DIYbanter - View Single Post - What can I buy at Walmart for dial string?

N_Cook

On 24/08/2017 17:35, wrote:
On Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:20:59 +0100, N_Cook wrote:

On 22/08/2017 18:23, wrote:
There are no electronic stores anywhere near me. I cant believe the
prices they want on ebay for this string. (There is some Australia
source selling 12 meters of it for around $7 and wanting $45
shipping.... that's insane).

Anyhow, it's just string, but I know it needs to be strong and last for
years. Walmart has a lot of sewing and hobby stuff. Maybe there is a
thick thread that will work.

Someone on another forum suggested using fishing line. I know that stuff
is durable, but I know little more, since I dont fish. What guage and
material should I look for? If some of you are fishermen, maybe you
could just tell me what brand name and item number to buy. This cant be
rocket science. It's just string..... But what will work and last?

* I am currently needing to replace the dial string on a Zenith Trans
Oceanic radio, as well as the radio in a late 1960s era console stereo.

Thanks

Dental floss?
I've salvaged the string (plus knobs, ICs and IF resonators and
coils)from loads of basic tuners over the years, before dumping the rest

I salvage a lot of parts too, but dial string is NOT one of them. That
stuff just gets weak from age, and it's not (should not be) a high
priced item. Considering the amount of tedious work involved in
replacing them, I want NEW string, because that's one job I dont want to
do twice.

Back when brick and mortar electronic parts stores still existed, I
could buy a spool of this stuff (made exclusively for dial strings) for
a couple bucks. But these days the stuff seems hard to find, and is over
priced.

The dental floss was discussed and I wont be using it. Fishing line
seems to be the most recommended. I was also wondering if the thick
thread made for sewing canvas and furniture would work too? (Having done
some sewing on canvas tents, I know this stuff is strong, easy to get,
and cheap to buy).

The main point about dial stringing , is that it is prestretched.
Anything else , other than monofilament, floss or thread ,you need to
break some to find its UTS and then stretch a long length of it to a bit
less force than the UTS