Nichrome wire: its characteristics and value, scope of use, where you can get it

In our country there will never be a shortage of “folk craftsmen”. Russian people have always been distinguished by their intelligence and ingenuity. Therefore, one of the questions that worries many inventors is where they can get nichrome wire in the required quantity. This material is a special alloy containing a high concentration of chemical elements such as chromium and nickel. In addition to them, nichrome also includes other metals - manganese, silicon, iron and aluminum, which have their own advantages, and their combination in one alloy creates a metal that has remarkable quality characteristics.

Nichrome from a soldering iron

Disassemble the soldering iron and find the same nichrome wire.
We actually found one, but it was very thin. You can find out the cross-section of the wire by winding 10 turns of thread tightly pressed together around a pencil. Our turns took 1 mm. This means that the cross-section of our thread is 0.1 mm. You can buy a lot of such cheap soldering irons, but the nichrome spiral in them may differ in length. Disassembling a household soldering iron to obtain nichrome is a really working scheme. But what to do if you don’t have a soldering iron?

A similar spiral is found in hair dryers. Different models have nichrome threads of different diameters, but they are definitely there. Nichrome can be found in a heater built on the principle of a fan. This option will be slightly more expensive than the previous one.

And finally, the most difficult way is to get this metal out of an electric stove with an open spiral. Today we told you that nichrome winding is not such an expensive undertaking. If you decide to find a thread in a soldering iron, then it can reach 2.5 m. This will turn out to be far from 1 winding.

Resistance calculation

Electrical resistance is of particular importance in situations where the wire is used as a winding for transformers and generators. After all, if the resistance is too high, then in the event of an emergency, the winding may ignite, which can lead to catastrophic consequences.

Resistance formula

To accurately calculate resistance, use the following formula: R = (P x L)/S. It deciphers like this:

• R is the total resistance. We need to find this parameter as a result of calculations (units of measurement - Ohm).
• P is the resistivity of the material. This indicator is a physical constant, and it depends on the type of chemical element. For copper the constant P will be equal to 0.0175 (units - (Ohm x mm x mm)/m).
• L is the total length in meters. The larger it is, the higher the resistance of the conductor will be.
• S is the cross-sectional area in square millimeters. This parameter also affects the final resistance - the smaller it is, the higher the resistance will be.

Please note that the parameter S is usually indicated in the technical documentation, but instead of the cross-sectional area, sometimes only the cross-sectional diameter of the wire is indicated. In this case, it is necessary to calculate the area using the formula: S = (Pi xdxd)/4

This formula is deciphered as follows:

• Pi is a mathematical constant that is approximately equal to 3.14.
• d is the cross-sectional diameter of the conductor in millimeters.

As a result, the resistance of copper wire is measured using two formulas: R = (P x L)/S = (4 x P x L)/(Pi xdxd).

Examples of problems

Let's try to solve a few simple problems:

• Task 1. Determine the resistance of a wire whose length is 100 meters and cross-sectional area is 5 square millimeters. In our problem, the area parameter is known, so we will use the first formula R = (P x L)/S. Let's substitute our values: R = (0.0175 x 100)/5 = 0.35 Ohm.
• Task 2. Determine the resistance of a wire whose length is 500 meters and cross-sectional diameter is 2 millimeters. In this problem the diameter is known, so we will use the second formula R = (4 x P x L)/(Pi xdxd). Let's substitute our values: R = (4 x 0.0175 x 500)/(3.14 x 2 x 2) = 2.78 Ohm.

Refractory Tungsten Production Process

This material is classified as a rare metal.
It is characterized by relatively small volumes of consumption and production, as well as low prevalence in the earth’s crust. None of the rare metals are obtained by recovery from raw materials. Initially, it is processed into a chemical compound. And any rare metal ore undergoes additional enrichment before processing. There are three main stages for obtaining rare metal:

1. Ore decomposition. The recovered metal is separated from the bulk of the processed raw materials. It concentrates in a precipitate or solution.
2. Obtaining a pure chemical compound. Its isolation and purification.
3. The metal is isolated from the resulting compound. This is how pure materials without impurities are obtained.

There are also several stages in the process of obtaining tungsten. The starting materials are scheelite and wolframite. Typically they contain from 0.2 to 2% tungsten.

1. Ore beneficiation is carried out using electrostatic or magnetic separation, flotation, and gravity. As a result, a tungsten concentrate is obtained, which contains approximately 55–65% tungsten anhydride. The presence of impurities in them is also controlled: bismuth, antimony, copper, tin, arsenic, sulfur, phosphorus.
2. Preparation of tungsten anhydride. It is the raw material for the production of metal tungsten or its carbide. To achieve this, a number of procedures are carried out, such as: leaching of cake and alloy, decomposition of concentrates, production of technical tungsten acid and others. As a result of these actions, a product should be obtained that will contain 99.9% tungsten trioxide.
3. Obtaining powder. In powder form, pure metal can be obtained from anhydride. This is achieved by reduction with carbon or hydrogen. Carbon reduction is carried out less frequently because the anhydride is saturated with carbides and this leads to brittleness of the metal and poor processing. When obtaining powder, special methods are used that make it possible to control the shape and size of grains, granulometric and chemical compositions.
4. Production of compact tungsten. Basically, it is in the form of ingots or bars and is a blank for the manufacture of semi-finished products: tape, rods, wire and others.

Selection of parts

The first step is to find a network step-down transformer with a power of 60-100 Watts; the output of the transformer will be an alternating voltage of 12V, safe for humans, with a current of 5-10A sufficient to heat the filament.

For assembly you will need the following parts:

1. Step-down network transformer 12V;
2. Two switches for a current of at least 10A;
3. Nichrome wire.

We select the length of the nichrome thread as follows: cut and select a piece of nichrome wire so that it glows red (thread A), then connect another piece of nichrome wire (thread B) to the same thread in series and select its length so that thread A heats up half or to the desired value.

Let’s assume that the working length of the thread for cutting is 13 cm, we twist the rest of thread A into a spiral, and we also twist the entire thread B into a spiral.

We fasten the twisted spirals in a convenient place on the cutter so that they do not interfere, and we cut only with a stretched piece of thread 13 cm long.

