What are Y'all Using for Lead Wire?

[PoorMan]

I've been using StewMac's stuff (which I don't like). So I'm looking for something else.

[Sam Lee Guy]

Never tried Stewmacs stuff, but what is it that you don't like? Could help with suggestions of what you might like?

[black_labb]

ahh, lead wire, i was wondering what you guys were using lead (ie pb, the heavy metal) wire for. makes sense now.

[PoorMan]

Never tried Stewmacs stuff, but what is it that you don't like? Could help with suggestions of what you might like?

Ah. Sam Lee Guy. You slip up and make serious post under alias. Confucious say limp noodle make poor conductor.

Seriously though, the insulation is really tough and difficult to strip. StewMac ships them in short lengths that are tied in a knot...and they hold that pretzel shape no matter what you do. I'd rather buy spools and hopefully use something easier to strip. Does everyone use 28 AWG or ???

This also raises the question of how you guys strip the insulation...wire strippers, razors, exactos?

[Stan H]

I use this and remove the sheath.

[jason lollar]

are you talking about the stew mac pushback wire?
They call it pushback because you push the insulation back-you dont strip it.
They dont explain that in the catalog.
As far as wire you strip there are handheld tools that will do that although in recent years there are fewer types than there use to be.

[J S Moore]

Actually I found Stew-Mac's wire to strip very easy. It's generally too small for a stripping tool but if you use a sharp utility knife held at a 60 degree angle and cut around the wire where you want the insulation to end it'll come off quite easy.

28 AWG is compact and doesn't take up a lot of space. I get mine from Elcon Electronics. I screwed up and go the teflon insulation which is a bitch to get off. Stick with PVC it's a lot easier. Stew-Mac has Belden wire which I will hunt down next time I need to order.

[PoorMan]

No, not the pushback. Humbucker pigtail lead wire. This stuff...which I suspect is teflon and is indeed very difficult to strip.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron...kup_Parts.html

[jason lollar]

they do make a special stripper for teflon coated wire

[PoorMan]

they do make a special stripper for teflon coated wire

Thanks, Jason. But I'd like to get away from the StewMac wire anyway. I find it difficult to work with (and overpriced).

Thanks Stan H for the recommendation.

[EtLa]

I strip cheap parallel printer cable and use the multiple conductor as lead wire.

[David Schwab]

No, not the pushback. Humbucker pigtail lead wire. This stuff...which I suspect is teflon and is indeed very difficult to strip.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron...kup_Parts.html

It's not teflon, but it does have a very stiff insulation.

I use teflon wire. I just use a nice sharp wire stripper, and wrap the rest around my finger.

[Joe Gwinn]

This stuff...which I suspect is teflon and is indeed very difficult to strip.

Teflon is easy to strip if one has the correct stripper. Otherwise, it ain't easy.

[David King]

I use the 24AWG, 19 strand, teflon insulation, silver plated, milspec stuff. I got three 1000' spools mounted under my bench and I feed through holes in the bench and just yank up what I need. It's very easy to strip, I use a little "ideal" stripper which I picked up on ebay for $20. It solders better than anything I've ever tried and the insulation NEVER melts back. I notice that it's become the standard for all high end basses now. Well except for the crap that Bill Bartolini is still using. I'd rather not go back to other wire, I have no patience working on old instruments now either.

[kevinT]

Here are a couple of sources for both types of lead wire. Mouser as well as allied electronics both carry this wire too. I purchased 100ft spools. they also have 1000ft spools.

I've noticed that there is confusion about what is lead wire and what is hook-up wire. I always thought that leadwire is what you attached to the magnet wire. The leadwire would then be attached to the hook-up wire which would then be attached to the pots.


http://www.rselectronics.com/Catalog...00-BLK&MFG=ALP

http://www.rselectronics.com/Catalog...00-WHT&MFG=ALP

I find that the teflon 28 gauge is thinner and more conformable than the PVC 28 gauge insulation that most of us use.

I also find that having the right tools facilitates stripping the wire. I purchased the following strippers from micro-mark. They are really nice and work perfectly.

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares...oduct&ID=14221