That's the issue but how do you straighten those curled wires ? Try as I might, they want to curl back into "circles" and enter twine with each other. I've seen some folks straighten wire by clamping one end in a vise and inserting the other end into the chuck of a drill, then let the drill untwist the wire. Is there a better way ?
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Much more simpler. Unspool while holding the wire tight and running it over the edge of your bench. Straightens out pretty good.
That's a fair way to try. Of course if you pull it too tightly while doing that, you just curl it the other way! It's a fine line.
Depending on the length, it might be good enough to just guide it the other direction by hand a little every few inches or foot. It won't be "straight", but it won't have the memory to try to coil back to the shape it was when still on the spool either.
-Dave
Use a hairdryer to gently warm the entire spool before you use it....I’m assuming it’s vinyl coated wire and not expensive fire wire??.....fire wire I leave out in the sun for a good while before I work with the spool....
Pat
Before removing from spool, put spool on a rod, or broom stick held in a vise and pull it straight off the spool.
Charlie
1/2" thin wall conduit will fit through the hole in most spools of wire. My tool box (handle) works well for wire distribution. One of the (most wires) wire pulls involved over 50 wires/50 spools of wire, in a 2" conduit. Control circuit for a sophisticated heating/cooling system.
Cut to length needed, clamp one end in a vise, grab other end tightly with some regular pliers and give it a quick and vigorous jerk! Maybe two. Of course, the direction of jerking is across the vice jaws, not parallel to them.
Not practical on a very short piece of wire, I suppose - but a very short piece can only be so curved.
It will be much straighter; I still remember my father showing me this in the 50's. I still do it.