Conditions for receiving tungsten

It is important to note that different companies have different approaches to accepting recyclable materials. However, despite this, there are a number of general rules that enterprises of all types try to adhere to.

Both individuals and legal entities have the right to hand over tungsten scrap when registering scrap metal at the enterprise. When receiving it, an analysis is carried out and the exact content of pure metal and impurities is determined. This procedure is carried out using special instruments - metal and alloy analyzers.

The final price may vary depending on the composition of the tungsten alloy and the presence of various additives in it.

However, the cost in any case remains very high, since rare non-ferrous metals are used as impurities.

Recyclable materials with varying contents of the main element from 5 to 99% are accepted.

Large enterprises that provide secure and documented transactions place increased demands on the quality of scrap and on individuals or legal entities handing over the metal, namely:

1. Acceptance of scrap is carried out in accordance with state standards, and the transaction must not contradict regulations.
2. Metal can be accepted from an individual only upon presentation of an identification document.
3. Recyclable materials are accepted only in their pure form without any dirt or impurities.

It is important to understand that many companies that accept tungsten scrap set a minimum weight of one kilogram, while large ones set it at 50 or more. Of course, it is possible to find small buyers through advertisements, but the price may be much lower

Compound

Nichrome contains about 20% nickel and up to 80% chromium.

In addition, the alloy may contain additives in the form of manganese, aluminum, iron, silicon, etc.

The introduction of alloys into the nichrome composition increases the performance indicators and technical parameters of the metal:

• nickel and iron improve machinability;
• iron, titanium, aluminum and manganese reduce resistance to elevated temperatures;
• In the presence of iron in the alloy, nichrome acquires magnetic properties.

Increasing additives can degrade the characteristics of the metal.

The amount of nickel determines the temperature that the heating elements can withstand.

The chromium content in the alloy should be no more than 20%. An increase in the amount of chromium increases the brittleness and impairs the machinability of the metal. When its content in the alloy is more than 30%, cold rolling and drawing of the material becomes impossible.

The strength of the protective film and oxidation resistance depend on the amount of chromium.

Application area

Due to its unique properties, tungsten is widely used. In industry it is used in pure form and in alloys.

The main areas of application are:

They became special. In the production of high-speed steels and tool steels, this material is used as an alloying element or a main component. Dies, punches, cutters, drills and others are produced from such steels. The letter “P” in the name of the alloy means that it is high-speed steel, and the letters “K” or “M” mean steel alloyed with cobalt or molybdenum. Tungsten is also included in magnetic steels, which are divided into cobalt tungsten and tungsten. Hard alloys based on tungsten carbide. It is a compound of carbon and tungsten. It is refractory, wear-resistant and has high hardness. Working parts of drilling and cutting tools are made from it. Wear-resistant and heat-resistant alloys. They use the refractoriness of tungsten. The most common are chromium and cobalt compounds - stellites. They are usually applied by surfacing to heavily worn machine parts. Heavy and contact connections. These include alloys of tungsten with silver and copper. These are quite effective contact materials for the production of working parts for switches, switches, electrodes for spot welding and other equipment.

Electric lighting and electric vacuum technology. Tungsten in the form of various forged parts, strips or wires is used in the production of X-ray equipment, radio electronics and electric lamps. This is the best material for coils and filaments. Tungsten rods and wires serve as electric heaters for high-temperature furnaces. These electric heaters can operate in an atmosphere of inert gas, hydrogen or vacuum. Welding electrodes

Welding is an important area for the use of this metal. Electrodes for arc welding are made from it, as they are infusible.

Tungsten compounds with carbon

Tungsten carbides are considered very important from a practical point of view. They are used for the manufacture of hard alloys. Compounds with carbon have a positive electrical resistance coefficient and good metal conductivity. Tungsten carbides are formed in two types: WC and W2C. They differ in their behavior in acids, as well as in their solubility in other carbon compounds.

Two types of hard alloys are made based on tungsten carbides: sintered and cast. The latter are obtained from a powdered compound and carbide with a deficiency of C (less than 3%) by casting. The second type is made from tungsten monocarbide WC and a cementitious binder metal, which can be nickel or cobalt. Sintered alloys are produced only by powder metallurgy. The cementitious metal powder and tungsten carbide are mixed, pressed and sintered. Such alloys have high strength, hardness and wear resistance.

In the modern metallurgical industry they are used for metal cutting and for the manufacture of drilling tools. One of the most common alloys are VK6 and VK8. They are used for the manufacture of cutters, cutters, drills and other cutting tools.

The scope of application of tungsten carbides is quite extensive. So, they are used to make:

• armor-piercing supplies;
• engine parts, aircraft, spacecraft and rockets;
• equipment in the nuclear industry;
• surgical instruments.

In the West, tungsten carbides are especially widely used in jewelry, especially for making wedding rings. Metal looks beautiful, aesthetically pleasing, and is easy to process.

This is because they are incredibly durable. To scratch such a product, you will have to make a lot of effort. Even after a few years, the ring will look like new. It will not fade, the relief pattern will not be damaged, and the polished part will not lose its shine.

Where to find nichrome wire

So, let's look at what nichrome wire actually is:

• differs from kanthal in its lower resistivity;
• The box mod delivers high performance power;
• does not contain iron, therefore it does not corrode and lasts much longer;
• conducts heat well. Thus, the coil heats up faster and cools down faster.

Obviously, nichrome is sold in vape shops. 1 meter of such wire is very expensive. When this option does not suit you, you can find nichrome on radio markets. They still exist, but the likelihood that you will be able to find it there is very small.

However, this issue can be solved, you just need to know where to go. Also in this matter, a regular soldering iron or a faulty device that you can stumble upon in a closet or garage will help you out. If you were unable to find a soldering iron, then you can buy it at the Fix Price store, where everything is sold at the same price. The price of a soldering iron there will be only $1.

Nichrome insulation with silicone multi-core cable

Heat-resistant heating cable in silicone insulation based on X20N80 tape or wire is used in various heating systems and thermal treatment installations.

To insulate nichrome wire or tape, two-layer silicone insulation is mainly used.

The basis of the insulating material is silicone rubber, obtained on the basis of high molecular weight organosilicon compounds. In appearance, the insulation is similar to ordinary rubber, but differs from it in higher technical indicators:

• resistance to high voltages - breakdown voltage is 5,000 Volts;
• resistance to aggressive environments and atmospheric influences;
• fire resistance - the material does not burn and does not emit toxic smoke when burned;
• operating temperatures from -60°С to +180°С;
• increased strength and durability.

