Where to find 28 gauge black wire?

[David Spindle]

I've been reading Chuck's article on Techniques For Modeling Yard Details.  He uses 28 gauge black wire for foot ropes.

I haven't been able to find anyone who carries this wire.  I checked Model Expo.  I also checked Amazon who carries something called "Artistic Wire" but the black is glossy which probably wouldn't look to good.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

[Landlubber Mike]

I bought beading wire in various gauges from Michaels that came in black.  The black coloring did have a tendency to scratch off but it was easy to touch up with a little black paint.  

[captainbob]

Try your local hardware store.  If they don’t have it McMaster Carr has it.  They call it:  1008 Carbon Steel—Black-Oxide Finish .014 dia.   http://www.mcmaster.com/#metal-wire/=sltk0h

[catopower]

Dave,

 

You can also order it from BlueJacket. They have black annealed steel wire from 22 gauge to 34 gauge including the 28-gauge you're looking for. But, all wire you get is going to be shiny unless you brush or spray on some kind of dull coat. 

 

Clare

[RichardG]

I got mine from the Dick Blick art store http://www.dickblick.com/products/ook-dark-annealed-specialty-wire/ . 100ft for $1.89, which will keep me going for a while - of course I still need to learn how to make the hooks

[cwboland]

As Cap'n Bob has indicated, try your local hardware store.  Even if they don't have black, you could get the galvanized or brass and blacken it chemically or with paint.

[robnbill]

For an alternative to wire, I used black thread and CA to stiffen it. For the stirrups I knotted the end of the thread around a headless small finishing nail. Then I hit the knot with CA. After snipping the end of the thread off this gave m a great stirrup with an eye to thread the foot ropes through. Then I took the black thread stiffened it with a small amount of CA and threaded it through. Once wrapped in place another small amount of CA and it was complete. You could use alternative glues for stiffening and attaching, but for the eye, I would stick to CA. 

 

I copied this technique from another modeler on the web - so I can't take credit for it, but it worked well for me.

 

Anyway, this worked for me.

[wlell]

Parawire at parawire.com has a variety of wire in multiple sizes

Bill Lell

Vestavia Hills, Al

[jbford]

there is a dealer on ebay who sells all the sizes of Hillman black steel wire. it will cost $4 or so including shipping..

[robnbill]

Here is a photo of my rigged spars for the Constitution. This is the Mamoli kit 1:93 scale. These were taken on the paper I painted them on so there is a lot of back splatter but this is the only one I have of them together. These were done with the black thread method.

[David Spindle]

Thanks, everyone for the great sources, I really appreciate it!  And Robnbill, thanks as well for the black thread method...that a good idea.  I'd like to see if diluted Titebond would work as well for the foot ropes rather than CA.

[geoff]

like I previously mentioned I used wire stripped from a redundant phone extension cable, it's free & you can experiment as much as you like,not only that but I am "Tight Fisted" as well ! Geoff

Edited June 28, 2014 by geoff

[gjdale]

Thanks, everyone for the great sources, I really appreciate it!  And Robnbill, thanks as well for the black thread method...that a good idea.  I'd like to see if diluted Titebond would work as well for the foot ropes rather than CA.

David,

 

Black thread coated with diluted PVA (egvTitebond) works very well.

[Ryad]

Black fishing leader wire. Multiple gauges.  

 

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=fishing+leader+line&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQ_rfbi8DNAhUKGpQKHbRxAwwQ_AUICCgB&biw=1366&bih=643#tbm=isch&q=black+fishing+leader+wire+material&imgrc=K-VmVyCuBdhpxM%3A

[Jaager]

If you have a draw plate with one wire gauge at the large end, you can draw the wire to any gauge that the plate has a hole for.  It would be regular copper or brass wire since no coating will survive the process.