Straightening Out Wire for Strings

[Tina]

Went to an old-time hardware store the other day with my Dad and found wire in the diameter I was looking for to use as harp strings.

It is marked 9 gauge galvanized anchor wire, and comes in a loop about 10" in diameter, 50 feet long, which is fine as I need about 25' of it for the harp strings.

What's the best way to straighten out this wire?  Our longest strings will be about 26-28" long.

All suggestions are very welcome!

[Kev]

You could take a board and place nails at each end and stretch the wire from nail to nail wrapping it tightly around the nails, then snip it.

[PiscesGlass]

Well, not sure how to tell you how to straighten galvanized...when I stretch wire in my shop I use a vice to hold one end and use pliers to pull on the other end.  I'm not sure that would work for the material you purchased though.

De

[Wayne]

That is galvanized steel wire.  9 gauge wire is just under an 1/8" in diameter (.11) and one has to be really strong to pull that wire.  I use 8 gauge copper wire and never attempt to pull it straight.

[Graham]

I have no idea how one would straighten 9 gauge steel wire, without some heavy duty machinery.

If you need something that thick, perhaps you should be looking for is "rod" , rather than wire.

[Wayne]

Brass brazing rods come in various sizes and are straight.

[TodB]

Wire straightening is an odd service which you will find with an online search. Not sure who-all uses it, but in the machine shop trade, we do hear about it occasionally. - Tod

[nansea121]

I straighten out a wire by placing one end under a piece of wood (with the end sticking out) that is clamped into place at the work bench. Then I pull on the end of the wire and pull away from the wood with a pair of pliers. You can make a couple of passes if necessary, but I find this takes out the kinks.

[Wayne]

I straighten out a wire by placing one end under a piece of wood (with the end sticking out) that is clamped into place at the work bench. Then I pull on the end of the wire and pull away from the wood with a pair of pliers. You can make a couple of passes if necessary, but I find this takes out the kinks.

Trying to straighten 9 GA steel wire using pliers would be like pulling your car down the street using a pair of pliers.

[TodB]

You can also hold the wire on a piece of steel (like a small anvil) and tap the high spots with a hammer. Somewhat tedious but will make it straight by and by. You just need to be persistant and try not to deform it. Practice. - Tod

[Glassic]

I would be asking the local fencing guy 'round for a beer and a barbie.

[Wayne]

I would be asking the local fencing guy 'round for a beer and a barbie.

The fence guy is into Barbie dolls?  yikes.

[Alan]

I would be asking the local fencing guy 'round for a beer and a barbie.

The fence guy is into Barbie dolls?  yikes.

Not dolls - http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.famie.com%2Faustralia%2Faustralianslang2.htm&rct=j&q=barbie+-+slang&ei=Ve1tS9SYAdOWtgfUuOiEBg&usg=AFQjCNGQlW7p1C2zTSqlZjuVBHwoPPHZyA

[Wayne]

Thanks, Alan, I understand now.  The fence guy is going to BBQ the barbie doll........yikes again!

[Tina]

Thanks, everyone! 

Will try out your suggestions and let you know how it goes......

Thanks again for being so helpful!

[Kev]

Hey Tina,

You can buy rolls of pretinned wire which is a finer gauge and will certainly be easier to work with. There are several gauges available. Delphi carries it as well.

Check this out:  www.warner-criv.com/product.aspx?id=3835-20

[Wayne]

Hey Tina,

You can buy rolls of pretinned wire which is a finer gauge and will certainly be easier to work with. There are several gauges available. Delphi carries it as well.

Check this out:  www.warner-criv.com/product.aspx?id=3835-20

Or you could use brass brazing rod which are strong and straight and offered in various wire sizes.  A sample of them is carried by Lowe's and Home Depot.

[Elizabeth]

Just to add my twopence worth.   I work a lot with wire and we don't have the pretinned stuff available to you - only copper or galvanized.   I've been hoping someone would come up with a way to straighten the galvanized - but have tried most above suggestions without success - especially in the thickness you're needing.   I would think the guy with the fence pullers (minus the BBQ'd dolls!)  might be your best bet,  though not sure that it won't spring right back into it's circle as , as far as I know fencing wire is pulled then attached straight to the fence post to keep it taut???...
Thinner copper wire works really well being stretched with pliers/whatever,  but again not in that thickness.
Brazing rods are definately the easiest - if they are long enough for your project!  Clean them well with steelwool and use plenty of flux to tin them evenly.
Looking forward to hearing (and seeing) which option you use.

[Stephen Richard]

Beth,
I did a google search on "tinned copper wire South Africa" and found a number of potential suppliers.

[nansea121]

I straighten out a wire by placing one end under a piece of wood (with the end sticking out) that is clamped into place at the work bench. Then I pull on the end of the wire and pull away from the wood with a pair of pliers. You can make a couple of passes if necessary, but I find this takes out the kinks.

Trying to straighten 9 GA steel wire using pliers would be like pulling your car down the street using a pair of pliers.

I straighten out 16, 18 and 20 gauge wire that way.