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General Properties of Formvar

Formvar is a synthetic enamel composed of polyvinyl acetal and phenolic resins. Formvar's hot oil resistance sets it apart from all other magnet wire insulations. The flexibility, adhesion and abrasion scrape resistance of Formvar film is excellent. Its electrical properties are very good and it is resistant to common solvents.

Guitar Pickup Winding Wire for Warmth and Note Definition...

Formvar serves as an excellent choice of winding wire for pickup manufacturing companies and it is chosen for it's resistance to common solvents (including sweat and other liquids that can find its way into a guitar's pickup cavity). Heavy Formvar is used where top end brightness and note definition and clarity are desired attributes, since fewer turns are possible due to the thickness of the insulation. A certain famous guitar maker used Heavy Formvar in their single coil pickup windings throughout the early 1950's and 1960's. This is the best choice for period-correct, authentic single coil pickup winding wire.

General Properties of Plain Enamel

Plain Enamel magnet wire is insulated with a synthetic resin enamel. It is the oldest of the film insulations and all basic properties are good. Relatively easy removal of film by mechanical or chemical means. Good moisture resistance.

Excellent Windability...

Heavy Poly Nylon Round Magnet Wire

HPN combines the magnet wire insulation characteristics of Heavy Poly with the advantages of a nylon topcoat. With the nylon, HPN is still readily solderable, yet the solvent resistance and thermal stability of the insulation is excellent. In addition, the nylon provides improvement in the windability and tolerates more severe winding operations. HPN is an excellent choice for automatic winding machines. Heavy Poly Nylon's heavy coating is an excellent choice for vintage-voiced pickup wire.

Vintage Tone...

Plain Enamel is a magnet wire insulation type used in vintage pickup windings and today is used in vintage reissue guitar pickups. Plain Enamel is often defined visually by it's dark purple / brown-ish tint. Don't be fooled by companies that tint and dye other insulation types as a substitution for the real deal; supply is limited for plain enamel since it is mostly used in smaller quantities by pickup winding companies in vintage-spec'd guitar pickups.
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Item #

Material

Type

AWG Size

Nom. Bare Wire Diameter

Min. Increase in Diameter Due to Film Coating

Max. Overall Diameter of Film-Coated Wire

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N/A Polyurethane Nylon N/A Normal Magnet Wire N/A 40 N/A 0.0031 in0.079 mm N/A 0.0003 in0.008 mm N/A 0.0037 in0.094 mm
N/A Polyurethane Nylon N/A Normal Magnet Wire N/A 40-1/2 N/A 0.003 in0.076 mm N/A 0.0003 in0.008 mm N/A 0.0035 in0.090 mm
N/A Polyurethane Nylon N/A Normal Magnet Wire N/A 41 N/A 0.0028 in0.071 mm N/A 0.0002 in0.005 mm N/A 0.0033 in0.084 mm
N/A Polyurethane Nylon N/A Normal Magnet Wire N/A 42 N/A 0.0025 in0.064 mm N/A 0.0002 in0.005 mm N/A 0.0030 in0.076 mm
N/A Plain Enamel N/A Vintage Magnet Wire N/A 42 N/A 0.0025 in0.064 mm N/A 0.0002 in0.005 mm N/A 0.0030 in0.076 mm
N/A Formvar N/A Vintage Magnet Wire N/A 42 N/A 0.0025 in0.064 mm N/A 0.0004 in0.010 mm N/A 0.0032 in0.081 mm
N/A Polyurethane Nylon N/A Normal Magnet Wire N/A 43 N/A 0.0022 in0.056 mm N/A 0.0002 in0.005 mm N/A 0.0026 in0.066 mm
N/A Plain Enamel N/A Vintage Magnet Wire N/A 43 N/A 0.0022 in0.056 mm N/A 0.0002 in0.005 mm N/A 0.0026 in0.066 mm
N/A Formvar N/A Vintage Magnet Wire N/A 43 N/A 0.0022 in0.056 mm N/A 0.0004 in0.010 mm N/A 0.0029 in0.074 mm
N/A Polyurethane Nylon N/A Normal Magnet Wire N/A 44 N/A 0.002 in0.051 mm N/A 0.0002 in0.005 mm N/A 0.0024 in0.0610 mm
N/A Polyurethane Nylon N/A Normal Magnet Wire N/A 45 N/A 0.00176 in0.0447 mm N/A 0.0002 in0.005 mm N/A 0.00220 in0.0559 mm
N/A Polyurethane Nylon N/A Normal Magnet Wire N/A 46 N/A 0.00176 in0.0399 mm N/A 0.0002 in0.005 mm N/A 0.00200 in0.0508 mm
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