How to replace nichrome wire. Where to get nichrome wire. Characteristics of nichrome thread

In our country there will never be a shortage of “folk craftsmen”. Russian people have always been distinguished by their intelligence and ingenuity. Therefore, one of the questions that worries many inventors is where they can get nichrome wire in the required quantity. This material is a special alloy containing a high concentration of chemical elements such as chromium and nickel. In addition to them, nichrome also includes other metals - manganese, silicon, iron and aluminum, which have their own advantages, and their combination in one alloy creates a metal that has remarkable quality characteristics.

What is the value of nichrome wire?

Nichrome wire has the following valuable qualities:

Such wire is used in places where the highest quality characteristics, reliability and high strength are required from the metal.

Due to the combination of plasticity with a high yield strength, as well as resistance to strong aggressive substances, nichrome is in great demand

in industrial production. It is he who occupies one of the first places in the modern market of household and industrial electrical equipment.

In addition, nichrome wire is used in a number of industrial sectors that use electric heating furnaces. It is also used in electric ovens

, which are heated to very high temperatures in various thermal apparatus and ovens used for firing and drying. It is also used as a heating and resistor element.

Basically, such a nichrome product is used everywhere

, where resistance to high temperatures, heat and chemicals is required, that is, in aggressive environments.

It is also used in devices that require a high degree of reliability, such as resistors, resistance units and rheostats.

Nichrome wire has found its application not only in industry, but also in everyday life, and is used:

for machines that cut foam plastic;
in a device for wood burning;
in the heating system of car windows and rear-view mirrors;
in simple household heaters;
in homemade welding machines.

Where can I get nichrome wire?

There are several options for how and where you can purchase a nichrome product.

Today, in almost every locality there is a help desk for goods and services. By contacting it, you can obtain information from the operator about which organization sells nichrome and its contact numbers. This information can also be found on the Internet. However, in this situation, the chances of purchasing a normal product are almost zero.

, because if anyone undertakes to deliver the material, it will only be one and a half to two meters. Organizations mainly specialize in wholesale sales. But it’s still worth clarifying.

If such a product is sold in another city, then you can use it. However, this option requires an additional payment.

for shipping. You can purchase wire in specialized stores. These could be “Radio Components”, “Skillful Hands” and other similar pavilions. The sellers of such private stores, who sell various spare parts, know each other very well. Therefore, if such a “private trader” does not have nichrome wire in stock, he can tell you where to purchase it. By the way, you can find it in an ordinary hardware store. Spirals for electric stoves are made of nichrome.

Not a single locality can do without a bazaar where you can buy anything. The most important thing is to carefully go around the entire market and you can even ask the sellers. You may also come across such a product made of nichrome.

find an old device somewhere

, for example, a laboratory rheostat. In itself it is of no value, but it has a small amount of nichrome wound on it.

Nichrome wire is a high-quality plastic product due to its remarkable technical characteristics. Buying or getting it in any other way, although difficult, is possible. You just need to take the initiative and try all the above methods.

For this you will need nichrome wire. The resistivity of nichrome wire grade X20N80 is given in the table. For shaped cutting, a thermal cutter made from a piece of nichrome wire is used.

Nichrome wire X20H80 is used to make a spiral when independently rewinding the atomizer. Therefore, to obtain the same value, in the case of thin nichrome wire, fewer turns will need to be made. However, for use at higher power, it is recommended to use thicker nichrome wire or 2 thin threads braided.

Nichrome wire is used for the manufacture of cutters, jigsaws, soldering irons, machines for cutting foam plastic, polystyrene, etc. Wire is obtained from them by drawing. Nichrome products are used in places that require high-quality metal. The ends of the nichrome wire are attached to springs mounted on M4 screws. The screws themselves are screwed into metal posts pressed into the base of the machine.

Before screwing the screw into the rack, a groove was machined at its head so that the nichrome wire could not move arbitrarily during adjustment, but would occupy the required position. To prevent nichrome wire from sagging due to elongation when heated, it is secured to the screws through springs. After preparing all the fasteners, you can fasten the nichrome wire. Nichrome wire is not much different in appearance from steel wire, but it is made from an alloy of chromium and nickel.

