Lego Cords/strings sizes question

[P6tu]

Since I've been busy with build that use a lot of string, then I just took the string from set 42070 and went to a fabric shop. I am not very sure on the terms, but supposedly it is a simple braided nylon string and they had a myriad of colors to choose from and decent options in thicknesses. I think I could say that it is as good as the original. Due to the cheap price, I also tried the waxed one since it felt a bit smoother, but in reality, when using the small dark bluish gray City scale hook, then the string was too heavy so to say. Anyway, maybe this helps a bit to show pictures from the link to those fabric stores: https://coolcrystal.ee/tootekategooria/tarvikud/niidid-noorid/page/3/ . The ones that states "Nailonniit" are the ones that you are interested in. For City builds 0,8 mm seems to be the best (0,5 mm tends to curl too easily). For Technic builds I'd opt for 1,5 mm string - that will make the "reels" move and the string isn't just slipping on it looks in scale also. But the 1 mm string will also work =). Lego string in set 42070 itself is 1 mm.
 

[Cumulonimbus]

I promised I would share my experience if I ever bought an alternative for the Lego cord. I just received a spool of black 1mm braided nylon chord (not waxed) which I ordered from amazon (click here for the Dutch listing), and these are my observations:

I compared it to two original Lego cords from my inventory, unfortunately I don't remember in which sets these came originally so I don't have part numbers. On the left a soft 0,5mm cotton(?) cord on the yellow spool often found in City sets. In the middle a more rugged 1mm* braided nylon wire typically found in Technic sets. On the right the 1mm amazon braided cord. This wont be a very scientific comparison with bending radii and yield strength comparisons, but it may give a bit more information to anyone considering a similar purchase.

The flexibility of the new cord is somewhere in between the two original cords. The quality of all three is very similar. Let's zoom in a bit, so the differences are more clear:

From top to bottom: the amazon cord, the "Technic" cord and the "City" cord. Although the top two wires are about the same thickness, the Lego version looks thicker due to the coarser braid. This also the reason why the Technic cord is a bit stiffer. *Maybe this is officially a 1,5mm cord, but this is difficult to measure accurately. In conclusion: although it is not an exact replacement for the Technic cord, the new cord looks and feels as if it was a thinner version of the official cord. For me this is a good alternative for the official cord to finally finish my Technic crawler crane MOC.

I hope you have found this useful.

[R0Sch]

Didn't know this was an active topic until now. I also bought this 1mm nylon cord (for the Liebherr crane mod) because someone wrote in the product review that it's perfect for LEGO Technic cranes, but the reality is a little different. It's somewhat flat and not round like the original LEGO cord. Therefore feels thinner and won't stay straight (probably due to the twisted delivery condition). Amazon link  As @Cumulonimbus wrote I think you need to buy 1.2 to 1.5mm third party nylon cords to come closer to the strength and stiffness.



Left: the one I bought, Right: LEGO Cord

[sp1984]

I bought 0.5 mm braided polyester cord to replace thinner LEGO City cords and that from LEGO is softer but its OK.

Also as replacement for Technic cord I bought 1 mm waxed cord dedicated for jewellery work. It is more rigid than original LEGO, but it is fine I think.

 

 

[thedaniels]

I am planning on buiding the SDWB Alt-Build by zz0025 I saw over at Rebrickable on the 42146-1 Liebherr LR 13000 page. This guy combined two sets to create a much taller model that's a little closer to the proportions of the real thing. Naturally it requires longer cables (string) than the stock configuration so in my search for actual Lego cord I stumbled across this thread about substitute, best alternatives. I'm a Lego purist so it's been a struggle for me to move ahead knowing I will not actually be able to buy exact cord in the necessary length. After searching through way too many pages I stumbled across this cord that looks shockingly like actual wire rope. I did a double take when I saw it on Amazon the first time and thought it was actual metal wire but it's not. Then I thought about it and decided if I can't get actual Lego cord why not go for a cord that looks more like real wire cables than even Lego does?

Take a look at these and tell me it doesn't look like an actual spool of wire rope...

 

[weavil]

@thedaniels where did you find that? Looks so nice.

[thedaniels]

I found it in Amazon. Here is the link:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08DHDFLD9?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

 

[R0Sch]

Looks are not all, the mechanical strength would be more important for a crane. If only someone had the time to test the breaking load of different substitute cords and compare them to the 1mm LEGO nylon cord.
Similar to this:

[Lego Tom]

So long as you are using 1mm cord, I strongly suspect it's breaking point will far exceed the stall point of the crane's motor.