Material Thinking:
lectrical Wire
Braiding Wire in Casing
This experiment examined whether electrical wires in their casings could be braided into a sturdy form. The results showed that while braiding was successful, the final structure was quite stiff due to the rigidity of the casings, making it more suitable for structural applications rather than flexible textiles.
I secured three electrical wires to the table and proceeded to braid them by hand, following a simple three-strand braiding pattern. The process required significant effort as the wires resisted bending. Despite this, I was able to complete a tightly woven braid, though the stiffness of the casings limited how much I could manipulate the final shape.
Braiding is a viable technique for creating rigid wire-based structures. However, if a more flexible result is desired, alternative materials or methods must be explored. Future experiments could involve interweaving yarn with wires or working solely with wire casings to see if flexibility can be improved.