However, unlike steel or copper wire, nichrome wire has a higher resistivity and can withstand heating temperatures up to 1200˚C while maintaining high mechanical strength.

It should be noted that for heating the nichrome wire of a foam cutting machine, a power source of both alternating current and direct current is suitable. Remove the plug from the network and connect the wires coming from the nichrome thread to the “Load” terminals. Insert the power cord plug into the socket and use the phase indicator to check the absence of phase on the nichrome wire. Having dealt with the phase, you can slowly turn the LATR handle to apply voltage to the nichrome wire.

In this circuit, thanks to the isolating step-down transformer, the nichrome spiral is not galvanically connected to the electrical network and is therefore safe for operation. After all, when cutting foam plastic on a device, there is no need to regulate the heating temperature of the nichrome wire. The temperature is selected once when setting up the machine.

Soldering nichrome

How to properly solder nichrome wire, because this alloy is very refractory and does not create a strong connection when using conventional flux.

This procedure involves following a certain sequence of actions when working with special soldering materials. In this case, tin-lead materials POS 61, POS 50 are used as solder. Special attention is required in preparing the flux. Its component composition is strictly dosed and prepared on the basis of the following components: technical petroleum jelly - 100 g, zinc chloride (in powder form) - 7 g, glycerin - 5 g. The working flux mixture is obtained after thoroughly mixing all the presented components.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the methods of attaching foam to the wall.

Read: how to make a brick grill in your summer cottage with your own hands.

Preparation of the working surface involves removing dirt and oxide formations using sandpaper. Then the treated area is wiped with a cotton swab soaked in an alcohol solution of copper chloride, flux is applied and soldering is performed.

Problems often arise when tinning nichrome with copper leads. Traditional rosin-based flux will not be effective in this case. Ordinary citric acid will come to the rescue. For one wire, it is enough to use 2-3 g of its powder. Etching in this case does not present any difficulties. Subsequently, to remove acid, the wire is placed on rosin and tinned.

Diagram of a machine for cutting foam plastic using LATR and a step-down transformer

Another, somewhat unusual circuit for controlling the heating temperature of nichrome wire using a thyristor. If none of the above electrical circuits for heating nichrome wire to accommodate foam cutting can be implemented, then I propose a non-standard circuit for heating it. Brands Nichrome wire is made from precision nichrome alloy, which is an alloy with high electrical resistance.

Due to the presence of a large proportion of nickel, the wire has high electrical resistance and wear resistance. To my surprise, the wire is completely clean, without oil, not like kanthal. The material is also widely used in industrial production.

Calculation of power source parameters for heating wire

If you want to make a machine for cutting foam plastic and foam rubber, many are stopped by the difficulty of organizing the supply of supply voltage to heat the nichrome string to the desired temperature. The spring was longer than required, so we had to make two of it, for each side of the wire fastening.

After removing the insulation from the ends of the wires to a length of about 20 mm, the copper conductors are wound onto a string of nichrome wire at the point where it is attached to the spring. Then, holding the nichrome wire by the loop with pliers, the wrapped copper wire is wrapped with the free end of the nichrome wire in the opposite direction.

To prevent the wires from interfering during operation, they are passed through holes in the base and secured on the back side with brackets. The most common wire is X20N80, containing 20% chromium and 80% nickel. It is worth noting that a machine on which a wire is installed for cutting dense foam plastic will successfully cut loose foam plastic, but it will only need to be advanced faster.

You can buy nichrome wire at any time in one of our VIPMAG.BY stores. With the help of homemade devices in which nichrome wire is used, you can not only cut foam plastic, but also burn wood. The length of the nichrome wire for the device is selected based on the size of the foam plates intended for cutting, and does not depend on the density of the foam. A small amount of nichrome wire can be obtained from the spiral of an old electric stove.

If temperature control works great on nichrome, then you may be puzzled by the question of the price of this material. If you want to save money on delays, then the problem arises - where to get nichrome without buying it in a store. Let's try to figure out this problem and help beginners in this difficult matter.

Where can I get nichrome thread? Help!

