You know, like the type you sometimes see on circuit boards which connect two pads together? Basically the same thing you'd get if you stripped the insulation off a breadboard jumper?
I've been looking for them for a while, but since I don't know what they're called, and "jumpers" brings up a million other things not related to these, my search has been less than sucessful.
Perhaps they don't even come in precut sizes? The only silver uninsulated wire I've been able to find which might work is bus bar wire which I found at Radio Shack, and pretty much nowhere else except in large quantities.
The only silver uninsulated wire I've been able to find which might work is bus bar wire which I found at Radio Shack
That's pretty much it; there's also bare wire that is "pre-tinned" with solder available. Most of the time it is going to be in roll form, you have to cut it to the lengths you want.
The best way to do this is to stick one end in the hole on the PCB, solder it, then thread the other end thru the other hole slowly and pull it tight, solder that end, then trim both ends flush on the trace side. If you need smaller lengths, save up the lead trimmings from resistors, diodes, and axial caps (some radial caps have long leads, too).
Another option is to go to a craft store (where they sell things for flower arranging, picture mounting, etc - really, craft stores are great places for buying odd things) and buy bare picture hanging wire, as well as floral wire. You might be able to find bare alluminum and/or copper wire in such places (keep both in air-tight containers, and handle with gloves - it'll oxidise less rapidly that way). They will also have regular steel wire. Not sure if they'll have pre-tinned wire. There might also be pre-cut lengths available for flower arranging, plus other colors (somewhat insulated, though, with paint or lacquer).
You might also try a hardware store for picture hanging wire...
Another place to look (though likely comparatively expensive) would be a hobby shop; they would likely have small gauge bare wire (possibly even pre-cut) for model making and the like...
if your in the states you can buy it at radio shack (and its the sheet), otherwise its often sold in precut bulk quantities with the downside of being attached to pesky components
Don't know why you would need to use silver plated wire. However I have used silver plated wire that I pulled out from the center of high quality RF coax cable. It does solder very nicely and is very stiffer then bus wire.
I generally look around on the bench or in the floor for trimmed ends of resistor, cap, etc leads. I guess it depends on how many you need, and how long.
Trimmed ends of other component leads for me too. After a while you collect a lot.
Different components have slightly different types of leads, useful under different circumstances...
I have to admit that if I want a long one then I just stip a lot of coating off some wire.
Obviously this depends on your wire as to whether you can do this.