{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets are written by Xem Studio from the cited sources and are free to use (CC BY 4.0, attribute 'Xem Studio'). Linked files belong to their publishers under the license shown; Xem Studio does not host them. 'license_verified: false' means the license shown is from memory or the publisher's page as last read and should be confirmed at the link before commercial use.",
 "slug": "sticks-skewers-wire-bbs",
 "name": "Craft sticks, skewers, coat-hanger and paper-clip wire, BBs, marbles, ping-pong balls, zip ties",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Hardware",
 "group": "Found & household materials",
 "year": null,
 "question": "What diameter is coat hanger wire and a bamboo skewer?",
 "tags": [
  "stick",
  "skewer",
  "wire",
  "bb",
  "marble",
  "zip tie",
  "craft",
  "stirling",
  "long earth society",
  "found materials"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "popsicle stick dimensions",
  "coat hanger wire diameter",
  "bamboo skewer diameter",
  "bb diameter mm",
  "airsoft bb size",
  "marble diameter",
  "ping pong ball size",
  "zip tie width"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": true,
 "free_files": 10,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Common consumer sizes (craft stick 4.5 in, skewer 12 in, No. 1 paper clip, .177 BB, 6 mm airsoft, 16 mm marble, ITTF 40 mm ball); wire gauges measured",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "Craft (popsicle) stick 114 × 10 × 2 mm; jumbo 150 × 18 × 2. Bamboo skewer Ø3 × 300 (Ø2.5 × 200 and Ø4 × 400 exist). Coat-hanger wire Ø2.0 mm (1.9–2.3, mild steel). Paper clip Ø1.0 mm (No. 1), jumbo Ø1.2. Welding rod / TIG filler Ø1.6 and 2.4 if you want straight stock.",
   "Balls: steel BB Ø4.5 mm (.177), airsoft Ø6.0 (5.95 ±0.01, surprisingly round: fine as 6 mm bearing balls in a printed race), glass marble Ø16 (15.9), shooter Ø25, ping-pong ball Ø40.0 × 0.4 wall (a 2.7 g hollow sphere: the lightest displacer you can buy).",
   "Zip ties: 2.5 × 1.0, 3.6 × 1.2, 4.8 × 1.3, 7.6 × 1.8 mm cross-sections; a printed slot of width + 0.3 mm holds them. Uses on the can engine: skewer as crankshaft (in Ø3.2 printed bushings), coat-hanger wire as crank pins and con-rods (bend a Z), craft sticks as frame, BBs as low-friction displacer-rod guides, zip ties as hose clamps."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "item",
    "size_mm",
    "note"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "craft stick",
     "114 × 10 × 2",
     "jumbo 150 × 18 × 2"
    ],
    [
     "bamboo skewer",
     "Ø3 × 300",
     "Ø2.5 / Ø4 also"
    ],
    [
     "coat-hanger wire",
     "Ø2.0",
     "1.9–2.3 by maker"
    ],
    [
     "paper clip wire",
     "Ø1.0",
     "jumbo Ø1.2"
    ],
    [
     "steel BB",
     "Ø4.5",
     ".177 cal"
    ],
    [
     "airsoft BB",
     "Ø6.0",
     "±0.01"
    ],
    [
     "marble",
     "Ø16",
     "shooter Ø25"
    ],
    [
     "ping-pong ball",
     "Ø40.0 × 0.4 wall",
     "2.7 g"
    ],
    [
     "zip tie",
     "4.8 × 1.3",
     "2.5/3.6/7.6 wide"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Craft sticks, skewers, coat-hanger and paper-clip wire, BBs, marbles, ping-pong balls, zip ties — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/  (CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: Common consumer sizes (craft stick 4.5 in, skewer 12 in, No. 1 paper clip, .177 BB, 6 mm airsoft, 16 mm marble, ITTF 40 mm ball); wire gauges measured\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- Craft (popsicle) stick 114 × 10 × 2 mm; jumbo 150 × 18 × 2. Bamboo skewer Ø3 × 300 (Ø2.5 × 200 and Ø4 × 400 exist). Coat-hanger wire Ø2.0 mm (1.9–2.3, mild steel). Paper clip Ø1.0 mm (No. 1), jumbo Ø1.2. Welding rod / TIG filler Ø1.6 and 2.4 if you want straight stock.\n- Balls: steel BB Ø4.5 mm (.177), airsoft Ø6.0 (5.95 ±0.01, surprisingly round: fine as 6 mm bearing balls in a printed race), glass marble Ø16 (15.9), shooter Ø25, ping-pong ball Ø40.0 × 0.4 wall (a 2.7 g hollow sphere: the lightest displacer you can buy).\n- Zip ties: 2.5 × 1.0, 3.6 × 1.2, 4.8 × 1.3, 7.6 × 1.8 mm cross-sections; a printed slot of width + 0.3 mm holds them. Uses on the can engine: skewer as crankshaft (in Ø3.2 printed bushings), coat-hanger wire as crank pins and con-rods (bend a Z), craft sticks as frame, BBs as low-friction displacer-rod guides, zip ties as hose clamps.