#1 Xion

Beginner DIYer

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Registration: 24 March 16

#2 killerlot

Inventor

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#3 Xion

Beginner DIYer

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Posts: 40
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killerlot (09 June 2021 – 07:50) wrote:

#4 Stariy Ded

Cooler than MACGYVER.

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Registration: 05 June 11

I am ready to consider the issue of purchasing acoustic and electric guitars made in the USSR and Socialist countries. camps, cap countries. in working and not quite condition, as well as components for them.

". He who wants will achieve it, He who seeks will always find!” (I.O. Dunaevsky song “Cheerful Wind” from the film “Children of Captain Grant”)

People who do not listen to advice cannot be helped (B. Franklin)

#5 Xion

Beginner DIYer

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Posts: 40
Registration: 24 March 16

Stariy Ded (09 June 2021 – 20:29) wrote:

#6 STEN50

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Group: Users
Posts: 444
Registration: 01 April 13

Xion (09 June 2021 – 22:32) wrote:

Stariy Ded (09 June 2021 – 20:29) wrote:

Read also: How to find out the speed of an electric motor at home

Where to find nichrome wire

So, let's look at what nichrome wire actually is:

differs from kanthal in its lower resistivity;
The box mod delivers high performance power;
does not contain iron, therefore it does not corrode and lasts much longer;
conducts heat well. Thus, the coil heats up faster and cools down faster.

Obviously, nichrome is sold in vape shops. 1 meter of such wire is very expensive. When this option does not suit you, you can find nichrome on radio markets. They still exist, but the likelihood that you will be able to find it there is very small.

However, this issue can be solved, you just need to know where to go. Also in this matter, a regular soldering iron or a faulty device that you can stumble upon in a closet or garage will help you out. If you were unable to find a soldering iron, then you can buy it at the Fix Price store, where everything is sold at the same price. The price of a soldering iron there will be only $1.

Choosing between nichrome and kanthal

As with everything related to e-cigarettes, there is no better one. Various characteristics are well suited for some purposes and completely unsuitable for others. It's the same story with wire.

Let's look at the characteristics of nichrome:

nichrome, compared to kanthal, has lower resistivity;
on nichrome wire, the box mod can produce more power;
nichrome does not contain iron. Such winding will not rust, which means it will last much longer;
nichrome conducts heat very well. A spiral made of this metal will heat up faster and cool down faster.

The advantages of nichrome over kanthal are obvious, which means it’s time to ask the question where to find such wire.

Nichrome from a soldering iron

Disassemble the soldering iron and find the same nichrome wire. We actually found one, but it was very thin. You can find out the cross-section of the wire by winding 10 turns of thread tightly pressed together around a pencil. Our turns took 1 mm.

This means that the cross-section of our thread is 0.1 mm. You can buy a lot of such cheap soldering irons, but the nichrome spiral in them may differ in length. Disassembling a household soldering iron to obtain nichrome is a really working scheme. But what to do if you don’t have a soldering iron?

A similar spiral is found in hair dryers. Different models have nichrome threads of different diameters, but they are definitely there. Nichrome can be found in a heater built on the principle of a fan. This option will be slightly more expensive than the previous one.

And finally, the most difficult way is to get this metal out of an electric stove with an open spiral. Today we told you that nichrome winding is not such an expensive undertaking. If you decide to find a thread in a soldering iron, then it can reach 2.5 m. This will turn out to be far from 1 winding.

Nichrome production

To begin with, it is worth emphasizing that the thread is only one of the formats for producing nichrome. It is also the closest in quality to wire products. The material is produced using the pressure drawing technique. But before the operation begins, the workpiece is not heated, which is why the technology is called cold drawn. Etching methods can also be used - they qualitatively improve the physical properties that the nichrome thread receives at the output. Where can I get this material? Metallurgical plants are usually involved in production. But here it is important to understand that the procedure for creating nichrome materials itself is not common. This is largely due to the specific use of the alloy. Nevertheless, there are quite a few metal rolling enterprises that concentrate in their assortment the most popular sizes and brands of nichrome threads.