Silicone insulation can withstand short-term temperature increases up to 220°C without changing the structure and quality of the coating. It is not destroyed by ultraviolet and radioactive radiation. Does not lose its qualities under the influence of ionizing radiation up to 20 Mrad (20 x 106 kJ/kg).

For the manufacture of heat-resistant heating cables, mainly two-layer silicone insulation is used.

Nichrome in isolation.

Single hook lures

Tungsten wire is very stiff and requires very strong finger pressure to place it neatly on the hook. And the force is such that a single hook, even made of relatively thick wire - about 0.65 mm - simply breaks on the second or third turn, or uneven turns are obtained. Therefore, it is better to abandon 0.5 mm wire and switch to 0.3 mm.

With it, it turns out much easier, but not elementary, the wire is very springy, so all winding has to be done under tension, constantly squeezing with your fingers and not allowing it to unwind, so that the diameter of the winding does not increase. At the same time, in order to avoid kinks, the wire cannot be held rigidly; it must unwind around its center. For this reason, it will not be possible to wind wire onto a workpiece from a common reel.

You need to estimate the length of the piece needed for two layers and cut it from the reel with some margin. Particular precision cannot be achieved in this process; it is inconvenient to work with a short end, so you will have to put up with the fact that somewhere around 10-15, if not more, percent of the wire will go to waste. But the resulting products are quite aesthetically pleasing (photo 29). And with a relatively small size, they have good mass, which allows them to be used even in windy conditions.

We also make jigs on hooks Nos. 10 and 12 for fly fishing flies; the hooks themselves, depending on the size and model, are made of wire from 0.45 to 0.65 mm. If there are no problems when winding on thicker hooks, then you need to work very carefully with thin ones, and you get two layers of wire (photo 30). Depending on the size of the hook, you can make a jig from three layers of wire. We wind the third layer separately, on the jig in a screwdriver. And then, we fix everything with Moment-gel glue or Norpol-type polyester resin with the addition of dye.

To prevent the first layer of winding from dangling or rotating on the fore-end, you need to do the following. Saikyo hooks have a bent eye and we place the first layer of winding on the already bent part of the hook (photo 31), and from there we begin laying the second layer, we get a kind of lock. The coil does not rotate and cannot move anywhere, even when you apply significant force to the body of the jig when releasing it from the perch’s mouth.

It is recommended to bend the resulting body a little to bring the shape closer to the “Banana” shape. When testing both options: in the form of a nail and bends, no significant changes were noticed in the perch’s reaction to them. He willingly eats both. The main thing is to get into the theme with the color of the beads.

Operating requirements

To ensure a long service life of nichrome products, it is important to follow certain rules:

• to prevent overheating, winding the heating cable on the frame in several layers is not allowed;
• the bend of the current-carrying core in the cable should not exceed five of its diameters.

The integrity of the conductor can be restored by mechanical twisting, threaded clamps or couplings, soldering or welding.

When you turn on a device with a nichrome heating cable for the first time, a small amount of smoke may be released due to the burning out of residual oil.

Nichrome spiral

Tungsten wire and its features

Basic properties of tungsten

Tungsten is a refractory metal that is used in the manufacture of heat-resistant alloys. It has a high density, its density reaches 19.3 g/cm3. Tungsten begins to melt at 3395°C and boils at 5500°C, while its evaporation rate is low. As for the electrical conductivity of this metal, it is approximately 1/3 of the value of the same parameter for copper. Tungsten is brittle at low temperatures and also has low oxidation resistance. This metal can be processed by pre-heating it. Externally, tungsten is similar to steel.

Tungsten wire production

The most popular long products made from tungsten are wire. It is produced in accordance with GOST 25501-82. Tungsten wire is a semi-finished product, the cross-section of which remains constant along its entire length. It is made by pressing or drawing.

Since tungsten has low technological plasticity, to increase this property it is heated, which in no way affects the strength of the material, which still remains high. Only after such procedures can wire be obtained by any method of processing under pressure. Supplied in coils or coils.

Powder metallurgy methods are often used to produce tungsten blanks, which makes it possible to improve some of the quality and properties of tungsten. A shtabik is a semi-finished product from which wire is made. It is first heated, and then a special rotary forging machine is used to carry out the forging. This is how tungsten rods are obtained, the diameter of which is 2-3 mm. Wire is obtained from them by drawing in a heated state. The diameter of the resulting long rolled metal is represented by a number of standard values ​​up to 0.3 mm.

Scope of application of tungsten wire

The electrical and electronics industries are the main consumers of pure tungsten. The metal is indispensable in cases where low vapor pressure is required at operating temperatures up to 2500 °C. Tungsten wire is a material for heating elements of furnaces operating in a hydrogen, neutral or vacuum environment, heating up to 3000 °C. Thermocouples are made from this grade of metal. For their manufacture, tungsten-rhenium wire with a rhenium content of 5 and 20% (VR 5/20, VR5/20, VR5/VR20) is used.

More information about the use of tungsten wire grades VA, VM, VRN, VT-7, VT-10, VT-15 can be found by reading GOST 18903-73.

Usage

The VM brand is used in X-ray technology and radio electronics, for the manufacture of heaters and cathodes for electronic devices, which are designed for operation under conditions of vibration, shock, t° 2100 °C. The VRN brand is used for the manufacture of springs, hooks, cathodes of gas-discharge and electronic devices, bushings, traverses and other parts that do not require tungsten with special additives.

High resistance and unique light output allow the use of thin tungsten filament in incandescent lamps. Tungsten filament for lighting devices is made in accordance with GOST 19 671−91 from VA, VRN, HF, ∅ 19.5 µm - 1.5 mm. It is also used to make springs for electronic devices, spiral and non-spiral (loop) cathodes for electronic devices, grids, and heaters. Various filters and tungsten wire meshes are used in the chemical industry. This wire is used for the production of surgical instruments, parts of rockets, aircraft, and textile equipment.

