[Tool Time] Stainless Steel Wire

Stainless steel binding wire:

I bought a 2-lb roll of Radnor stainless steel MIG welding wire,
0.023 inch diameter to use as binding wire. If anyone would like to
try this wire as binding wire or some other purpose, I’ll send you a
freebie three-foot piece if you send me a self-addressed stamped
envelope. Email me at @Steve_R_Rasmussen if interested. I find the wire
very stiff and springy, not at all malleable like soft iron wire. I am
not sure that it is suitable as binding wire.

Steve

American Science & Surplus has some stainless steel wire that would
work well. http://sciplus.com

Colene

I bought a 2-lb roll of Radnor stainless steel MIG welding wire,
0.023 inch diameter to use as binding wire.  I find the wire
very stiff and springy, not at all malleable like soft iron wire. I am
not sure that it is suitable as binding wire.

Steve, perhaps this will help. Take a length of the stainless wire,
fold it in half then fix one end into a vice. Twist the wire using a
pin vise or similar thing to hold and turn it. (Alternatively you
could use a hook held in an electric drill to do the twisting.) The 2
strand twisted wire seems to behave better. Also, you can anneal the
twist to get rid of even more of its springiness. MP

Anneal it and it will be soft (if this is what you are after).
Nichrome wire available from ceramic suppliers and used for kiln
elements is very temp stable and might be a good choice for binding
wire?!

John Dach

MidLife Crisis Enterprises
Cynthia Thomas Designs
Cynthia’s sculptures are at: http://www.mlce.net
Maiden Metals,
A small bronze foundry, no web site yet!!

Hi John, Beeing just in the preparation phase of my examens, I learned
that Nichrome is the same as stainless steal. It is the same stuff
kitchenblades, coocpots, etc. are made from. Chrome is added to
nikkel to give it a higher resistence to heat and to make the
material stronger, so it cann endure more. greetings to You all, from
a very sunny Holland

Marlein Bong

We use stainless steel lock wire for binding, for hanging items in
the ultra and for tying small findings together when burnishing in
the vibratory tumbler. Lock wire is sold by the pound and comes in a
cylindrical dispenser. I use a pair of shears to cut it off. I would
guess that the guage of the wire is about 30. The amount that you get
in a one pound container will last for years! As I recall, it costs
about ten dollars. Ron at Mills Gem, Los
Osos, CA.