How to verify nichrome

You may have a thought while winding up your coil. What if the metal you got is not nichrome at all. How can you distinguish it from other metals? There is one simple and reliable way to determine. Take a magnet and use it to check your thread. For your information, kanthal will immediately be attracted to it, but nichrome will not care about the magnetic field. Good luck with your experiments.

How and where did you find your nichrome winding?

Craftsmen, inventors and innovators have never been translated into our country. Many of these enthusiastic people would like to know where nichrome wire is sold, where to get this material at home? Why is it attractive to modern Kulibins and home-grown homemade ones? Nichrome wire is used for the manufacture of cutters, jigsaws, soldering irons, machines for cutting foam plastic, polystyrene, etc. The material is also widely used in industrial production.

What is nichrome and what is its value?

Nichrome is a special alloy with a high concentration of chromium and nickel. The composition also includes iron, aluminum, silicon, manganese and other chemical elements, the combination of which gives the metal unique characteristics.

A jigsaw with a heated wire is a universal tool for everyday use.

Properties of Nickel-Chromium Alloy

The most common nichrome-based alloys are ferronichrome and ferrochromal (fechral). Wire is obtained from them by drawing. The quality of its production is regulated by current state industry standards. GOST 8803-89 and 12766 apply to wire with good electrical resistance. Chrome gives the metal hardness and strength, and nickel gives it ductility. The maximum heating temperature is affected by the percentage of nickel content in the alloy. The more it is, the higher the temperature, which can reach 1000-1300 degrees.

Finished products are sold on reels or in coils

The value of the alloy and products made from it

Products made from an alloy of nickel and chromium have increased resistance to electric current. This means that to obtain the same amount of heat generated, much less nichrome will be needed than other metal. Thanks to this, the weight and dimensions of the devices and devices in which it is used are reduced.

High resistance is ensured by numerous parameters, the main of which is the grade of raw materials used for manufacturing, as well as thickness. The thicker it is, the lower the resistance, which determines the level of heating. The metal does not burn, does not deform, and does not lose its characteristics when exposed to high temperatures.

The useful properties of the alloy include plasticity, which allows you to give the wire the desired shape. The cross-section can be in the form of a circle, oval, square and trapezoid, with a diameter of 0.1 to 1 mm. The value of the alloy is also that, unlike most metals that are susceptible to corrosion, it does not rust, as it has anti-corrosion resistance to aggressive liquid and gaseous media.

Advantages of chromium-nickel alloy products

The main advantages of nichrome wire, thanks to which it has become widespread in many areas of production, are in demand among inventors and home craftsmen:

high heat resistance;
anti-corrosion resistance;
hardness, strength and mechanical stability;
elasticity;
high level of electrical resistivity;
light weight;
resistance to aggressive substances.

The only drawback of wire made from an alloy of nickel and chromium is its high cost, which does not in any way affect demand.

How to recognize nichrome?

This is what nichrome thread looks like.

This alloy, as a rule, is not distinguished by an abundance of external characteristics that make it possible to judge one or another of its varieties. For the most part, nichrome is a white or slightly silver material. The samples used will have a dark gray tint, which indicates the formation of an oxide film.

One way or another, such conventional signs cannot serve as clear evidence indicating the authenticity of this alloy. How to identify nichrome wire by appearance. Nichrome has one specific property when used for a long time. Unlike other heat-resistant materials, a characteristic dark green film usually appears on its surface. In addition, the quality of the alloy can be judged by the degree to which the shape of the spiral is restored after heating. If the sample has returned to its original position, which indicates its high deformation resistance, then there is every reason to believe that it is nichrome.

Where to get nichrome wire

The product is sold in rolls (reels, coils) or in the form of tape. Where to buy or get nichrome products? Let's consider all possible options:

Order from the organization that manufactures the product. You can find out the addresses of such enterprises in information desks on services and goods that are available in large populated areas. The operator will tell you where to buy and give you phone numbers. Information about manufacturers can be found on the Internet.
Purchase from a specialty store. This could be a store that sells radio components, materials for designers and craftsmen like “Skillful Hands,” etc.
Buy from private traders selling spare parts, radio components and other small metal items.
In a regular hardware store.
At a flea market or flea market in some old device. For example, in the laboratory rheostat known from physics lessons.
You can find nichrome wire at home. The spiral of the electric stove is made from it.

