Recommendations for clamp wire temper

I like annealed stainless aircraft safety wire. The full nomenclature is: "wire, nonelectrical, steel, corrosion resistant, round,alloy type

It was made by Brookfield Wire Company, Brookfield MASS.

I don't remember where I got it.

That helps, thanks. I was looking at getting both some carbon steel wire as well as some stainless, as the carbon steel should be less expensive for pure screwing around.

What's the relationship between temper and the wire's ability to take and hold a set? I'm assuming that annealed wire is better at taking a bend, but am less certain about holding it under force.

Ben

I don't know. It might need to be a pretty soft temper to take sharp bends without cracking. Annealed wire probably work hardens a little when bent sharply.

I use electric fence wire with my version (mines very old and made a lot different from the ones you get now days but does the same job). I think that electric fence wire would be in a mid range as far as hardness goes. It doesn't like to be twisted very much or it'll break but it can be twisted some before it does.

Wayne Cook Shamrock, TX

I use #19 black iron tie wire for both garden hose and 100 psi air line - by the time it starts to leak, it's time to re-do the fitting. I tried equivalent sized stainless but found I couldn't get the same tightness without snapping the wire. Maybe I need to learn how to anneal stainless. Gerry :-)} London, Canada

Besides the tips for an alloy, I do have a tip if you make sharp bends. Afterwards, you should put the part into the oven for some hours at about 550..600°F to stress relieve it.

Nick