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Chuck Harris wrote:

Mostly true, the biggest advantage to oxygen free copper is in applications
where the cord gets daily flexing, think of all the times you have found
a broken spot in the cord on an iron, vacuum cleaner or shaver. With
oxygen free
wire, it is supposed to last longer.

-Chuck

Of all the vacuum cleaners and shavers I have ever owned, don't think I
have ever found a broken spot on the cord. If fact, the cord usually
outlast the device.

Oxygen free is just for the audiophools to spend outrageous amounts of
money on for nothing.

funkbastler wrote:
On Fri, 03 Jun 2005 14:08:43 -0400, Chuck Harris
wrote:

The Oxygen-free feature of copper wire is about enhanced flexibility,
and improved resistance to breaking. Oxygen free copper wire in power
cords and speaker wires lasts longer.

Ever seen the stuff used on arc welders? Big bundles of very fine
strands, with a soft rubber (or rubber-like material) jacket. Lasts
a long, long time, doesn't break with flexing, and it's not low-
oxygen.

Really? How would you know that? Given that all of the copper wire
manufacturers these days have switched over to oxygen-free manufacturing
techniques for their copper products.

OBTW, my welding cables fray like the dickens on the connector ends. I have
had to reattach the connectors on the stinger side twice now. But then,
I actually use them.

All "no oxygen" means is the copper was smelted in a way that prevents
the inclusion of oxides in the copper. It is a pure, soft copper. It
makes a slightly lower resistance wire than the earlier copper smelting
precesses. Being softer, oxygen-free copper can be worked more, and doesn't
wear out tooling as quickly as ordinary copper.

Or did you think that it took a highly spiritual audiophool to hold his
breath while blessing the wire?

Here are some definitely non audiophool companies that make oxygen free
copper products:

http://www.shanghaimetal.com/Copper_tube_terminal.htm
http://www.tatung.com/wire/e-copper.html

-Chuck

funkbastler wrote:
On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 09:30:13 -0400, Chuck Harris
wrote:

Ever seen the stuff used on arc welders? Big bundles of very fine
strands, with a soft rubber (or rubber-like material) jacket. Lasts
a long, long time, doesn't break with flexing, and it's not low-
oxygen.

Really? How would you know that? Given that all of the copper wire
manufacturers these days have switched over to oxygen-free manufacturing
techniques for their copper products.

Could be - but I don't see welding cable being hyped as "low-oxygen" or
"oxygen-free" in an effort to convince the welding community that its
use will produce better welds or make the cables last longer.

You are getting there! What I have been trying to get through to you, and
others, is oxygen-free isn't something the copper wire/rod/tubing manufacturers
spend a lot of time bragging up. It is just a natural step in the evolution
of the copper manufacturing process.

OBTW, my welding cables fray like the dickens on the connector ends. I have
had to reattach the connectors on the stinger side twice now. But then,
I actually use them.

Maybe you should switch to oxygen-free cable. It won't fray or break or
corrode. Ever.

How do you come to that conclusion? Just because something is better, doesn't
mean it is perfect.

Only problem I've had with mine (only 12 years old) was due to an
unfortunate incident with the lawn mower :-(

That could be quite exciting if your welder was fired up at the time!

All "no oxygen" means is the copper was smelted in a way that prevents
the inclusion of oxides in the copper. It is a pure, soft copper. It
makes a slightly lower resistance wire than the earlier copper smelting
precesses. Being softer, oxygen-free copper can be worked more, and doesn't
wear out tooling as quickly as ordinary copper.

Interesting article he
http://www.copper.org/innovations/19...etallurgy.html

Looks like having at least a little bit of oxygen is a *good* thing.

If your copper contains impurities, yes. The oxygen helps oxidize those
impurities, and allows them to come to the surface of castings.

I'm headed for the store now to see if they have any oxygen-free Romex...
Need to rewire the house.

How do you know that the Romex you buy isn't oxygen-free? It isn't really
important for an electrician to know whether it is, or isn't. Enhanced
flexibility is useful when you are trying to install fixtures in their
boxes.

Oh, I get it, you think I am an audiophoole, and you are just trying to
make fun of me. My, isn't that special!

-Chuck

funkbastler wrote:
On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 09:30:13 -0400, Chuck Harris
wrote:

Ever seen the stuff used on arc welders? Big bundles of very fine
strands, with a soft rubber (or rubber-like material) jacket. Lasts
a long, long time, doesn't break with flexing, and it's not low-
oxygen.

