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MAKING AN AM ANTENNA

I have a kit with instructions for making an AM antenna. It calls for 90 feet of 22 gague magnetized galvanized wire. I am having trouble finding a hardware store with this wire. Can I substitute this wire for another 22 gague wire and still make an AM antenna that works well?
 
alg2468 said:
I have a kit with instructions for making an AM antenna. It calls for 90 feet of 22 gague magnetized galvanized wire. I am having trouble finding a hardware store with this wire. Can I substitute this wire for another 22 gague wire and still make an AM antenna that works well?

Yes. If you're building an antenna, from an electrical standpoint one kind of wire of a given gauge is just as good as the next. The question is mechanical: will you be able to wind enough of the alternate wire on the frame? Without breaking?

Changing gauge a bit - say, to 18 gauge or 26 - will be fine electrically as well. Again, the question is mechanical.
 
What you're probably looking for is "magnet wire" and not magnetized wire. Magnet wire was a common term for insulated wire used in winding electromagnets, transformers, motors, inductors, etc. The insulation is most commonly enamel these days, whereas it was cloth and paper in years past.

I would look for 22 gauge enamel-covered solid copper wire. Since it's enamel-covered copper, there's no need for galvanization.

To make an electrical connection to the enamel-covered wire you'll need to burn off the enamel, which is basically an insulating varnish, with a lighter or other flame. Then sand the area with emery cloth or the like until it brightly shines. Clean it with a damp cloth, and you're ready to solder.
 
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