TUNGSTEN WIRE (GOST 18 903−73)

Provider

offers to buy tungsten wire, thread, the price is the best today. We always have a large selection of high quality products in stock. Compliance with GOST and international quality standards. Availability of goods and prompt delivery are ensured by representative offices located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and cities of Eastern Europe. Tungsten wire and thread are always available, the price depends on the order volume and additional delivery conditions. Preferential discounts are provided for bulk purchases.

Where can I get nichrome wire?

There are several options for how and where you can purchase a nichrome product.

Today, in almost every locality there is a help desk for goods and services. By contacting it, you can obtain information from the operator about which organization sells nichrome and its contact numbers. This information can also be found on the Internet. However, in this situation, the chances of purchasing a normal product are almost zero.

, because if anyone undertakes to deliver the material, it will only be one and a half to two meters. Organizations mainly specialize in wholesale sales. But it’s still worth clarifying.

If such a product is sold in another city, then you can use it. However, this option requires an additional payment.

for shipping. You can purchase wire in specialized stores. These could be “Radio Components”, “Skillful Hands” and other similar pavilions. The sellers of such private stores, who sell various spare parts, know each other very well. Therefore, if such a “private trader” does not have nichrome wire in stock, he can tell you where to purchase it. By the way, you can find it in an ordinary hardware store. Spirals for electric stoves are made of nichrome.

Not a single locality can do without a bazaar where you can buy anything. The most important thing is to carefully go around the entire market and you can even ask the sellers. You may also come across such a product made of nichrome.

find an old device somewhere

, for example, a laboratory rheostat. In itself it is of no value, but it has a small amount of nichrome wound on it.

Nichrome wire is a high-quality plastic product due to its remarkable technical characteristics. Buying or getting it in any other way, although difficult, is possible. You just need to take the initiative and try all the above methods.

For this you will need nichrome wire. The resistivity of nichrome wire grade X20N80 is given in the table. For shaped cutting, a thermal cutter made from a piece of nichrome wire is used.

Nichrome wire X20H80 is used to make a spiral when independently rewinding the atomizer. Therefore, to obtain the same value, in the case of thin nichrome wire, fewer turns will need to be made. However, for use at higher power, it is recommended to use thicker nichrome wire or 2 thin threads braided.

Nichrome wire is used for the manufacture of cutters, jigsaws, soldering irons, machines for cutting foam plastic, polystyrene, etc. Wire is obtained from them by drawing. Nichrome products are used in places that require high-quality metal. The ends of the nichrome wire are attached to springs mounted on M4 screws. The screws themselves are screwed into metal posts pressed into the base of the machine.

Before screwing the screw into the rack, a groove was machined at its head so that the nichrome wire could not move arbitrarily during adjustment, but would occupy the required position. To prevent nichrome wire from sagging due to elongation when heated, it is secured to the screws through springs. After preparing all the fasteners, you can fasten the nichrome wire. Nichrome wire is not much different in appearance from steel wire, but it is made from an alloy of chromium and nickel.

However, unlike steel or copper wire, nichrome wire has a higher resistivity and can withstand heating temperatures up to 1200˚C while maintaining high mechanical strength.

It should be noted that for heating the nichrome wire of a foam cutting machine, a power source of both alternating current and direct current is suitable. Remove the plug from the network and connect the wires coming from the nichrome thread to the “Load” terminals. Insert the power cord plug into the socket and use the phase indicator to check the absence of phase on the nichrome wire. Having dealt with the phase, you can slowly turn the LATR handle to apply voltage to the nichrome wire.

In this circuit, thanks to the isolating step-down transformer, the nichrome spiral is not galvanically connected to the electrical network and is therefore safe for operation. After all, when cutting foam plastic on a device, there is no need to regulate the heating temperature of the nichrome wire. The temperature is selected once when setting up the machine.

Nichrome 60 vs Nichrome 80

The properties of nichrome are determined by the quantitative ratio of nickel and chromium in the alloy.

The more nickel in the alloy, the higher its maximum operating temperature:

• for nichrome X20N80 this figure is 1200°C;
• for alloy X15N60 - up to 1125°C.

The next important indicator is plasticity. It affects the machinability of the metal.

Nichrome 60 alloy was created by reducing the amount of nickel in the alloy and increasing modifying additives to reduce the cost of heaters.

The use of the more expensive X20N80 alloy is justified when operating devices at extremely high temperatures.

Prices at reception points

To form average prices, consider the cost of receiving tungsten scrap at three types of enterprises:

• those that accept scrap with a total weight of several tens of kilograms;
• enterprises purchasing metal from 0.5 kilograms;
• places where you can donate tungsten scrap up to 0.5 kilograms.

Large parties

Mosvtormetal

This Moscow enterprise accepts various types of scrap raw materials, including tungsten. The company’s website contains information that scrap is purchased from 50 kilograms, while the price for one kilogram of pure metal ranges from 900 to 950 rubles, depending on the condition in which the scrap was delivered to the enterprise.

The company also buys a number of tungsten alloys at the following prices:

• VN, residence permit – 550 rubles;
• VD, VND – 450 rubles;
• VMN – 500 rubles.

Tekhnolom

Moskovskaya also accepts almost all types of scrap metal, including purchasing tungsten.
Acceptance is carried out with a weight of 10 kilograms or more, and pick-up of scrap from anywhere in the Moscow region is possible only if the total weight of the scrap exceeds one ton.

The price of recyclable materials containing tungsten per kilogram is 700 rubles, and in large quantities from 100 kg the prices increase. The company also accepts tungsten alloys. The cost of hard alloys VK and TK is 500 rubles.

LLC "Resurs"

Resurs LLC is a Moscow enterprise that accepts tungsten scrap from 10 kg. The company buys scrap according to general rules:

• no pollution,
• impurities in scrap,
• normal radiation background.

Acceptance of alloys is characterized by the following prices:

• TK, VK – 500 rubles per kg;
• P18 – 60 rubles;
• R6M5 – 60 rubles.

From 0.5 kg

Vecomet

Vekomet is a company located in the Moscow region.
She is engaged in buying tungsten weighing from half a kilogram.

At the request of the seller, the company can independently remove recyclable materials and carry out analysis and weighing on site.

Cash payment is carried out after acceptance of the metal at the following prices:

• pure tungsten scrap – from 909 rubles/kg;
• VD, VND – 570 rubles;
• rolled tungsten – up to 2000 rubles.

