Telephone Pole Wire Sizes

There is a product that is called flex string or wire that is black. Its nice because when someone reaches through it ,which will happen-it dosnt pull all you telepoles down. Someone else here  might be able to get you the exact name and supplier, if not ill check tonight when i get home and post the exact name and manufacturer.

Unless you trust yourself to always remember its there i suggeast that product.

Thanks Pat, I'll see if anyone else knows otherwise I'll hear from you tonight.

Paul i use fishing line for my telephone poles just a drop of glue to attach to the pole  and i painted the string black. 

Chessie, I'm not a fisherman. Is there a size or weight or something that you use? What is is made of, nylon? I suppose it only comes in white?

Its called EZ Line Stretch  from Berkshire Junction. Comes in Heavy for O scale  100 ft rolls. Dont know the 'gauge but 'Specifically made for what your doing.  If they are not still in business ,ill bet a craft store will have it a the same or lower price. 

413-743-3960

their website  is their name with no spaces  .com

Updated:

I just checked their website since i bought this stuff many years ago, they still have alot of pictures of the EZ Line

the website for the EZ Line is www.berkshirejunction.com/scenery.htm

have seen multiple write-ups about this project, virtually all good and you'll be really happy that it stretches when you bump into or hit it when working on the layout. 

Jerrman

Paul sorry took so long get back to you. The fishing line i used is .029 Dia. and it is  50 lb test white in color and nylon. I don't know they make other colors. I just took black spray paint sprayed mine  

If you don't use the EZ Line you can have some power & phone line crews available, just in case Gomez Adams visits your layout.

Thanks, Patrick for product tip and wisdom. 

The EZ Line that Patrick and Jerrman are referring to is a great product.  I was in a hurry so went down to Walmart and found in their crafts section the elastic line that comes in different diameters and colors.  I can assure you that you will be thankful that you used an elastic line!!!

Alan

Bah!   I say that telephone lines don't look right unless they droop a little bit.

Vulcan thinks so, too:   

https://ogrforum.com/d...881#2415514336548881

Actually, I suppose you can use the stretchy stuff and still be properly droopy.  That way you get the "bump protection" and still look good.

I used the heavy EZ line on my layout, just as Patrick H described it.  And Jerrman is absolutely right, I don't know how many times either I forgot it was there or misjudged my reach and snagged it.  It just bounces back and retains its dress.  There was an info sheet in the package that Berkshire Junction wrote and they mention that there is also EZ Line for Ship Rigging & Crane Rigging that works as well.  It is an elastic polymer with 700% stretch.  They state that it will not fray or get fuzzy like thread and will not dry up like rubber.  They had some good info about the early steam thru the steam-diesel transition era, and said that most rights of way were dotted with poles carrying railroad telegraph, telephone and code lines.  They point out that typically the poles were shorter and closer together than highway electric poles, and that usually the wires were strung taut to keep them from touching.  It was not unusual to see 20 or more wires strung on these poles.  They suggested that newer designs would have only remnants of the past or no wires at all.

The info sheet also details how to install the wire.  They suggest using quick setting super glue applied with a toothpick to the insulator.  There's a lot more information on the sheet, but that's the basics.  Avanti, because the line is so elasticky, it doesn't droop too well.  I just now tried it, and it wants to spiral, even after removing it from the spool and letting it relax for a few minutes.  Maybe it takes longer than that to flatten out on its own.

I ordered mine from Berkshire Junction.  They're in Adams, Mass.  Quick service, no issues.  Patrick H has the contact info above.

Mike

Thanks everyone for your help! It looks like ez line is the way to go, no offense Chessie.

Paul....

Mike makes a point above in that if you want the lines to droop prototypically, I noticed that the EZ Line spirals somewhat.  You may want to experiment before you decide by purchasing the line that is available at Walmart only because it is wrapped over cardboard and I noticed I was able to get it to droop without any problem.  Here are some pictures.  Right click on a picture and then click on "open link in new window" to get a full size photo to see details...

Alan

You can also go to any Michaels or JoAnns and look in the bead area. They have practically the same thing as EZ Line in the stretch string that is used to make bracelets. It comes in black and also in a couple of diameters. I used both, some to represent power lines and the thicker string to represent telephone lines. The benefit is that you have ready access to more if you need it.

Rick

Alan & Rick,

You both reinforce the use of stretch material. We have both JoAnns and Walmart here so I should be able to find what I need. Thanks again everyone!