Music wire for pins

[Eric Smith]

I have observed that many of you use music "piano" wire for pins.  I am shopping at MSC for some but am wondering what size to buy. It is listed in both diameter and gauges. Also I am curious as to why you use this material. Im sure there is a good answer.

[Bill of the 45th]

It's a matter of personal choice.  Some use the piano wire, others use finishing nails, I use coat hanger wire, or old Miss Dig flags.  Some like thin 1/16" others use 1/8" wire.  I have about a half dozen build wires, that are about three inches long, an have an "L" bend as it's easy to remove them during the build.

Bill

[B.Habermehl]

5/64 dia.- .078 is my favorite size. I get mine from the model airplane supply houses. 1/16-.062 is too small and fiddley for my taste. I make my punches from the same stock, driven into a 3/8 dia steel handle. BJH

[Black Hand]

I've used 1/16".

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

I like the 1/16" from the model airplane store. They are hard and dont bnd easily, once the ends are rounded off with a file theu generally save wear and tear on the holes in the stock compared to softer wire/pins.

[Lucky R A]

  I like .067, a I believe # 51 drill is the same size, nice tight fit.  If using music wire be aware you can't cut it with wire cutters w/o the risk of chipping the blades.  It is easiest to snip it off with a cutting wheel in your Dremel....unless you have a water wheel turning a grind stone near by... I never liked temporary extra long pins for building, ripped my hands up on them and they are a general PITA,   I probably only remove the barrel from the stock 3-4 times in a build.

[billd]

I use ground and polished drill rod for pins.  It is O1 (oil hardening) if you so desire.  I only harden the pin for the trigger.  None of the cutting trouble associated with music wire as Ron described.   Comes in 3' lengths at places such as MSC. 

Bill

[flehto]

!/16" music wire works well and because it's a spring temper, is quite stiff. Have an old pliers w/ a section of cutoff which has cut many musuc wire pins wo damage to the cutting edge. Bought a wire cutter and the first time, a chip. !/16" dia. works well w/ thin webs asre bbl lugs and RR pipes. Made a drift from a stoned down length of the same mat'l and shoved it in a square length of brass. .....Fred

[coutios]

  1/16 stainless TIG wire or 5/64 drill rod for under lugs. 1/16 for all pipes....

Regards
Dave

[Dphariss]

I have observed that many of you use music "piano" wire for pins.  I am shopping at MSC for some but am wondering what size to buy. It is listed in both diameter and gauges. Also I am curious as to why you use this material. Im sure there is a good answer.

Its better than soft steel/iron, for pins and such hard material (its a soft spring temper) is superior.
It is very unlikely to bend or pean in use, but can be bent if needed.
It can also be used for springs, either as purchased or forged and tempered.
Most hobby shops that carry model RR, aircraft and radio control etc usually have piano wire.
I use 1/16 (062), 5/64 (078) and 3/32 (.092) but also use 1/4" for some things and  the tiny stuff,  1/32 and under makes fine springs for set triggers etc.

Dan

[Eric Smith]

Dan,
  MSC has a tempered music wire coil, .63 diameter, 95 ft. per lb. @ $10.95. Big Book # is 1886. Is this the wire you refer to?

[P.W.Berkuta]

Dan,
  MSC has a tempered music wire coil, .63 diameter, 95 ft. per lb. @ $10.95. Big Book # is 1886. Is this the wire you refer to?

I use finishing nails for barrel pins (0.073 - 0.076) and 1/16 welding rod for small pins. The welding rod is copper coated to prevent rust. I don't see the need for spring wire pins. If you buy the coil of music spring wire have FUN making it straight to use for pins- .

[JDK]

Dan,
  MSC has a tempered music wire coil, .63 diameter, 95 ft. per lb. @ $10.95. Big Book # is 1886. Is this the wire you refer to?

95 FEET   That's allot of -1" pins.  At 8 pins average per gun that should last you 142+.....I think I will stick to buying it a few feet at a time at the hobby stores.

Oh, and I second the have fun making that stiff, springy stuff straight.  J.D.

[JCKelly]

The metallurgist would like to chime in.

Piano/Music wire has been around for a couple of centuries.
In spite of the all the amazing developments in metals, Music Wire is flat out the very strongest piece of metal that you and I can buy.  NASA, or others with deep pockets, can get stronger stuff but nothing, absolutely nothing commercially available beats music wire.

The strength comes from how it is made, not from any magic in the chemistry.

That is why it is so much fun to cut.

If you like coil springs & choose to cold form them from music wire, best practice is then to "set" the spring by heating about 350F (wife's oven) for a while.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

The music wire I buy comes in 36" straight pieces.  Cuts with my diagonals....but you better have the short piece stuck in a block of beeswax or something to keep it from flying off into never-never land,,,

[Bill-52]

I use 1/16 music wire for barrel lugs, rr pipes, triggerguard.  Buy it in 3' lengths from the local Ace Hardware store.  It can be a challenge to cut -- I now use an old pair of heavy duty wire cutters / pliers.  I was using a newer pair of smaller wire cutters until one of the jaws broke off when using a two-handed grip.

Good idea, Tim, about beeswax.  I have had a few fly off to where all the little screws are hiding...

[Dphariss]

Dan,
  MSC has a tempered music wire coil, .63 diameter, 95 ft. per lb. @ $10.95. Big Book # is 1886. Is this the wire you refer to?

I buy straight pieces from the hobby shops. Being coiled would worry me.
1/16 is actually .0625 if you look at the tolerances it probably runs +- .001 anyway.

Dan

[Eric Smith]

Glad we got that cleared up. I was thinking 95 ft was just a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitle extreme. Bought a few pieces of 1/16 " wire at Hobby Lobby, 36 " in length. Thanks for all the info.