Finding control rods (wire push rods)

[zyxstand]

I had a hard time finding appropriate control rod wires. Here's what I found:

1. Wire on a spool - easily found in hardware stores (Home Depot or Lowes) and cheap per length, but who wants to waste time trying to unbend it.
2. 21 "Flag Stakes (100-Pack) $8 - Good and cheap per unit, but I can't attest to its rigidity/thickness gauge
3. 18", 18 AWG (1mm, 0.04" diameter) (20-Pack) $2 - Good deal, decent unit price, more than enough for a few builds. I think these are well suited for the linkage stoppers provided by flitetest (haven't tested it yet).

I hope this helps some beginners out there. Any other suggestions for good control rods?

Also relevant:
I found 1/8" brass wire from Home Depot or Lowes works well for landing gear wire. It's a bit harder to manipulate and bend than 0.1" wire, but it's easier to find and can even be cut with cheap wire cutters if you work it enough (and don't mind dulling your tool).

 

[Paul-H]

Hi

I have used Piano (Music) Wire and 2mm Carbon rod, the carbon rod is much lighter than the music wire and almost as stiff.

I get both from my local Hobby shop

Paul

 

[Spastickitten]

I used some flag rods on my ft 22 with a big motor, and I had no flexing issues with the foam board guides

 

[kulens]

I have used Piano (Music) Wire

I'm using the same. As my father is a piano tuner, lots of wire in reach

 

[Spastickitten]

Lucky, I "borrowed" some flags from a pile on the side of the road earlier this year. I was crazy enough to actually use paperclips for my first plane. Luckily all the controls pulled on them more than they pushed.

 

[Craftydan]

Lucky, I "borrowed" some flags from a pile on the side of the road earlier this year.

" . . . and it was funny, the next day the power, cable and water went out. The utility guys around here are bad about digging in dumb spots. You'd think they'd do something to mark the ground or something . . . "

 

[Spastickitten]

They were in a pile on the ground for a week or two, I like my power, they were just sitting there rusting away...

 

[PHugger]

Flitetest .038"
Home Depot Flags .060"

The landscape flags are quite a bit heavier than needed and somewhat difficult to bend.
Expect to need to drill out your servo horns quite a bit.
On the positive side they don't require any support to keep them from bending and can be bent in odd shapes to traverse your airplane's innards without losing their shape (stiff).

I found a good source for the longer sizes that aren't too expensive -

Hobbylinc Piano Wire
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/k+s/k+s502.htm .047 $6.89 20 x 36" wires
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/k+s/k+s497.htm .039 $7.09 20 x 36" wires
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/mid/mid5701.htm CF rods .03 x 24 (2) 4.06 .75mm
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/mid/mid5702.htm CF rods .04 x 24 (2) $3.79 1mm


KULENS - can you feel the jealousy?


Best regards,
PCH

 

[Julez]

The flag wire is good, but it's also heavy and doesn't fit into the linkage stoppers, control horns, or servo arms without drilling them larger. I personally like to use the FT control rods, I'm not sure those have been mentioned yet...

 

[IFlyRCstuff]

Piano wire is what I use. As well as the thin marking flags and coffee stirrers and/or zip tied down for rigidity