More commonly known as piano wire, music wire has a number of uses beyond the creation of chordophones. Available in a number of thicknesses, this is a hardy and reliable high-tensile steel wire with a heavy carbon content. Since music wire needs to be remarkably strong for its size, in order to handle the constant pulling and vibrations of a piano string, it’s a popular component with a number of other industrial uses. Here are just a few:
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Springs
Music wire needs to be capable of handing excessive tension and stress in a resilient manner. Even after heavy use, good piano wires will need to maintain their elasticity to preserve sound quality. These very traits make music wire a great raw material for the creation of small springs – for instance, those used in windowpanes or ballpoint pens.
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Wire Cheese Slicer
Cheese slicers consist primarily of a cutting surface and a stretched music wire, which can be angled downwards to easily cut uniform slices of varying size off a cheese block or wheel. This is especially useful for softer cheeses, which may compress under the width of a full-fledged knife or other slicing tool.
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Fishing Lures
The shiny look, and tendency to vibrate, of piano wire make it an excellent component in fishing lures. These artificial and reusable tools are great at attracting the attention and interest of fish without the need to handle live bait.
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Hobbies
Owing to its flexibility, strength, and ease of shaping, music wire is commonly used in recreational hobbies like model railroading and radio-controlled vehicles, as well as in creative crafting and knitting.
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Making Jewelry
High elastic and moldable music wire is often used in the fabrication of delicate jewelries. The wire-wrapped look of earrings, rings, and bracelets can be quite stunning. Be sure to determine the proper thickness for your needs.
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Carving Tools
Music wire doesn’t have to be part of your final product – it can also be a means to an end. When used on a lathe or handheld tool, this thin yet resilient wire is fantastic at high-precision shaping of soft woods and other materials.
Need a supplier for music wire or other steel-based raw components? Contact Madison Steel today.