Do we have a local source for milspec wire? I went to active electronics after work , wasn't impressed with their 16awg. The insulation was pretty thick. I know airsoftparts has it on their site but I was hoping to find it locally.

Also in my searches on ASC about wiring everyone says to use stranded and not solid core, the only explanation I saw was about flexibility. Is there no electrical reason for using stranded over solid core?

thanks

stranded i find much easier to work with when attaching it to Deans and Tamyia connectors, for whatever reason.

Stranded is the way to go.

Solid wire isn't as flexible so its more likely to fatigue and break under vibration.

Solid core does have superior electronic properties but can have mechanical problems as stated.

There is no good local wire supplier for lots of options. I bought all my wire off eBay when I needed it; both silicone insulated super flexible wire for battery packs/stock and super thin insulated (teflon? don't remember) wire for inside mechbox work. At one time I was wiring mechboxes with 14AWG wire because I found some with thin enough insulation to do so. I tried 12AWG but it never fit no matter how thin the insulation was.

One thing to avoid is nautical wire. I bought some because it had by far the thinnest insulation anywhere but when I received it I found out it wasn't flexible at all due to the salt water proof insulation on it. The issue was it couldn't make a sharp bend (sharper than 120 degrees, couldn't even do 90) without using pliers and then the insulation would crack.

At one time Stalker had two rolls (orange and white I believe) of aerospace grade wire. It was 16AWG with incredibly thin insulation yet it was quite flexible. It was impossible to find anywhere and he got it through work when he was working as an aircraft electrician at the airport. No idea if he still has any to sell or not though.

I got my wire from great hobbies at train yards.. if you're in a pinch it's ok but the prices are not so nice. :/

Thanks guys, flexible silicone wire I have lots of. Guess I'll have to order the thin stuff online. From what I've been reading the thin insulated stuff is usually teflon. PTFE I think is what its called.

LUTNIT - I found posts from Stalker on ASC talking about Belden Mil-Spec Teflon insulated wire. Must be the stuff you are talking about. One was from 2008 though.

My search continues

The wire stalker used was a pain in the ass. Really stiff and sometimes a bitch to have on a ver.3. Just an fyi. Worked well in certain builds but others it was more of a hassle.

i have 16g mil/aircraft wire in my guns, shit is so stiff that you need to be bang on with your cuts and solders. you can bend it 180 if need be without any damage. it is a teflon/ptfe insulation. you also need a hot iron beause it seems to resist heat build up quite well

checked gervais electronics after work yesterday, they have the usual wire you'd find. gave up and ordered from airsoftparts.

i got some 18awg at the home depot on cyrville.. it was like $5 for 35ft. i bought some 16awg from great hobbies but the insulation was too wide for my gearbox, and besides it was silicone insulation. i believe the 18awg at home depot was teflon insulated but im not sure, it didnt have any info stamped on it and the package had nothing either.