Wire

DEFINITION

A usually pliable metallic strand made in many lengths and diameters (gauges), sometimes clad or coated with insulation, as are electrical wires. (See a table of wire gauges and their equivalents expressed in inches.) A group of wire strands twisted or braided together as a functional unit is called cable.Wire is made or reduced in diamater, known as gauge, by pulling metal through a series of progressively smaller holes in a die. see thumbnail to right "Plastic zone" in this diagram refers to the section of metal actively changing.Because a bad tangle can be a disaster, it is wise to give children access only to smaller spools taken from a large one.TAKE NOTE!Safety concerns with wire: Tips can be hazardously sharp. (Have you had a tetanus shot in the last five years? Tetanus shots usually last for 10 years; however, if you have a nasty wound involving dirty or rusty metal, a booster shot within 48 hours is extra protection. Tetanus [lockjaw] is a bacterial infection that causes muscle spasms, difficulty opening the mouth [lockjaw], difficulty swallowing, and seizures. It often leads to death. However, proper vaccination can easily prevent it.) When cutting off small pieces, wire-cutters can make those pieces flying missiles. Moving or bending lengths of wire can make them whip around. Users and people nearby should wear protective clothing, and maintain safe distances from each other. Wire conducts electricity.