A small amount of nichrome wire can be obtained from the spiral of an old electric stove. For further use, the spiral is aligned using the pulling method.

For a large order, the first option is suitable. If you want to buy a small quantity, you can consider all the following items on the list. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the labeling. Wire marking:

for heating elements – N;
for resistance elements – C;
for tubular electric heaters - heating elements.

Scope of application in industry and at home

Nichrome products are used in places that require high-quality metal. Particularly in demand in industrial production.

In industrial production

Metal products occupy one of the first places in the market of industrial and household electrical equipment. It has found wide application in industrial sectors using electric heating furnaces, roasting and drying furnaces, furnaces heated to high temperatures, and devices with thermal effects. It is used in welding machines, household heaters and heating systems for car windows and rear-view mirrors, in resistors, resistance units and rheostats as a heating or resistor element. As noted above, the material is widely used among home craftsmen.

Note! Selecting nichrome wire for making equipment is not easy. When choosing, it is necessary to take into account such parameters as diameter, length and alloy grade.

In the household

In the domestic sphere it is used for cutting foam and polystyrene. Cutting these materials at home is quite problematic. There are several ways. Often a knife is used for these purposes, from which the material begins to crumble.

Home craftsmen know how to cut polystyrene foam at home so that it does not crumble. For this you will need nichrome wire. It is needed in order to make a machine whose cutting tool is a heated string. With its help, you can cut foam plastic and make products from it with your own hands.

To cut polystyrene foam at home, you can design a simple machine with a vertical or horizontal arrangement of the cutting tool

How to make a foam cutter with your own hands

Making a machine is not difficult. To do this you will need:

a step-down transformer;
lining made of pipe (pipe at least 20 mm thick, foam thickness at least 2 cm);
springs for string tension;
metal string.

To make a tabletop you will need a table, a board and a sheet of corrugated sheeting.

The simplest version of a foam cutting machine that you can make yourself

You can make a step-down transformer yourself from transformer iron. You will need to make a rheostat to select the current value. To do this, you can take a spiral from an electric stove, first stretching it into a string. The winding frame is constructed from an asbestos-cement or ceramic pipe 15-20 mm thick and about 80 mm long.

For shaped cutting, a thermal cutter made from a piece of nichrome wire is used. It is secured to a handle made of insulating material. A homemade cutter for foam plastic copes well with the task, including shaped cutting of material. The device allows you to make indentations, cut out cavities, and work with foam plastic the way a sculptor works with clay.

Note! After treatment, the surface is covered with a melted crust, which closes the pores and increases the strength of the foam.

A foam cutter can be compared to a sculptor's tool when working with clay.

With the help of homemade devices in which nichrome wire is used, you can not only cut foam plastic, but also burn wood. It can also be used in homemade household heaters, welding machines, and heating systems for car windows and rear-view mirrors.

Application

Nichrome thread is used in the manufacture of heating elements because it is highly wear-resistant. For the manufacture of heating elements, the thinnest rolled products with a diameter of 0.04-12 mm are used. The higher the nickel content in the alloy, the higher the ductility of the material.

Nichrome thread is also used in medicine. Since it does not cause allergic reactions, it is used as a suture material. Studies have shown that a cut sewn up with thin rolled nichrome material heals very quickly. In addition, such a thread is used in plastic surgery for intracavitary operations.

Pharmacological institutes and research laboratories cannot do without this material, where it is used in heating mantles as a heating element.

Strings are also produced, which are used for easel figure cutting. Nichrome thread for cutting foam allows for accurate and high-quality cutting of materials. Machines equipped with such a thread are capable of cutting products of any complexity and shape, without leaving crumbling edges or nicks.

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Video: how to make a jigsaw with your own hands

You don’t have to make cutting devices yourself. Industrially produced machines and devices are available for sale to meet the needs of amateurs and professionals. Such devices are manufactured in accordance with safety standards and regulations.

Our country has never lacked “traditional craftsmen”. Intelligence and ingenuity have always been the hallmarks of the Russian people. One of the questions that worries many modern “Kulibins” is where to get the required amount of nichrome wire? But first, let’s figure out why it attracts domestic “homemade” people so much?

