Where do I find teflon wire and bare hookup wire

[chrisguitars]

Can anyone recommend a good reliable source for teflon solid core wire?

[davent]

Hello,
Apex Jr. is highly recommended. (PTFE is Teflon, Steve got hassled by Dupont and had to stop using the name "Teflon" in conjunction with the wire he sells on his website.)
dave

[tranceracer]

Davent,
Is there a specific reason why you want to use Teflon wire?  Just curious. 

Stranded and solid Telephone wire works great for me. 

The thing that needs to be done is to pre prep the insulation by heating the conductor so the insulation "shrinks" back about 1/8-1/4 inch.  That way you minimize the exposed copper when the wire is soldered to the components.

Pre heating can be done by "tinning" the Cu with solder and flux which accomplishes the same thing.

[davent]

Davent,
Is there a specific reason why you want to use Teflon wire?  Just curious. 

Stranded and solid Telephone wire works great for me. 

The thing that needs to be done is to pre prep the insulation by heating the conductor so the insulation "shrinks" back about 1/8-1/4 inch.  That way you minimize the exposed copper when the wire is soldered to the components.

Pre heating can be done by "tinning" the Cu with solder and flux which accomplishes the same thing.

I was building some tube stuff and could get 600v Belden Teflon  wire locally at a good price so bought 300' and just used it in everything i was building. It went into tube gear, SS gear, pedals, interconnects anyplace I could use this 22awg.  When that ran out and still building tube gear (400+ volts), the Belden had doubled in price in a not too long period so ...ordered 500' of PTFE from Apex JR. in five colours at a great price.

With the Teflon (once you strip it, which isn't always easy although the Apex Jr is much easier to strip then the Belden) there's no shrinking back while soldering and you're not going to damage the insulation on other leads should they accidentally come into contact with your iron while soldering in tight quarters which seeme to be always. All the Teflon I've used comes pre-tinned, no problem to solder. I've only used stranded but it will hold a shape and stay where you put it like a solid wire would. In using  smaller gauge solid wire I've had problems with it breaking if there is a need to manipulate the wire after it's been soldered in place, sometimes it will break while crimping  around an eyelet before soldering. (That of course has nothing to do with being teflon or not teflon).

The Teflon is  slippery and can be a little difficult to handle, the insulation is much thinner then PVC so it appears you are using a much smaller guage of wire then it really is and that might give rise to concern for some people, doesn't meet the required aesthetic.  It can be a pain to strip and it's more expensive then PVC wires. 

I do use PVC wire, solid and stranded, new and recycled (an old electric clothes dryers yielded a great wiring harness of heavier gauged 600v wire).  The 22awg Teflon covers probably 90% of my wiring needs. I've got it so i use it and when it's gone I'll buy more.

Take care
dave

[objectx]

just a note: www.tedweber.com is now selling teflon solid core wire, some colours are harder to strip than others for some reason but I like using it as my soldering always seems to end up with scorched wires everywhere

[DavidRavenMoon]

I love teflon wire, and use it for the hookup leads in my pickups.

Teflon is a better insulator than PVC, and has a higher dielectric constant.  This might be why many audiophiles* say it sounds better

(*silly $600 wooden knobs notwithstanding!)