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pressure flaker?

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Ahnlaashock:
Interesting!  I have been using the wire as it was received, but it is used wire.  Haven't had a lot of trouble with it bending yet.  I will chuck some up in the lathe and twist it. 

seminolewind:

--- Quote from: Ahnlaashock on February 20, 2014, 12:05:16 am ---Interesting!  I have been using the wire as it was received, but it is used wire.  Haven't had a lot of trouble with it bending yet.  I will chuck some up in the lathe and twist it.

--- End quote ---

Give it a shot. I like a longer wire and sometimes really crank down on it. Having tempered copper is a must for me

Dalton Knapper:
Here's three things to remember about copper:

1. It hardens with age - ancient copper can be quite brittle. Old green telephone wire or power wire will be more stiff than brand new shiny wire from the hardware store (some of that could be the alloys they are made from).

2. Any type of compression or hammering will harden copper. It aligns the molecules - just like the twisting discussed here or hammering it. Some people prefer to hammer their copper pressure flakers to a point rather than file it. If you want to make copper soft (anneal it), just heat it up and let it cool - the molecules become more random and the metal softens.

3. All copper is not the same and can vary on what is added to it. A copper gutter nail is harder than copper wire and there are different mixes of copper alloys, some harder or softer than others.

Ed Brooks:
3. All copper is not the same and can vary on what is added to it. A copper gutter nail is harder than copper wire and there are different mixes of copper alloys, some harder or softer than others.
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DK: this is probably a loaded question, but is it easier (better for a new guy) to use the softer or harder copper? Ed

Dalton Knapper:
Someone may have an opinion on that, but I would say as long as it does not bend on you, it really wouldn't matter. A lot of guys like those copper gutter nails because they are quite hard, but if you get some, make sure they aren't just plated with copper. I  like harder copper myself and it's plenty soft to grab an edge and that is your main concern. I think all grounding wire is pretty much the same alloy and you will want to twist or hammer it because it is annealed and very soft so the electricians can bend it easily.

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