I was playing around with another hobby of mine today. I am rebuilding an old Gibson Les Paul and re-winding the pick ups for it. Upon winding one of the spools, and handling the fine enamel coated copper wire, I was thinking. "Man, as fine as this stuff is, there has GOT to be a cross hobby use for this stuff." I have a bunch of this 42 AWG wire, and it is actually thinner than one of my strans of hair. I'm thinking power lines, cable, tie down or something for nscale. Here is a picture of it against an N scale rule with a scale image of an N scale figure on it. I'm even thinking actually powering power lines with it, for lamp posts, bringing actual power to buildings via power poles of this stuff. I mean, I wouldn't run any substancial power through this, but powering 3vdc leds and stuff, sure why not? Man, my mind is going crazy. Have any of you guys used this fine wire for actual uses on layouts?
Tudor- It might be thin enough for one strand of what I USED to have on my head. Forgetting running juice through it, how about some blackening and using it for plain old telephone wire?
Well, thats kinda what I had in mind. Using it for power poles. It would look great for that. Running power through it wouldn't work probably, but it was a thought. Ya couldn't run much through it for very far as thin as it is. Besides that, even 3v through it and if it broke or a cat got on it shorting lines out, could be enough to heat up and spark a fire even, so, I was thinking outloud, and don't think I would ever actually try that. But, still could be lots of uses I think..
I pulled apart stranded wire to do cable ties downs for Centerbeams. It's monotnous, but the end effect is really cool.
Hi, Tudor I'm sure you'll find a lot of uses for this fine wire. Handrails, antennas, lots of other stiff things come to mind. What's the diameter of #42 AWG? I guess I'll look that up. For telephone wires, I'd recommend EZ Line. It's a rubbery product from Berkshire Junction, and comes in two sizes. I used the .003 size (N Scale .48" --just under half inch) to string the tow ropes on an Athearn Mack wrecker. Works great. Nothing spoils the appearance of a wrecker or crane more than sagging ropes or cables. You can pull this stuff tight enough to stretch it a bit, glue it in place, and it will stay taut. I posted some pictures on the N Scale Vehicle Assn Yahoo Group. Their group is at: NScaleVehicleAssociation : N Scale Vehicle Association My pictures are here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NScaleVehicleAssociation/photos/album/240676913/pic/list The best feature of it is its elasticity. It can be pulled to nearly 7 times its length and will rebound. Good if you don't want a snag to pull down half a mile of telephone poles!
I've had a similar idea. Using SMD LEDs and Kato high tension towers. I would put warning lights at the very top. The project stopped when I could not think of a way to get the towers blinking independently. The linking would not have the power load that a constant on light would have. The enamel protects the wires from shorting out. On my way back to Chicago this January, while on Interstate 65 between Chicago and Indianapolis I saw the fix for my dilemma. Several strings of high tensions towers all blinking in unison. So, this will be on the next layout. Leading from a power plant to a substation just outside the city area. I run traction under 32 ga. wire. Because of the enamel coating on your 42 ga. Iit would not work for power wire but could be used for the pull off wires.
Given the location, the lights you saw may have been the massive windmill farm that's sprung up along that stretch of I-65 over the last few years. I've noticed the synchronized blinking myself, when driving back to Illinois to visit my mom.
^ Thanks Jerry. That one was the test bed. Now I need to hunker down and try one with all the tie downs criss crossed. :tb-wink:
Tudor great find but I'm even more interested in the Les Paul. Love to see pics of the restoration. Dave