Really? How would you know that? Given that all of the copper wire
manufacturers these days have switched over to oxygen-free manufacturing
techniques for their copper products.

Could be - but I don't see welding cable being hyped as "low-oxygen" or
"oxygen-free" in an effort to convince the welding community that its
use will produce better welds or make the cables last longer.

Yes, but I assure you that if Lincoln could get away with it, they would
say just that. Because that's the way marketing works, and marketing sells
products unfortunately.

I don't know about other manufacturers, but the West Penn welding cable is
definitely OFC. It's good stuff.

OBTW, my welding cables fray like the dickens on the connector ends. I have
had to reattach the connectors on the stinger side twice now. But then,
I actually use them.

Maybe you should switch to oxygen-free cable. It won't fray or break or
corrode. Ever.

He's probably using it already. But he might consider using dielectric
grease on the ends which seems to help a lot. The clamp connections are
really not mechanically all that sturdy even though they are electrically
solid, and sometimes some 1" heatshrink can do wonders.

Interesting article he
http://www.copper.org/innovations/19...etallurgy.html

Looks like having at least a little bit of oxygen is a *good* thing.

Again, depends on the application. And for hard-drawn copper the issues
are very different than for soft-drawn wire.

I'm headed for the store now to see if they have any oxygen-free Romex...
Need to rewire the house.

Romex is one of the places where higher conductivity is important (since
Romex is really lousy at heat dissipation) and flexibility is a total
non-issue (since it should only be flexed a couple times during installation).
Romex is VERY different than an SJ-type cable and is usually made with much
more brittle wire.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Cmd Buzz Corey wrote:
Chuck Harris wrote:
Mostly true, the biggest advantage to oxygen free copper is in applications
where the cord gets daily flexing, think of all the times you have found
a broken spot in the cord on an iron, vacuum cleaner or shaver. With
oxygen free
wire, it is supposed to last longer.

Of all the vacuum cleaners and shavers I have ever owned, don't think I
have ever found a broken spot on the cord. If fact, the cord usually
outlast the device.

That's probably because you take care of the cord. Although actually most
of the vacuum cleaner cord failures are at the connector ends, and are
usually because SOME people unplug the thing by pulling on the cord and
eventually weaken the connection at the plug.

Oxygen free is just for the audiophools to spend outrageous amounts of
money on for nothing.

You'd be surprised how much commercial cable today is OFC. They might not
advertise it, but if you're buying cordage today it's almost certainly
made with OFC material.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 09:30:13 -0400, Chuck Harris
wrote:

Ever seen the stuff used on arc welders? Big bundles of very fine
strands, with a soft rubber (or rubber-like material) jacket. Lasts
a long, long time, doesn't break with flexing, and it's not low-
oxygen.

Really? How would you know that? Given that all of the copper wire
manufacturers these days have switched over to oxygen-free manufacturing
techniques for their copper products.

Could be - but I don't see welding cable being hyped as "low-oxygen" or
"oxygen-free" in an effort to convince the welding community that its
use will produce better welds or make the cables last longer.

OBTW, my welding cables fray like the dickens on the connector ends. I have
had to reattach the connectors on the stinger side twice now. But then,
I actually use them.

Maybe you should switch to oxygen-free cable. It won't fray or break or
corrode. Ever.

Only problem I've had with mine (only 12 years old) was due to an
unfortunate incident with the lawn mower :-(

All "no oxygen" means is the copper was smelted in a way that prevents
the inclusion of oxides in the copper. It is a pure, soft copper. It
makes a slightly lower resistance wire than the earlier copper smelting
precesses. Being softer, oxygen-free copper can be worked more, and doesn't
wear out tooling as quickly as ordinary copper.

Interesting article he
http://www.copper.org/innovations/19...etallurgy.html

Looks like having at least a little bit of oxygen is a *good* thing.

Or did you think that it took a highly spiritual audiophool to hold his
breath while blessing the wire?

No, but if that was a public event, I'd sure buy a ticket.

Here are some definitely non audiophool companies that make oxygen free
copper products:

http://www.shanghaimetal.com/Copper_tube_terminal.htm
http://www.tatung.com/wire/e-copper.html

-Chuck

I'm headed for the store now to see if they have any oxygen-free Romex...
Need to rewire the house.

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