Resistance Wire for detail parts...

[Missaberoad]

Does anyone have any experience using 30-36 gauge Kanthal or Nichrome resistance wire for making Grab irons/handrails?
I'm wondering how well it holds up to handling or even the passage of time.

Its definitely cheap enough to experiment with... Any thoughts? Am I barking up the wrong tree?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEMCo-Nichrome-wire-36-Gauge-80-series-100-FT-0-11oz-Resistance-Resistor-AWG-/381232844881?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58c33f9051

[C855B]

Looks interesting. Worthy of experimenting.

Only caveat I can think of is don't use your good wire cutters with this stuff. Similar hardness to piano wire, I think, so it will likely nick the blades. Like you, I wonder if it will be as stiff as phosphor bronze in similar sizes.

[peteski]

The Nichrome wire I have worked with (and the one you linked to in your post) was/is annealed. It will be pretty much as soft and pliable as equivalent gauge copper wire. Not very useful for handrails. Maybe hardened Nichrome wire would be usable for handrails.

[Missaberoad]

I was wondering about that, my knowledge of metals is pretty basic...

unfortunately half-hard doesn't seem to be avalible in that diameter, at least not on ebay. I might pull the trigger on some, worst case I could find another use for it...

[peteski]

I was wondering about that, my knowledge of metals is pretty basic...

unfortunately half-hard doesn't seem to be avalible in that diameter, at least not on ebay. I might pull the trigger on some, worst case I could find another use for it...

You can use in hot-wire foam cutter.  But 30 AWG or smaller diameter might be a bit delicate for that use.

[ednadolski]

Does anyone have any experience using 30-36 gauge Kanthal or Nichrome resistance wire for making Grab irons/handrails?
I'm wondering how well it holds up to handling or even the passage of time.

For N -scale handrails I use 0.008" phosphor bronze wire, and for grabirons I use 0.005" stainless steel wire.  These seem reasonably durable for their size and are not too hard to work.  (Brass wire OTOH is not as durable.)

I have not tried any of those other metals but I would be interested to know any reasons why they might be better.   But AFAIK they come only on spools or rolls, so if they are not available as straightened wire then I would not bother.

Ed

[Missaberoad]

I don't imagine it would be better, just noticed it was available in economical quantities. Good point about it not being available pre straightened...

What is your source for the stainless steel wire? 

[ednadolski]

I used to get it from Small Parts, but they have been assimilated by Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Unpolished-Precision-Tolerance-Diameter/dp/B00CNLXNW6/ref=sr_1_2?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1432131806&sr=1-2&keywords=0.005%22+stainless+steel+wire

(It's not easy to find in hobby quantities, but just a few of those 60" pieces should build a great many models.)

Ed

[Missaberoad]

Yeah it should last a while...  Thanks again for the tip!