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wire-wrap gun buying tips?

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Sam Kaan

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am looking to buy a wire-wrap gun. What are the ins and outs ot
look for? What are things to avoid?? Assume I don't know anything
about it other than it wraps tiny wires :) How much are they going
for new? Suppose I buy a used one is it likely to be bad in some
way? It seems like a rather simple device that doesn't have many
features to break. Any tips, pointers is appreciated. TIA
 
T

The real Andy

Jan 1, 1970
0
Sam Kaan said:
I am looking to buy a wire-wrap gun. What are the ins and outs ot
look for? What are things to avoid?? Assume I don't know anything
about it other than it wraps tiny wires :) How much are they going
for new? Suppose I buy a used one is it likely to be bad in some
way? It seems like a rather simple device that doesn't have many
features to break. Any tips, pointers is appreciated. TIA

I didn't know you could still buy these beasts. I threw one out about 6
months ago cause it was taking up space in my garage...
 
R

Rich Webb

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am looking to buy a wire-wrap gun. What are the ins and outs ot
look for? What are things to avoid?? Assume I don't know anything
about it other than it wraps tiny wires :) How much are they going
for new? Suppose I buy a used one is it likely to be bad in some
way? It seems like a rather simple device that doesn't have many
features to break. Any tips, pointers is appreciated. TIA

Unless you're intending to re-wrap an ancient Unisys backplane I think
you may find a hand tool easier and simpler.

I've had one of OK Industries modified wrap tools for decades, so I
guess that's what I'd recommend you look at first. It wraps, unwraps,
and strips the typical Kynar AWG-30 wire. P/N WSU-30M.

The advantages to the manual tool (other than cost and storability) is
that one gets more tactile feedback than using a powered or
squeeze-handle gun and it's also easier to get into tight places.
 
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Steve Dunbar

Jan 1, 1970
0
Sam said:
I am looking to buy a wire-wrap gun.

Is it going to be used for production work or just light hobby use? I'm not
that familiar with the relatively inexpensive hobby-grade tools, but
industrial wire-wrapping tools are very expensive. My former employer paid
about $900 the last time they bought a wire-wrap gun, and $180 for each
cut-strip-wrap bit and sleeve set. However, considering the present
condition of the electronics manufacturing industry, you may be able to
pick up used equipment dirt cheap.

Standard Pneumatics has some information on their web site at
<http://wire-wrapping.com/resource/tech_wire.html>. Also look on the Cooper
Tools web site for their Wire-Wrap division.
 
S

Sam Kaan

Jan 1, 1970
0
Steve Dunbar said:
Is it going to be used for production work or just light hobby use? I'm not
that familiar with the relatively inexpensive hobby-grade tools, but
industrial wire-wrapping tools are very expensive. My former employer paid
about $900 the last time they bought a wire-wrap gun, and $180 for each
cut-strip-wrap bit and sleeve set. However, considering the present
condition of the electronics manufacturing industry, you may be able to
pick up used equipment dirt cheap.

Standard Pneumatics has some information on their web site at
<http://wire-wrapping.com/resource/tech_wire.html>. Also look on the Cooper
Tools web site for their Wire-Wrap division.

Thanks for the advice. I am just using it for hobby use. Trying to
build myself a simple single board computer based on the 68000 chip,
and just don't want to get messy with FeCl. So I bought a Standard
Pneumatics 6021 off ebay.
Exactly same as this one but with a P2224 bit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2548554637&category=31484

WHat is the smallest bit you can get? I like to work with very small
wires.
 
S

Sam Kaan

Jan 1, 1970
0
Peter Bennett said:
For most electronic work, you want a wire-wrap tool that works with
0.025" square posts and #30 wire.

What is #30 wire? Is this the same as 30 ga ?? By the way as for the
tool bit, I suppose that mean to get 30AWG ga ?
 
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Peter Bennett

Jan 1, 1970
0
What is #30 wire? Is this the same as 30 ga ?? By the way as for the
tool bit, I suppose that mean to get 30AWG ga ?

Yes - #30, 30 gauge and 30 AWG (American Wire Gauge) all mean the same
thing (in North America, at least).

The wire usually used for electronics wire-wrap work is usually silver
plated copper with Kynar insulation.
 
R

Robert A Moeser

Jan 1, 1970
0
ånønÿmøu§ said:
Its been years sense I've wire wrapped a project. But, I do remember
that the 30 gage wire I used with my electric wire wrap gun would break
from time to time. I changed over to 28 gage instead and the problem
dropped to nearly zero.

me too. years. never mind how many. all our work was with #28. it also
makes good sense to invest in a quality wire stripper. nicks'll kill ya.

but sometime in between #30 became much more popular. perhaps it is
better made these days.

-- rob
 
M

mike

Jan 1, 1970
0
Sam said:
Thanks for the advice. I am just using it for hobby use. Trying to
build myself a simple single board computer based on the 68000 chip,
and just don't want to get messy with FeCl. So I bought a Standard
Pneumatics 6021 off ebay.
Exactly same as this one but with a P2224 bit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2548554637&category=31484

WHat is the smallest bit you can get? I like to work with very small
wires.

My advice would be DON'T!!

Wire wrap seemed like a good idea 30 years ago.
With today's edge speeds, you're likely to build something that
doesn't work reliably. The ground plane is your friend. If you have
the slightest bit of dyslexia and
get it off by one, you'll make a real mess of things. Been there, done
that. The wire you need to move is always on the bottom of the stack.
Wire wrap sockets aren't cheap.

It's not my place to tell you how to run your hobby, but I won't let
that stop me.
You could buy a dozen 68000 computers or 2-dozen Wintel machines for
what it cost for for shipping and handling on that wire wrap gun.
If you were to build something out of a PIC or AVR or...at least you'd
be learning a transferable skill on current technology. And your wire
wrap stuff would be outside the processor core and more likely to work.

I've spent my 2-cents....I stop now.
mike

--
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
laptops and parts Test Equipment
4in/400Wout ham linear amp.
Honda CB-125S
400cc Dirt Bike 2003 miles $550
Police Scanner, Color LCD overhead projector
Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/
 
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