I posted this on LPF, and I figured I would offer it to PL as well.
This is just a feeler for now. I finally heard back from the company ("microflexwire," based in the US) for their quote on their silicone insulated wire. I got a quote for both 26AWG and 20AWG.
To give a visual representation of the difference between 26 and 20AWg (because I don't have a sample of the 20AWG):
(obviously the 26AWG is the smaller circle. The circles are based off the size given by the company.)
They have a wide variety of colors, but I only asked about red, black, and white as i see those being the most commonly used.
If we can get 2000ft, its only $.13 per foot...to put that in perspective, you could get 200 feet of wire for 26$. And this is the good stuff; I'm not sure if it is exactly what DTR uses, but if its not its darn close. Here are the best pics I could get (had to use my phone and the magnifying glass on my helping hands).26AWG(65/44) Tin Plated copper wire
0.019 Wire Diameter
0.012 Silicone Insulation
Final O.D 0.042 Inch
500 FT Each $0.25/FT Per Color Total $375.00
1000 FT Each $0.18/FT Per Color Total $540.00
2000 FT Each $0.125/Ft Per Color Total $750.00
20AWG(7x38/44) 266 Strands Tin Plated copper wire
0.040 Wire Diameter
0.012 Silicone Insulation
Final O.D 0.070 Inch
500 FT Each $0.30/FT Per Color Total $400.00
1000 FT Each $0.20/FT Per Color Total $600.00
2000 FT Each $0.16/Ft Per Color Total $960.00
Obviously the crappy china ebay wire is on the right
Showing the noticable size difference (china wire on right again)
Now, this GB isn't really worth it unless we have at least 1000ft, so I am going to ask that the minimum order be 50feet per color. For example, 50 feet of red+ 50 feet of black. Even that much wire would only be 25$, at the highest price tier...at the lowest it would be a meek 13$. like I said, this isn't really worth it unless there is at least 1000ft total, which I think is very possible.
Sample price, with a 150 foot order (50 ft red, 50ft black, 50ft white):
26AWG
>500ft total @$.25/ft: $37.50
>1000ft total @$.18/ft: $27.00
>2000ft total @$.13/ft: $19.50
20AWG
>500ft total @$.30/ft: $45.00
>1000ft total @$.20/ft: $30.00
>2000ft total @$.16/ft: $24.00
These are the best prices on the best wire you will get. Let me know how much you would potentially be interested in
LPF:
-50RB 20AWG
-25RB 20AWG, 25RB 26AWG
me: 75ft red,black,white 26AWG, 50feet red, black, white 20AWG
neneneko: 50ft red, 50ft black 26AWG
Bradfo69: 50RWB 26AWG, 50RWB 20AWG
Swamidog: 50RWB 26AWG, 50RWB 20AWG
logsquared: 100RWB 20AWG
Total (overall):
26AWG: 675ft
20AWG: 900ft