Coat Hanger wire?

Do any of you know what type of wire these are made from? I need something similar for a job. I’ve got some garden wire but it seems more flexible which isn’t what I want. It needs to be plated like the coat hangers.

I'd guess it's zinc plated steel rod, searching for rod rather than wire might assist your search.

The pendulum rod of my first clock is made of coat hanger,...the light grey/silver stuff and looks as good now as it did when first fitted. This would be about 8 or 9 years ago now. At the time coat hanger material was either dark brown/grey or this light coloured stuff. at the time I was told that there was a move over to stainless (the light grey stuff) as it was cleaner for the automated machines that fold up the hangers. I don't know how accurate this info actually is/was, but every time I look at that clock it does look like stainless steel to me......I threaded both ends and it certainly did not thread like a plated rod and both threads still look as new now.

......Hope this helps!

Edited By Bob Stevenson on 11/02/2021 23:07:42

If the plating is just for corrosion protection, you might find it easier to buy stainless rod, easily available in millimeter increments.

I think the brown stuff was actually lacquered. The silver stuff probably zinc plated. Stainless steel rod may be an alternative, thanks for the suggestion.

Would the 3.15mm dia galvanised wire on this page be any good? No recommendation implied for that particular supplier, it just came up first in a search.

Rob

What about Piano wire, as used to be sold by model aircraft shops for making undercarriages etc. The stuff I used to get was zinc plated and in a reasonably high state of temper. You could bend it but not easily. I don't know what current availability is like. It came in a range of sizes in SWG.

John

Look for high tensile galvanized or zinc plated wire. Sould be available from a decent hardware store or available online. (even at that auction site that some people are afraid to say. aka: ebay)

Or suppliers that sell fencing wire.

Paul

Knitting needles, depending upon length needed? They come in all sorts of sizes, are rigid and have do not seem to be affected by a damp atmosphere. I have a tub of them which I use as picks and "things". I bought a large bundle from the charity shop for next to nothing. Obviously, these are currently shut, but e-bay or Gumtree might have some.

Regards,

James.

Most excellent. I just bought 5kg of galvanised 3mm fencing wire for £24 with free shipping off that auction site

I need about a foot but I am sure the other 4.99kg will eventually come in handy.

Being galvanised it can live in the shed.

Her coat hangers are safe at last.

Would cycle wheel spokes be any good, you could get plated ones at one time, or find a old wheel.

Bob

If you want to bend it, knitting needles are sometimes quite brittle.

Don't ask!

Howard

They can be re-purposed in a number of ways: I have seen them used to deter cats from getting over a garden wall.

I doubt if they can be had in the same diameter as coat hangers, however, and they are often butted ie of reduced diameter in the middle.

Thanks for that Rob, it may do. Rather more than I need but I suppose it will get used. Thanks for the find.

Following Pete’s suggestion I’ve been looking at some stainless rod on eBay. What’s the easiest to bend though? Most of the stuff on there seem to be 303, 304 or 316. Or should I be looking at 400 series. Corrosion resistance isn’t an issue.

The bendability is much more dependent, I suggest, on the way in which the stainless has been treated. It might be hard drawn, or annealed, or anything in between. I doubt if the suppliers (*bay or otherwise) will have a clue about this. And of course, the finer the gauge the easier the bending. For sure, though, threading is less joyful with stainless, but it won't break when you try to bend it, even hard drawn. So, perhaps make a small loop and put a bolt through?

Cheers, Tim

Edited By Tim Stevens on 12/02/2021 14:04:52

These are black, so presumably not plated, but they are very reasonably priced and get good reviews from ‘hackers’

**LINK**

https://www.dunelm.com/product/set-of-10-wire-hangers-1000008160

MichaelG.