You might consider splurging on some tungsten crosshair wire, similar to this:
https://www.ebay.com...6d48747c6d56d2c
2 feet seems like several lifetime supplies, but there's another CN member whose made his
own crosshair EPs. He might be able to make use of the extra 20" or so, and he could
comment with more first hand experience.
This stuff is 0.0005" but it looks like fatter crosshair wire is available up to at least 0.0025"
18AWG fixture wire, which you might find at a big box or electrical supply house has
a diameter of 0.084". If you rip apart some Cat 5, each 24AWG wire has a
diameter of .0201". Obviously, these, among the smallest electrical wires,
are way thicker, and you'd have to paint them black.
Someone over at Stargazers lounge suggested piano wire, which you might
be able to get locally. My guess is that it's better to work with than copper
wire since it has to be physically strong to take the pounding.
BTW, there seem to be 5 threads open with the same question, although maybe
the website is having problems today, as many threads appear to be repeated
in the "recent topics" on the right hand of the page.
Good luck with your project
Edited by rexowner, 12 April 2025 - 05:02 PM.