Tim Wescott wrote:

Argh. Just bent up a landing gear for a model plane. 1/8" "Music wire"
from K&S. Nominally the same thing, except one was the tail-end of an
older piece, and one was brand spanking new.

The new piece is _soft_ -- more welding rod that nice hard music wire.
I had noticed this before with some 1/16" stock, but it didn't penetrate
my poor thick skull. K&S is obviously going down the "consumers are
stupid" route.

Any ideas on where I might best get good old fashioned three-foot
straight pieces of music wire? I see that McMaster has it -- in one
foot lengths, and Small Parts has it -- mostly in six foot lengths. I
can deal with the odd length issue, but I'd sure like to order with
confidence that I'm getting something decent, not just the same metallic
noodles that I can get from the local hobby shop.

McMaster typically specifies the exact characteristics, metal alloy,
etc. for it's items. Suggest giving them a call to see if they can
supply it in 3' or 6' lengths.