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Copper wire for packing

PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 12:21 pm
by stillthinking
If I can get a large quantity of heavy duty multi strand electrical cabling that can also have its insulation removed. This stuff is electrical sub mains cabling and is about as thick as your thumb and made up of many stand of finer wire.

Could this be “birdsnested” and used as column packing? Would obviously need to be cleaned well.

Re: Copper wire for packing

PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:23 pm
by Chocko6969
Can't see why not if it's pure copper. If it was me I'd separate the strands as much as possible, soak in citric acid twice (fresh batch of citric each time and stir often), and then put a sac run through 2 or 3 times with it packed in your column (vinegar then sac alcohol twice). This is just what I'd do just to make sure.

Chocko

Re: Copper wire for packing

PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:34 pm
by RC Al
Have a search for SPP or spiral prismatic packing

Basically wind a bunch of copper wire around a former to make spirals/springs, lotsa stuffing around, but it seems to work well in the smaller diameter columns

or do much the same and then knit some chainmail with it (you will hate me by the end of it though lols)