PG Riten

This Novosibirsk company carries out independent removal of scrap of any weight.

Also, at the request of the seller, he can dismantle and weigh the goods, however, the price will be lower.

The company’s website does not indicate the price of pure tungsten scrap, but the company purchases the following tungsten alloys:

• hard alloys TK and VK – 820r/kg;
• Р6М5 – 118r/kg;
• Р18 – 173r/kg;
• P9, P12 – 75r/kg.

Metallych LLC

Metallych LLC is a Perm enterprise that purchases scrap of various metals, which includes tungsten. The company carries out independent dismantling and removal, and the price for pure tungsten scrap ranges from 900 to 950 rubles per kilogram.

Alloy prices:

• VN, residence permit – 550 rubles/kg;
• VD, VND – 450r/kg;
• VMN – 500 r/kg;
• VK, TK – 800 RUR/kg;
• Р18 – 150 r/kg;
• P9, P12 – 20 r/kg;
• Р6М5 – 100 r/kg.

MDM Vtormetal

The company is located in Moscow and accepts scrap from 0.5 kg with one very important condition: the mass of an individual scrap element must be at least 10g.
The only exceptions may be powder and dust, for which the minimum mass is set at 1.5-3g.

The company does not accept pure tungsten scrap.

Alloy prices:

• VN, residence permit – 700 rubles/kg;
• VD, VND – 600 r/kg;
• VMN – 600 RUR/kg.

High speed:

• Р18 – 180 r/kg;
• Р6М5 – 120 r/kg;
• P9, P12 – 80 r/kg.

LLC "SnabResurs"

SnabResurs LLC purchases tungsten scrap in Moscow at the following prices:

• pure tungsten - 800 rubles/kg;
• VK, TK - 650 rubles/kg;
• P18 - 90 r/kg;
• Р6М5 - 150 rubles/kg.

Up to 0.5 kg

The purchase of tungsten scrap up to 0.5 kg is most often carried out by private resellers. On the Internet you can find many advertisements for the purchase of metal starting from just a few grams, but private traders do not indicate prices. They ask you to call the numbers provided and “make an agreement.”

Many of these businesses operate without a license, so be wary.

You can find out how much tungsten scrap of various types costs per 1 kg from the table:

You can learn some more interesting information about this metal from the video:

You can learn about the rules and features of accepting other non-ferrous metals from this article, and read the average prices for non-ferrous metals here.

Self extraction

In household heating devices, a nichrome thread is responsible for heating. Where can I get wire at home, other than from them? This method is not ideal, because the cross-section and length of nichrome involved in each individual device are not known in advance.

But in case of serious need, you can resort to it. Below are examples of things from which nichrome can be obtained.

Nichrome from a soldering iron

In this case, the nichrome thread heats the soldering iron tip. In order to get the wire, you need to disassemble the tool body. As a rule, it uses very thin nichrome. It is important to know that you need a soldering iron with a copper tip, since a ceramic one has a completely different heating element.

Hair dryer

You can get nichrome from a hair dryer, no matter a hair dryer or one used for drying hair. The heating power in it is higher than in a soldering iron; therefore, there will be more wire, and, as a rule, it has a thicker cross-section. To obtain nichrome, simply disassemble the device and remove the spiral-wound wire.

In addition to hair dryers, there are electric room heaters of the same operating principle, they contain nichrome with an even larger cross-section.

Electric stoves, kettles and boilers

Probably the most difficult process of obtaining wire of all those listed. The wire in these devices is located inside the heating element - a tubular electric heating element.

In order to remove it, it is necessary to disconnect the heating element from the device body. It can be powered directly from the mains, so in some cases the wires are cut.

As a rule, the heating element is a spiral, therefore, for more convenient removal, and also so as not to tear the nichrome wire, the spiral should be bent to the state of a straight tube.

The cavity of the heating element pipe, in which the desired spiral is located, is filled with bulk insulating material, which may look like white sand or gypsum. Under high pressure, this substance is pressed into a monolithic state, so to remove the nichrome thread, you must first remove all the insulating material.

The easiest way to do this is to crumble part of it on one side of the tube, and then lightly tap the insulating material with a hammer. This is a very long and tedious process, after which the required nichrome thread is easily removed from the tube.

A simple way to determine the type of wire

Sometimes manufacturers use kanthal instead of nichrome in their devices. When removing material from tools, it is advisable to be able to distinguish between the two alloys. It's not as difficult as it might seem. The fact is that kanthal contains iron (hence the susceptibility of kanthal threads to corrosion), so it is highly magnetic. Therefore, in order to determine the type of alloy, it is enough to bring a magnet to the wire - nichrome will not react to it.

Nichrome thread is most common in heating elements due to its low cost and good physical properties. Its use in everyday life is found in the role of heating elements for hair dryers, soldering irons, kettles, electric stoves and many other appliances. Due to their high heat resistance, nichrome materials are used at elevated temperatures. In addition, nichrome, along with other alloys, is used in evaporators for electronic cigarettes.

The prevalence of wire often raises the question of where to get nichrome wire. You can take it at home by disassembling an unnecessary device, but the best option would be to purchase the material in a store. In this case, you can be sure of the good composition of the product.

If necessary, nichrome can be replaced with another type of wire

, the main thing is to determine its physical properties.

It should be remembered that depending on the composition of the alloy, the physical properties may differ, so it is necessary to clarify the requirements for the material when this is of high importance.

In the section on the question how to recognize that the wire is nichrome? given by the author *VLAD*

the best answer is
New nichrome spirals (for soldering irons or tiles) - white, shiny.
Used nichrome is covered with a dark gray, almost black oxide. If the oxide is cleaned, the wire inside is white. Not magnetic or almost not magnetic. Features increased resistivity. The wire is quite rigid, noticeably stiffer than soft iron (not steel), and even more so copper and aluminum. Most likely, you won’t have a tester with you, so you won’t be able to measure the resistance (it won’t be possible by eye)... p1. we bend and unbend it in one place several times. Since it is not very pliable and a kind of loop is formed; p2. Using a lighter, we heat a 1…2 cm area for some time and cool it (preferably longer), repeat step 1 in this area - there should be no noticeable difference. The recipe is not 100 percent, you can come across wire made from manganin and constantan, but it usually has a dark surface color. I wish everyone happiness! (13286) yes Answer from chevron

[guru] she is very elastic

Reply from Sukhut

[guru] get an ohmometer and check Nichrome has a huge resistance,

Reply from Request

[newbie] Calculation of electrical resistance of nichrome wire, X20N80 tape. link

Nichrome from used products or purchased, but not in demand, goes through non-ferrous metal collection points for recycling

.

