Anybody live in the Greater Boston Area and know where to get piano wire? (for arm rods)
also does anybody use piano wire for their arm rods, and if not what do you use?
Thanks

I use it but I am not in the Greater Boston Area.   Here in KCMO I have to go to older hardware stores. We have one that is local that has just about anything you want.  Also Ace Hardware stores here are like this also so that might be an option for you if you have Ace Hardware in your area.  Hobby stores that cater to models train, planes and such well often have it also. Another name for it is spring wire.  That may help you in your search

Thanks SHawn!

I think i may have found some on amazon, here is the link : http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Music-Straightened-Diameter-Length/dp/B00138937E/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1279902455&sr=8-10

Does that look like the write kind of stuff?

Yep that is the stuff.   Not sure if that would be the diameter I have used in the past or not.  Never was good at remembering that.   

As a side note,  wire like this is very hard to bend or cut.  I always use a vice grip and heavy wire cutters or even bolt cutters to cut through it.

yay i found it! do you think the diameter i found is too thick? or too thin?

here is a conversion chart
http://mdmetric.com/tech/cvtcht.htm

It looks the wire is 0.118" = 3 mm = 53/64" = approx. a little smaller than 1/8"

wow thanks billy! that is very helpful. so do you think a little less than 1/8" is a good diameter?

wow thanks billy! that is very helpful. so do you think a little less than 1/8" is a good diameter?

I like wire a little bigger than clothes hanger wire................ I would go to Lowes or a hardware store and look for stainless steel rods regular or threaded. Then check how the different rods feel in your hands and get the size of that rod off the tag located usually on a sticker attached to the rod. Then you can go from there to find the piano wire. The other options would be to go to hobby lobby or a music store and feel the wire in your hands. Sorry but they are just not set rules in puppetry............... everyone is different in there use of supplies.

Billy D.

Yeah, well i like the feel of coat hanger (thats what i used for my avatar). But i think i will try out what you suggested i really appreciate all the help!

Just call around.  Many people like welding rods, but not me.  The are usually too short (in my experience).  I prefer steel rods.  Stainless steel is so strong that it is difficult to bend if you need to.  Regular steel rods are way stronger than coat hangers and are still easy enough to bend with focused force.  The size you are looking for is 3/32 ".  That is the size of a coat hanger and it is what I use.  I find 1/8" too heavy, and to be honest I have never seen that thickness used in all of my time puppeteering.  Call around for a welding company and see if they sell steel rods (which are cheaper than stainless steel rods as well).  That's just me opinion.

Thanks chensational, amazon has many different sizes so maybe i'll look for something a bit thinner. I just wanted to make sure it was thick enough that it wouldn't bend in places i didnt want it to!