As used in wire in tube point control

I bought some from Amazon, size is fine, fits into the hole in Peco tie bars
BUT it came neatly coiled - how the  :It's a no no  does one straighten it?
The wire I've used before came in metre lengths straight, slightly thicker gauge but a   :It's a no no to cut.

Apparently you have to put one end in a vice and grip the other end with a pair of pliers and pull hard.  Better still, get the missus to do it while you sip beer and read model railway mags.  If you are using wire in tube you shouldn't need to straighten the wire as it will be contained within the tubing.
Terry

Most retailers sell it in coils Mike and it's a PITA !

It's not too bad if it's thin stuff required for use in fairly short lengths or, as Terry said, for WIT control but otherwise, it's close to useless.  I'm not sure pulling it with pliers would straighten it - it's tough stuff.


I buy mine from Eileen's Emporium - straight and they cut it into sensible lengths before posting it to me.  Metre long packages don't tend to put a smile on "La Poste's" face.  Let's face it, not much does !

It does depend on the gauge. If it's really thin then as Terry says  you shouldn't have to worry about straightening it. A decent pair of pliers or side cutter should cut it OK.

If you have not already done so, go to www.railmodeller.com/downloads.html  and check out the March 21 issue Page 33 where I describe how to straighten wire with a power drill.  You do not need to tak it to the point where it breaks the wire but it will harden.
Hope this helps - and please consider a small donation towards the magazine!

Trevor

Instead of buying wire for WIT, I recently installed a tumble drier, and had a long length of plastic ducting tube left over - this was thin plastic covering nice springy wire. Remove the plastic, and you have several metres of very suitable wire. Worth thinking about ;-)

Yes, but it's still in the form of a coil isn't it?
Terry

Yes Terry but for WIT that doesn't matter - unless you're doing WIT without the "T" !!   :hmm

Hi Mike,K & S supply piano wire in straight lengths and should be available from most hobby shops along with plastic tubing as used for control rods (push rods) in radio control model aircraft.
I have used the wire inside drinks box plastic straws (FREE)🥤🧃
Hope this helps.
Barry T

These supply wire and tube.
Hyperflight.co.uk 

The shop where I used to buy my wire has closed, which is why I bought this lot from Amazon, thinking it was a good price for the quantity (2 x 4M), I also got the plastic tube from Amazon.

Put 5 two inch nails one-quarter of inch apart in the jaws of a vice, weave one end of the wire through and using pliers smoothly pull the whole length through.

Adjust the spacing of the nails so that it's a tight pull.

D

Good thinking.

Depending on the length required, I've used Push Rods that are used in R/C boats … AliExpress - Online Shopping für Elektronik, Mode, Haus & Garten, Spielzeug & Sport, Automobile und mehr