\n\nitem  size_mm  note\ncraft stick  114 × 10 × 2  jumbo 150 × 18 × 2\nbamboo skewer  Ø3 × 300  Ø2.5 / Ø4 also\ncoat-hanger wire  Ø2.0  1.9–2.3 by maker\npaper clip wire  Ø1.0  jumbo Ø1.2\nsteel BB  Ø4.5  .177 cal\nairsoft BB  Ø6.0  ±0.01\nmarble  Ø16  shooter Ø25\nping-pong ball  Ø40.0 × 0.4 wall  2.7 g\nzip tie  4.8 × 1.3  2.5/3.6/7.6 wide\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Wikipedia: Craft stick — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craft_stick\n- Wikipedia: BB gun — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BB_gun\n- Wikipedia: Table tennis — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_tennis\n- Long Earth Society: Engine builds (videos and write-ups) — web, video — LES site — https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/\n\nFree files (CC BY 4.0, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 10 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=sticks-skewers-wire-bbs\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "Craft stick",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craft_stick",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "BB gun",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BB_gun",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "Table tennis",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_tennis",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Long Earth Society",
   "title": "Engine builds (videos and write-ups)",
   "url": "https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/",
   "formats": [
    "web",
    "video"
   ],
   "license": "LES site",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "can-engine-printed-kit",
  "dowel-pins-metric",
  "brass-tube-ks",
  "crank-conrod-flywheel-kit"
 ],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "What diameter is coat hanger wire?",
   "a": "About 2.0 mm (1.9–2.3 depending on the hanger), mild steel, bends cold; a Ø2.2 printed hole is a running fit."
  },
  {
   "q": "What size is a bamboo skewer?",
   "a": "Ø3 mm × 300 mm is the common one; thinner Ø2.5 × 200 cocktail skewers and Ø4 × 400 also exist. A Ø3.2 printed bushing runs on one."
  },
  {
   "q": "Are airsoft BBs usable as bearing balls?",
   "a": "Yes for light loads: 5.95 mm ±0.01, hard plastic; a printed race with a 6.1 mm groove makes a quiet thrust bearing."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": null,
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "popsicle-stick-114x10x2",
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   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/popsicle-stick-114x10x2.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/popsicle-stick-114x10x2.stl",
   "note": "craft/popsicle stick 114 × 10 × 2 mm (4.5 in)"
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  {
   "file": "jumbo-stick-150x18x2",
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    "stl"
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   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/jumbo-stick-150x18x2.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/jumbo-stick-150x18x2.stl",
   "note": "jumbo craft stick 150 × 18 × 2 mm"
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  {
   "file": "bamboo-skewer-3x300",
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   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/bamboo-skewer-3x300.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/bamboo-skewer-3x300.stl",
   "note": "bamboo skewer Ø3 × 300 (also Ø2.5 × 200, Ø4 × 400)"
  },
  {
   "file": "coat-hanger-wire-2mm",
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/coat-hanger-wire-2mm.stl",
   "note": "steel coat-hanger wire Ø2.0 (1.9–2.3), 200 mm stub"
  },
  {
   "file": "paper-clip-wire-1mm",
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   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/paper-clip-wire-1mm.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/paper-clip-wire-1mm.stl",
   "note": "paper-clip wire Ø1.0 (No. 1) / Ø1.2 (jumbo), 100 mm stub"
  },
  {
   "file": "steel-bb-4-5mm",
   "formats": [
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   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/steel-bb-4-5mm.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/steel-bb-4-5mm.stl",
   "note": "steel BB Ø4.5 (.177 cal)"
  },
  {
   "file": "airsoft-bb-6mm",
   "formats": [
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   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/airsoft-bb-6mm.stl",
   "note": "airsoft BB Ø6.0 (5.95)"
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  {
   "file": "marble-16mm",
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   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/marble-16mm.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/marble-16mm.stl",
   "note": "glass marble Ø16 (15.9); shooter Ø25"
  },
  {
   "file": "ping-pong-ball-40mm",
   "formats": [
    "step",
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   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/ping-pong-ball-40mm.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/ping-pong-ball-40mm.stl",
   "note": "table-tennis ball Ø40.0, 0.4 mm wall, 2.7 g"
  },
  {
   "file": "zip-tie-4-8mm",
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    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/zip-tie-4-8mm.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/zip-tie-4-8mm.stl",
   "note": "cable tie 4.8 × 1.3 mm cross-section (also 2.5 × 1.0, 3.6 × 1.2, 7.6 × 1.8)"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/sticks-skewers-wire-bbs/index.md"
}