Help please with wire supplier

Am looking for a supplier of steel wire of about 0.7 to 0.9mm diameter in order to restore an American planetarium by Holbrook,

Although the planetarium is all wood and bent wire and held together with nails (compared to brass, blued steel, classic design and superb craftsmanship of earlier English examples) there are some interesting design points.

Each planet is represented by a wooden ball that sits on the end of a steel wire arm. The end of the arm is bent up and fits into a hole in the base of ball, and the hole in the ball is lined with a coil of wire a bit like the 'helicoil' insert for spark plugs in aluminium cylinder heads.

Some of the planets are missing, and although the wooden balls are no problem, I need a few feet of wire to wind up into the little inserts.

Any and all suggestions will be appreciated

TIA

Reply to
orrerymaker
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MIG welding wire might be good enough? It is copper plated though.

Reply to
Wayne Weedon

It can be got without copper, may be a bit more expensive though (& possibly only available in 13/15 Kg reels?).

0.8mm is one of the commonest sizes.

What about piano wire, available from most decent model shops/suppliers? I imagine they have it in that sort of size?

Tim

Dutton Dry-Dock Traditional & Modern canal craft repairs Vintage diesel engine service

Reply to
Tim Leech

Reply to
penfold

Many thanks David, I'll email my address for the mig wire.

Also, thanks to all in the NG for the other replies/suggestions.

Peter

Reply to
orrerymaker

Helicoils are made in small sizes... also would buying close wound springs save a lot of bother ?

What size(s) do you need ? ( looking at stack of spring makers catalogues :-) )

Regards Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan Barnes

I know this is an 'old thread' but I have just had to do a search for very thin wire and came across two companies - one a 'craft' oriented one whose idea of 'precision' is 'within 50%' is near enough :( but the other "The Scientific Wire Company" although also having 'craft' items in it's catalogue also has various copper wires from 0.05mm to 2mm including 0.9 but the nearest to 0.7 is 0.710.

If you are still looking then try:

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JG

Reply to
JG

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