Forming & EPQ Wire

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Forming Wire

This very broad product line can involve a wide range of grades, degrees of hardness or temper, various finishes and many different end use applications. Whether it is an annealed forming wire for mesh weaving, a 1/8th hard skin passed cold finished bright wire for straightening and then four slide bending into a complex shape, or a hard drawn forming wire which is coiled or formed into a more abrasion resistant and high strength part, Forming wire can include these and many more. Central Wire produces custom stainless steel forming wire for just about any application such as automotive windshield wipers, refrigerator ice maker augers, appliance hinges, wire for shaping into filter grids, staples and nails for the construction trade and many more. Wire sizes can range from .025" up to as large as 1.00".

EPQ Wire (ElectroPolishing Quality Wire)

Wire produced for final electropolishing of fabricated baskets, racks and other formed parts is referred to as EPQ. This wire has special surface characteristics that result in a very lustrous appearance when electropolished. This procedure is performed by dipping the subject part in a suitable electrolyte and applying a mild electric current, which is the opposite of plating. Small particles of stainless steel are stripped away from the surface until approximately 20 or more microns per side or 0.0015" or more has been removed from the wire surface. The resultant near mirror finish leaves a very smooth, clean and bright cosmetic appearance, while also removing any telltale signs of tack welding or heat tint from parts fabrication.

Normally Types 304 and 316 are specified for this product, which normally involves food or medical use type application. Wires are normally provided with a 1/4 hard temper cold drawn finish. We maintain simulated E.P.Q. test bench in which prepared samples are electropolished and tested to our internal stringent standards. This polished sample is then attached to the order, so a customer can see the results they will obtain before going through the polishing process.

At Central Wire, we maintain a significant stock of E.P.Q. wire, ensuring a quick delivery on stock orders. Size ranges: 0.080" to 0.500" diameter.

All E.P.Q. wire is packaged in either continuous or catch weight coils in 300 - 1500 pounds.