What kind of material is this? In fact, it is a special alloy with a high concentration of chemical elements such as nickel and chromium (hence the name of the wire). It can have a cross-section of various configurations (circle, trapezoid, square, oval) and diameter (from fractions of a “mm” to several “cm”).

Why is “nichrome” so valued?

Firstly, it does not rust, and corrosion, as is known, is the “sore spot” of most metals and alloys.

Secondly, wire made of this material is characterized by increased resistance to electric current. Consequently, in order to obtain the same amount of heat generated when connected to an electrical circuit, “nichrome” (in linear meters) will need several times less than, say, steel. Hence the reduction in the weight of the device (device) and the possibility of miniaturizing the design (reducing dimensions).

Thirdly, nichrome wire does not change its properties, does not deform, and does not “burn” at high temperatures.

Fourthly, it is elastic and can be given any shape.

Where is this wire used? To be honest, it’s impossible to list everything, especially when talking about production. Therefore, as an example, we note only a few options for its use in everyday life:

foam cutting machines;
devices for burning wood;
heating systems for car windows and rearview mirrors;
the simplest household heaters, better known as “goats”;
kilns for firing (for independent production of ceramics);
for heating certain types of metals (in home forges);
homemade.

Where to get?

So we come to this rhetorical question. Let's consider all possible options.

Order . Now almost every more or less large settlement has a help desk for services and goods. The operator will tell you which organization is ready to sell “nichrome” and give contact numbers. Relevant information can also be found on the Internet.

But the chances of acquisition are slim. It is unlikely that anyone will undertake to supply material if we are talking about only one and a half to two meters of wire. Organizations, as a rule, engage only in wholesale sales. But it still makes sense to call and find out.

Buy . There are also options here.

By the way, you can buy such wire at a regular hardware store. Spirals for electric stoves are made from the same “nichrome”.

At the farmer's market. In every locality there are places where people sell whatever they want. Such “points” are called differently – “flea market”, “collapse”, “flea market”. You just need to take the time to walk around, look, and ask around. It all depends on how much “nichrome” is needed. This is probably the most promising search path, especially if you need little material.

Moreover, it is not necessary to look for wire rolled into a coil. You can also purchase some old device. For example, a laboratory rheostat, known to everyone from physics lessons. In itself, it may not be of value to us, but a certain amount of “nichrome” of a certain cross-section is wound on it.

What is nichrome?

Nichrome is a corrosion-resistant alloy consisting of 2 metals - nickel and chromium, and additives (manganese, sulfur, aluminum, phosphorus, iron, etc.). The alloy is resistant to temperatures up to +1300⁰C, and its plasticity allows it to be used for the production of electric heating and resistive elements, various rolled products and wire (thread). Depending on the composition, nichrome is divided into certain grades.

Characteristics and properties of nichrome wire

The production of nichrome wire is limited to two main grades: X15H60 and X20H80 . The characteristics and properties of each brand are different.

X20H80 is characterized by:

Composition of 25% chromium, 75% nickel, 1% iron.
Specific resistance 1.13 Ohm mm 2 /m (for wire with a diameter over 3 mm).
Operating temperature 1250⁰C-1300⁰C.

The density of X20H80 is 8500 kg/m³, the specific heat capacity is 0.44 kJ/(kg K).

X15H60 is inferior to X20H80 in terms of technical characteristics:

operating temperature – 1000⁰C-1100⁰C;
composition – 18% chromium and 60% nickel;
specific heat capacity – 0.46 kJ/(kg K);
density 8200 - 8500 kg/m³;

The resistivity of this brand is 1.12 Ohm mm 2 /m.

The low iron content of X20H80 allows the thread to exhibit resistance to corrosion and wear. Unlike X15H60, which is more susceptible to corrosion. However, this brand serves for the production of samples, the cross-section of which is characterized by greater ductility and smaller area.

REFERENCE . As filler elements, both grades can include aluminum, manganese, titanium, silicon, iron and zirconium. At the same time, the presence of iron increases the magnetic properties of the alloy.