Nichrome in any form is purchased by both small outlets and reputable companies; the price also varies.

Where to go is decided by the deliverer after studying the conditions.

Let's consider what nichrome and its scrap are, how much they pay for 1 kg of this alloy and why.

An alloy of nickel and chromium in a ratio of 80 to 20, obtained in 1905

, due to its technical properties, has found application in many devices and products. Despite the high cost of the resulting material, obvious benefits were observed due to the durability and trouble-free operation of the devices.

The percentage ratio of nickel-chromium was selected experimentally and solved the set goal: to achieve properties of the metal that were not provided by any of those used in technology at that time.

Advantages

nichrome:

• plasticity (an important property in the production of nichrome products);
• heat resistance;
• low expansion coefficient when exposed to high temperatures;
• does not create a significant electromagnetic field when operating products in electrical appliances:
• high current resistance (the main parameter for use in electric heating devices);
• small specific gravity.

Currently, the alloy composition may vary. Supplements may be added

from:

• manganese;
• gland;
• silicon;

The main brands of nichrome are X20H80

and
Х15Н60
.

Products

produced from a nickel-containing alloy:

• ribbon;
• rod;
• wire;
• certain types of fasteners;
• parts for operating devices under conditions of sudden and repeated temperature changes and (or) in an aggressive environment.

They are used

V:

• electrical engineering;
• instrument making;
• metallurgical;
• machine tool and some other industries.

Properties and grades of tungsten

Tungsten has its own mechanical and physical properties, as well as several types of grades.

Physical properties include:

• The coefficient of thermal linear expansion is 4.32*10 (-6) m/mK.
• Electrical resistance - 5.5 μOhm*cm.
• Thermal conductivity - 129 W/(m*K).
• Specific heat capacity - 0.147 J/(g*K).
• Boiling point - 5900 degrees.
• Melting point - 3380 degrees.
• Density - 19.3 g/cm3.
• Atomic diameter - 0.274 nm.
• Atomic mass - 183.84 g/mol.
• Atomic number - 74.

Mechanical properties:

• Relative elongation - 0%.
• Tensile strength - 800−1100 MPa.
• Poisson's ratio is 0.29.
• Shear modulus - 151.0 GPa.
• Elastic modulus - 415.0 GPa.

This metal is distinguished by its low evaporation rate even at 2 thousand degrees and a very high boiling point - 5900 degrees. Properties that limit the range of use of this material are low oxidation resistance, high brittleness and high density. It looks like steel. Used to produce high strength alloys. It can only be processed after heating. The heating temperature depends on what kind of processing method you are going to carry out.

Tungsten has the following grades:

1. MV is an alloy of tungsten and molybdenum. The strength of molybdenum increases while maintaining ductility after firing.
2. VRN - tungsten without additives. It contains a high level of impurities.
3. VR is an alloy of rhenium and tungsten.
4. VL, VI, VT - tungsten with lanthanum, yttrium and thorium oxide additives, respectively. Increase the emissive properties of tungsten.
5. VM - tungsten with thorium and silicon-alkaline additives. Increases recrystallization temperature and strength at high temperatures.
6. VA - tungsten with aluminum and silica-alkaline additives. Increases the temperature of primary recrystallization, dimensional stability at high temperatures, as well as strength after annealing.
7. HF - pure without additives.

Physical properties of nichrome

Don’t worry, there will be no serious terms from physics that only people with special knowledge will understand, everything will be explained “on the fingers.” So that everyone understands why nichrome is truly valuable.

And so, the basic physical description of nichrome wire:

1. Let's start with one of the most popular physical characteristics of any metal. We are talking about mass per unit volume or density. This parameter for nichrome fluctuates around 8100-8600 kilograms per cubic meter. This is quite a high figure. For comparison, iron and aluminum have densities of 7874 and 2700, respectively.
2. The melting point of nichrome also does not have a constant value. It varies depending on the proportions of the two metals included in the mixture. On average, its value is set around 1400 degrees Celsius. This is a very convenient and practical value, because it allows nichrome wire to function calmly at high temperatures of 900-1200 degrees Celsius.
3. Nichrome has high electrical resistance. About 1100-1300 Ohm*m. This characteristic allows you to safely use nichrome wire in the manufacture of electrical appliances.

There are a couple more physical characteristics of this material that are less important, but they are also worth mentioning. We are talking about mechanical strength (700 MPa) and overall high ductility of the material. This allows you to easily change the shape of nichrome, which adds variability and versatility.

Expert opinion

It-Technology, Electrical power and electronics specialist

Ask questions to the “Specialist for modernization of energy generation systems”

Where can I get nichrome wire and how to calculate the resistance? Then the treated area is wiped with a cotton swab soaked in an alcohol solution of copper chloride, flux is applied and soldering is performed. Ask, I'm in touch!

How to verify nichrome

You may have a thought while winding up your coil. What if the metal you got is not nichrome at all. How can you distinguish it from other metals? There is one simple and reliable way to determine. Take a magnet and use it to check your thread. For your information, kanthal will immediately be attracted to it, but nichrome will not care about the magnetic field. Good luck with your experiments.

Craftsmen, inventors and innovators have never been translated into our country. Many of these enthusiastic people would like to know where nichrome wire is sold, where to get this material at home? Why is it attractive to modern Kulibins and home-grown homemade ones? Nichrome wire is used for the manufacture of cutters, jigsaws, soldering irons, machines for cutting foam plastic, polystyrene, etc. The material is also widely used in industrial production.

Heater production

Firstly, nichrome has become an advanced material in the manufacture of heating devices. Various types of tubular and spiral electric heaters are made using nichrome wire.

It is usually used as a core. This is very economical and practical; nichrome is not very expensive and is an extremely durable material.

Wire for heaters is made with an emphasis on nickel, since it determines the ductility of the overall mixture. The greater the proportion of nickel content, the higher this parameter of the wire.

