anyone - here are my other cross-branded spools:









The two PE spools above were bought from MWS and the large black SPN spool was bought from Remington (directly) and the small spool of HV was bought via eBay, I THINK from Remington's seller account, but I can't be 100% certain, on that. Only about 98% certain.