stretching wire

[Ron Nossaman]

> One more point that would seem to lend credence to the wire taking a set 
> or creep well below the yield strength. When you pull the wire off the 
> spool it has a curve to it. This is evidence of plastic deformation, it 
> won’t go back unless sufficient stress is put on it in the opposite 
> direction to introduce enough plastic deformation in that direction to 
> counteract it. We’re not talking about much stress to do it. Now imagine 
> what 150 lbs tension will do.
> 
> *Dean*

It's cold drawn, which means it's gone through a number of 
plastic deformations just to become music wire. Also, the way 
old piano wire curls up when it's cut indicates to me that 
those 80+ years under 150lbs+ of tension didn't do much to 
creep it straight.
Ron N