Useful tips Connection diagrams Principles of operation of devices Main concepts Meters from Energomer Precautions Incandescent lamps Video instructions for the master Testing with a multimeter

Why is nichrome wire valuable?

Nichrome wire has the following valuable qualities:

Such wire is used in places where the highest quality characteristics, reliability and high strength are required from the metal.

Due to the combination of plasticity with a high yield strength, as well as resistance to strong aggressive substances, nichrome is in great demand

in industrial production. It is he who occupies one of the first places in the modern market of household and industrial electrical equipment.

In addition, nichrome wire is used in a number of industrial sectors that use electric heating furnaces. It is also used in electric ovens

, which are heated to very high temperatures in various thermal apparatus and ovens used for firing and drying. It is also used as a heating and resistor element.

Basically, such a nichrome product is used everywhere

, where resistance to high temperatures, heat and chemicals is required, that is, in aggressive environments.

It is also used in devices that require a high degree of reliability, such as resistors, resistance units and rheostats.

Nichrome wire has found its application not only in industry, but also in everyday life, and is used:

• for machines that cut foam plastic;
• in a device for wood burning;
• in the heating system of car windows and rear-view mirrors;
• in simple household heaters;
• in homemade welding machines.

Types of wire for stainless steel 12x18n10t

To weld stainless steel parts, it is necessary to use argon arc welding and an additive made of the same material. It may have different properties that may be suitable for other cases. Long products are produced from steel 12×18N10T. The filler material of this grade must meet the requirements of GOST 18143-72.

Welding filler wire has found its use in the mechanical engineering and food industries, construction, etc. It has not only high corrosion resistance, but also resistance to chemically aggressive environments. It contains a sufficient amount of chromium, which protects it from rust.

For welding work, products produced using cold drawing technology are used. It has a fairly low price and at the same time, this treatment preserves all its properties. This wire ensures the quality of the seam when processing any material.

Stainless steel wire 12Х18Н10Т

Thus, water supply systems are often assembled from pipeline fittings made from this grade of steel. When assembling and repairing, it is considered optimal to use a welding additive of the 12Х18Н10Т brand.

This steel grade is available in several versions. For its production, hot or cold rolling technologies are used. They make it possible to obtain a product with a diameter from 0.2 to 6 mm. When using wire of this brand, it is necessary to take into account that it can change some of its parameters based on the diameter.

Welding stainless steel parts is a complex technological process and if its rules are violated, the result can be a large number of substandard products. To avoid this, it is necessary to make the right choice of wire material. Wire made from steel 12Х18Н10Т is a specific product and quite possibly may not be suitable for most types of alloy steel. The main rule for choosing a material for welding is the identity of the chemical composition. The good thing about wire made from this wire is that the industry produces a wide range of products and, as a rule, there are no problems with selection. By the way, when welding, pre-heating and gradual cooling may be required. Heating is carried out using a gas burner.

Main sources of scrap

The paradox of this rare metal is that it can be found even in an ordinary residential building.
It is found in incandescent light bulbs and in the windings of electric furnaces. These are the main sources of tungsten for ordinary citizens and individuals.

However, it is very, very difficult to accumulate a sufficient amount to sell this non-ferrous metal from these sources.

Therefore, those who want to make a profit from several dozen light bulbs usually turn to resellers.

Tungsten is also contained in pobedite tips of concrete drills, which are also found in everyday life. It contains more of the main element, but it is not pure metal, but one of its alloys - “pobedit” or VK with cobalt.

Recyclable materials are sold by state and private enterprises that specialize in metal processing. They accept used tools made from high-speed steels:

• incisors;
• cutters;
• borax;
• cutting discs and so on.

Do not forget that tungsten is common in the form of a finished product:

• wires;
• rods;
• circles;
• headquarters.

And also in the form of production waste:

• various scraps;
• shavings;
• dust;
• powder.

Factors affecting the cost of scrap

Why does the price of nichrome vary significantly between different receivers? What does it depend on? Is it possible to get maximum benefit by studying the market and preparing your existing nichrome waste accordingly?

Included in the alloy is an expensive raw material. In its pure form it is present only in meteorites

.

Recycling nichrome is economically beneficial. The higher the nickel content in the sample, the higher the acceptance cost. For each percentage, on average, from 3 to 5 rubles

.

An increase or decrease in the price of nickel on the stock exchange responds, albeit not instantly, to the assessment of secondary nichrome.

Demand for raw materials in a specific region.

The more enterprises that consume nichrome scrap, the higher the purchase cost. In large industrial cities, the price per kilogram of alloy is higher (up to three times) than in the outback.

The type of nichrome being handed over also affects the cost.

Let us highlight the following types

nichrome scrap:

• wire;
• ribbon;
• rod;
• scrap of unknown origin at first glance.

At points where the assessment is carried out for each type separately, the maximum assessment is for new wire with a thickness of 3 mm or more

.

Let's move on to the numbers:

The table shows approximate scrap prices per 1 kilogram for the most expensive brand of nichrome. For brand Х15Н60

prices are 20% lower.

The price of nichrome scrap per 1 kg in small points is lower than the cost indicated in the table, by approximately 20-25%

.

Scope of application in industry and at home

Nichrome products are used in places that require high-quality metal. Particularly in demand in industrial production.

In industrial production

Metal products occupy one of the first places in the market of industrial and household electrical equipment. It has found wide application in industrial sectors using electric heating furnaces, roasting and drying furnaces, furnaces heated to high temperatures, and devices with thermal effects. It is used in welding machines, household heaters and heating systems for car windows and rear-view mirrors, in resistors, resistance units and rheostats as a heating or resistor element. As noted above, the material is widely used among home craftsmen.

In the household

In the domestic sphere it is used for cutting foam and polystyrene. Cutting these materials at home is quite problematic. There are several ways. Often a knife is used for these purposes, from which the material begins to crumble.

Home craftsmen know how to cut polystyrene foam at home so that it does not crumble. For this you will need nichrome wire. It is needed in order to make a machine whose cutting tool is a heated string. With its help, you can cut foam plastic and make products from it with your own hands.

To cut polystyrene foam at home, you can design a simple machine with a vertical or horizontal arrangement of the cutting tool

How to make a foam cutter with your own hands

Making a machine is not difficult. To do this you will need:

• a step-down transformer;
• lining made of pipe (pipe at least 20 mm thick, foam thickness at least 2 cm);
• springs for string tension;
• metal string.

