Where to find old style cloth covered electrical wires?

[DARTH SABER]

I know I could pick some up on ebay, but I just thought Id see if there are any retailers that sell vintage style cloth covered electrical wires?
I figured I could just pick it up somewhere, It would save me from having to wait a week or so for delivery from an online store.

Not too thick, 22Ga and higher.

 

[Coz]

A good stop-gap method is to use old-style shoe or boot laces - the 'tube' type.
Some have a center core that can be pulled out and replaced with wire.
C.

 

[DARTH SABER]

Cool, I'll definitely look into that.

Thanks!

 

[LMFAOSchwarz]

How much length are you looking for, darth? I've very likely got at least some around here. I'll check if you wish.

Although, the hollow shoelace idea is a honey!

Then again, using actual old cord could (depending what you're doing with it) could create a similar situation to Data walking around with a 500 year old head, according to that Mark Twain episode...:lol

 

[TazMan2000]

I think they still sell that stuff. Heat resistant stuff, I think. Pehaps a special order item.

TazMan2000

 

[MaulWalker]

You can still get the cloth-covered wire - it comes in rayon or cotton. It is used extensively by people who restore old lamps.

 

[whoever]

sundial wiring. Used it for rewiring vintage fans, chandeliers, etc.

 

[DARTH SABER]

Thanks for the repies.
I'm actually using the wiring for the inside of my Farnsworth communicator. I need the wiring to be somewhat thin rather than thick.
I was hoping to get some cloth wiring in a few assorted colors and possibly one with maybe a houndstooth pattern just for a diverse effect.

There are plenty of these wires on eBay, but they're kind of pricey...I was just hoping to try my luck on the RPF to see if anyone might know another source.

 

[Contec]

check out old 1950s irons. They have cloth covered wires.

 

[Nwerke]

Vintage car suppliers?

 

[Moviefreak]

They offer thin fabric covered wire here
Cloth Covered Electrical Wire - Solid per foot wire
at about $1.35 a foot.

 

[Darth Lars]

I have seen that the act of "sleeving" wires with fabric sheeting is quite popular among computer case modders. Some computer peripherals for the "gaming" market even come with fabric-covered wires out of the box.
More on the thick side, and not so vintage-looking, though...

 

[Wes R]

I'd look around here but the stuff in the house is all the thicker wiring. 99% of the wiring here is still that stuff, i'd love to get it replaced for my family but it'd probably cost a fortune.

 

[DARTH SABER]

They offer thin fabric covered wire here
Cloth Covered Electrical Wire - Solid per foot wire
at about $1.35 a foot.

Thanks, seems as though the wires on the site are all 18 guage...That might be too thick.

Im wondering is the guage size includes the chickness of the fabric, or just thye wire inside?

 

[Serenity]

If you don't need an actual metal wire inside of the fabric, try some craft cord. I picked up some and it'll work just fine for replicating the "braided" wire look. (Although, you could always feed some fine 24ga and higher wire through it, if you needed the metal inside too.)

 

[DARTH SABER]

If you don't need an actual metal wire inside of the fabric, try some craft cord. I picked up some and it'll work just fine for replicating the "braided" wire look. (Although, you could always feed some fine 24ga and higher wire through it, if you needed the metal inside too.)

HOT DAMN!!
Great suggestion!

At first I thought the craft chords might not have the right type of braiding that matched the old electrical wires but I went to the craft store today and they're perfect.
They even have some kind of lacquer sheen that prevents frayed fibers from popping up.

Thanks!

DS