Detail Master Ignition Wire

[Quick GMC]

I just placed a fairly large order with Detail Master. I ordered "detail wire" and "ignition wire", understanding that the detail wire would be smaller. The ignition wire looks very small, it is barely larger than the detail wire and you can only tell when holding them end to end. It looks too small to be spark plug wire. I'm at work and not next to any models, so I could just be imagining.

I will keep the wire regardless, but to me it looks more like detail wire I would use for interiors on race cars rather than spark plug wire.

If this is the case, where would I buy proper spark plug wire from?

[Guest]

Detail master is the only plug wire I use. It's the right size.

[Quick GMC]

Okay. I'm sure it's because I don't have anything near me for size reference. Thank you.

[FASTBACK340]

I could be mistaken, but I think it's been sub-divided even further into Race Car ignition wiring. ACCELL or MSD wires are 8-9MM, which is over 5/16". That's pretty thick. Stock wires can be as thin as 5MM. That's about the scale of the DM standard ignition wire. Then the detail wire is just about the size of hair….

[FASTBACK340]

Here's the thicker wire from their web site…..

http://www.detailmaster.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=39f62f693311b669ddbe689a5b433e14&Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=detailmaster&Category_Code=DM-RCIW

[Guest]

Their black ignition wire is pretty thin. But, it looks on the money on a stock build. It's bigger than their detail wire and smaller than their colored ignition wire.

[jbwelda]

the difference between DM detail wire and ignition wire is obvious...if what you are comparing isn't obvious then there is something wrong. the further difference between DM ignition wire and race car ignition wire is equally obvious. if you are saying the ignition wire is the same size as the detail wire then I would call up your vendor and tell them something is wrong there. the detail wire is REALLY thin gauge so if you think the ignition wire is too small then they probably gave you two packages of detail instead of one and one ignition wire.

my DM detail wire package says .0075 inch, ignition wire .012 inch, and race car ignition wire .016 inch. this is from older packaging where they still listed wire diameter on it.

jb

[Tom Geiger]

Their black ignition wire is pretty thin. But, it looks on the money on a stock build. It's bigger than their detail wire and smaller than their colored ignition wire.

I got a few packs of the black last year at a show and it looked very thin to me because I was used to looking at their thicker colored wire. I believe their older black wire was thicker too. If you use the Replicas & Miniatures of MD predrilled distributer caps they are drilled for this thin wire.

[Quick GMC]

I just ordered the race ignition wire. I'll compare when I get it. The ignition wire small to me, but like I said, I'm at work and have nothing to compare it to. Maybe I have been using wire that is too big in the past.

It is what it is, I'm not going to complain to them about. I'll compare the 3 when the new stuff comes in and I'll know what to order next time.

I appreciate everyone's input.

I got a few packs of the black last year at a show and it looked very thin to me because I was used to looking at their thicker colored wire. I believe their older black wire was thicker too. If you use the Replicas & Miniatures of MD predrilled distributer caps they are drilled for this thin wire.

I have some of those on the way.

Here's the thicker wire from their web site…..

http://www.detailmaster.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=39f62f693311b669ddbe689a5b433e14&Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=detailmaster&Category_Code=DM-RCIW

Thank you, I placed an order for some of those.

[Erik Smith]

Compare to a real car - most models have over sized wire. The DM wires scale out very close to 1:1.

I usually use the race version because it "looks" more in scale, even though it's too thick for factory stock style stuff.

[Casey]

Compare to a real car - most models have over sized wire. The DM wires scale out very close to 1:1.

I usually use the race version because it "looks" more in scale, even though it's too thick for factory stock style stuff.

I usually measure a real ignition wire, divide by the scale I'm working in, and find what's closest. I agree with what Eric said, in that most models have ignition wires which are way too thick.

[Quick GMC]

From what everyone is saying, sounds like I'll be in good shape. I needed the race wire anyway, I have two pro stock builds going. I'll be all set after this.

Thank you.

[jbwelda]

so have any of the math wizzes here taken the dimensions I supplied above and scaled them up to real life and then contemplated a real ignition wire? interested to know because my bet is that the RC ignition wire is the closest to actual high tension ignition cable and the regular closest to normal stock wiring. and the detail wire is for use in smaller wiring gauge wiring applications like low tension wires to the volt regulator etc

oh and naw your website isn't messed up or anything...I have NO IDEA how that last post of mine ended up like that.

jb

Edited March 4, 2014 by jbwelda

[Erik Smith]

Detail Master standard plug wire is .0125 inches.

7mm plug wire in 1:25 scale is about .011.

So that is pretty close for 7 or 8mm stock plug wire.

The "race car" ignition wire is .016, or about 10mm in 1:25 world, which is pretty thick spark plug wire.

[Maindrian Pace]

Here is their standard gray wire.

In the package, it does look a little thin, but on a stocker, it looks right.

-MJS

[Erik Smith]

Here is race wire (only gray I had) on the same engine:

[Quick GMC]

The race wire looks great

[Mike_G]

I had my LHS order me some DM "standard" plug wire that's advertised as being .012" and it's only .010", which is noticeably underscaled as plug wiring.

[Tom Geiger]

I had my LHS order me some DM "standard" plug wire that's advertised as being .012" and it's only .010", which is noticeably underscaled as plug wiring.

I have some of the DM plug wire and upon pulling it from the package, I thought it look mighty thin. Then this past week Lyle Willets went to a rod show and posted a mess of photos of street rod engines. That's when I noticed that the actual wire was thin and the DM wire was about the right size.

[old gearhead]

I buy bulk quantites of 30-gauge wrapping wire to use as ignition wiring because I'm cheap and this is just a hobby. The wire is definitely on the heavy side but if installed carefully (cut to prototypical lengths, use wire looms, etc.) it is convincing enough for me.

[High octane]

I use pre-wired distributors and magnetos from M.A. D. and it works well for me.