To make a tabletop you will need a table, a board and a sheet of corrugated sheeting.

The simplest version of a foam cutting machine that you can make yourself

You can make a step-down transformer yourself from transformer iron. You will need to make a rheostat to select the current value. To do this, you can take a spiral from an electric stove, first stretching it into a string. The winding frame is constructed from an asbestos-cement or ceramic pipe 15-20 mm thick and about 80 mm long.

For shaped cutting, a thermal cutter made from a piece of nichrome wire is used. It is secured to a handle made of insulating material. A homemade cutter for foam plastic copes well with the task, including shaped cutting of material. The device allows you to make indentations, cut out cavities, and work with foam plastic the way a sculptor works with clay.

A foam cutter can be compared to a sculptor's tool when working with clay.

With the help of homemade devices in which nichrome wire is used, you can not only cut foam plastic, but also burn wood. It can also be used in homemade household heaters, welding machines, and heating systems for car windows and rear-view mirrors.

Types of wire for semi-automatic machines

The selection of welding wire for semi-automatic machines should be carried out for a specific type of metal being joined. The use of filler consumables significantly improves the quality of the seam and prevents the formation of pores and irregularities in the joint.

The main advantages of using an additive when performing welding work are presented:

• acceleration of the welding process;
• ease of use in industrial applications;
• a significant reduction in the likelihood of defects due to the lack of additive coating;
• a large selection of consumables, allowing you to select the optimal additive for each specific case;
• low level of slag formation during welding.

Disadvantages of using a filler component in welding:

• the need for constant protection;
• difficulty in storing large skeins;
• difficulty in selecting the optimal diameter of the additive;
• the need to constantly use flux.

Wire grades table.

All types of wire for welding are usually divided into:

1. Copper-plated. This type of wire is used for welding carbon and low-alloy steel parts. Copper-plated steel filler components provide high-quality welds and are characterized by a low metal spatter coefficient.
2. Powder. Additive components of such grades are made in the form of a hollow tube made of low-carbon steel. Inside the container there are deoxidizers and slag-forming substances, which ensure comfortable use of semi-automatic welding without shielding gas. Flux cored filler wires help to significantly reduce slag formation and reduce weld processing time.
3. Solid section. This type of wire differs from ordinary wire in that welding electrodes are made from it.
4. Non-copper-plated. Additives of this type are used primarily for working with products made of low-carbon steel.
5. Activated. Powder additives used during welding in a carbon dioxide atmosphere.
6. Gas welding. To work with carbon and low-carbon grades of steel, it is best to use gas welding filler components.
7. Aluminum. One of the few types of wires suitable for welding aluminum parts. When working with aluminum filler, low porosity of welds is observed. Such additives are actively used in the shipbuilding and dairy industries.
8. Made from stainless steel. The filler component allows you to weld stainless steel products and prevent corrosion of the resulting weld.
9. Flux. This type of filler wire is widely used for joining medium carbon, low carbon and carbon steels. Due to the presence of a built-in flux, such additives can be used when welding without shielding gas.
10. Alloyed. One of the best components that allows welding work in any gas mixtures and with any types of metals.

Let's summarize how to profitably sell tungsten

In order to get as much profit as possible from the delivery of tungsten scrap, you need to prepare the goods for delivery in advance.

The highest price can be obtained if:

• clean the raw materials (make sure that there are no other metals, earth or dirt in it);
• sort recyclables by type and material;
• compress the product using any suitable press;
• collect as much metal as possible, because in most companies the fundamental factor in increasing the price is the amount of scrap delivered;
• consider at least five large companies involved in scrap collection and choose the most favorable price.

Thus, by donating tungsten, you not only receive significant benefits, but also help the industry, which is experiencing a shortage of this rare but necessary metal.

How to make a nichrome jigsaw or cutter with your own hands

Wooden decorative elements are present in the homes of each of us. Sometimes we go to the store to buy a beautiful wooden frame or box for our home or as a gift to our loved ones, friends and relatives. However, the best gift is a gift made with your own hands, and to make a beautiful frame or box we will need a cutter or a nichrome jigsaw, which we will do right now.

Watch the video to see how a nichrome cutter is made:

So, to make a cutter we will need a 12 volt 5-10A power supply (you can use a computer unit), nichrome wire with a cross-section of 0.4-0.8 mm (you can disassemble a wire-wound resistor or the same boiler that uses nichrome thread), two pieces of a cut branch , from which we will make handles, copper wire 1-1.5 m long, as well as two nails or two pieces of rigid wire.

The first thing you need to do is take care of the handles. To do this, you need to drive a nail into the pieces of the branch or insert a wire. For convenience, it is better to use a branch from a soft tree. When the wire or nail is inserted, you should take pliers and make rings from the protruding parts of the wire so that the wire itself, as well as the wires, do not slip off when twisted.

conclusions

The collection of scrap non-ferrous metals is gaining popularity, because metal recyclables have been valued at all times. According to people who have been collecting for several years, such an activity is addictive and captivating, and digging for non-ferrous metals becomes an original hobby for many.

In order to maximize the benefits from digging and delivering scrap non-ferrous metals, you need appropriate equipment (metal detector, magnet) and knowledge of the properties of non-ferrous metal, plus the desire and desire to earn money.

Learn more about how to search for non-ferrous metals in this video:

What is a nichrome cutter?

Greetings to all subscribers and guests of the Podelkin channel. Today I want to introduce you to a homemade and very useful tool called a nichrome cutter.

A nichrome cutter is a device for cutting shapes from wood (plywood), which consists of two main elements: a power source (12V) and a cutting part (nichrome wire).

This tool is easy to make yourself and has a number of advantages over a conventional hand jigsaw. Unlike a manual jigsaw, a nichrome cutter does not have a metal arc-shaped frame that limits the length of the cut (with a manual jigsaw it is impossible to cut at a great distance from the edges of the part), so it can be used to make very voluminous products. A nichrome cutter has a much higher cutting speed, during which you will make virtually no effort. This device will not only simplify your work, but also save your time. And the last thing is the price. To assemble a nichrome cutter, you will spend approximately the same amount of money as a manual jigsaw costs.