If I wanted to make my own speaker cables, is this a good choice for wire?

Yes I made speaker wire using Dueland tin copper for my home office system consisting of TeKton Lore speakers a refurbished vintage Pioneer 5590 receiver inexpensive dac and server . I also use Dueland tin copper for my headphone cable fabulous bang for buck wire ,,..

Duelund DCA12GA bare between Luxman 509X and ATC SCM 20 monitors set on Sound Anchor stands and they are superb.  Solid bass, sweet midrange and very open on the top end.  This is a perfect speaker wire for the money.  Perhaps my Decware Silver Stix are a bit better, but for the money Duelund is tough to beat.  Have fun with your choice.

Anyone have any thoughts on Belden 9497 vs Dueland? Oil soaked cotton seems like a perfect fire hazard, lol, also might attract insects. 

Marty I have my office fumigated monthly to keep the infestation of insects at bay and so far only two fires this year so far ,,,,

😆 seriously though i dont understand the benefit of cotton over pvc like in belden 9497, though it is prettier in a retro WE kind of way.