Wire type for sidewinder hack

[mumpsman]

HELP!   What type of wire do I need for a sidewinder hack?  I got 18 AWM and 22 AWM from radio shack but both are too thick for the small solder holes in the sidewinder board.

They said they don't sell anything thinner than 22 gauge.  WTF??   I'm going to check home depot today, but I'm hoping someone will be able to tell me quickly where to go and what to ask for.  

Thank you !!!

[dag2000]

Although I havent done the Sidewinder hack, I have done other hacks with 22 guage.  I doubt the hole on the siewinder are smaller than those on a mouse (although it is certainly possible).  I have found that twisting the bare ends tightly, then tinning them with solder, and then trimming the tinned ends to a short amount while cutting at an angle helps to get the wire through the hole.  

Tinning keeps the individual strands from splaying out while you are trying to get the wire through the hole.  Cutting at an angle gives you a smaller point to start the threading with.

FYI - tinning is the process of heating the bare end of the wire with the soldering iron and then applying solder so the wire (not the soldering tip).  I use very fine silver solder for electronics from Radio Shack.  I find that once heated enough the wire will wick up the solder, binding the strands together without adding to the thickness of the wire.  So use as little solder as is necessary.

Hope this helps,

-Dave

[Mameham]

Not sure which guage I used... I used this stiff 8 wire that I got a spool of from my wife's father... it's basically CAT-5 wire... if you can get some of that you'll be golden.

- Mameham