DIY Speaker wire

What about using solid core thermostat wire as speaker cable?

Southwire 18/5 Thermostat wire.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202316200/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=thermostat+wire+18+5

I saw this mentioned on the net before and seemed like something fun and inexpensive to try out.

Ngjockey,
I just ordered 4 sets of your silver plated copper wire to run in while I braid 750 feet of solid core (THHN thanks Grannying and Mechens!) I'm thinking this project might just bE DIWF (do it with friends) instead of DIY....

Let us know how this works out. Not mine. All I did was point.

I made some from the "patio- cord" extension cords sold at big box retailer's.
It sounds fine, I wasn't sure at first but either it broke-in over time or my ears adjusted- I'm never really sure which. I'd do a double-blind test, but I live alone and I can be very convincing and quite gullible. Oh, and I've read recently that all copper made these days is oxygen free. I don't believe everything I read, nor do I believe everything I think.Try it- If you're a tinkerer you'll swap it out eventually any way. I've spent more and gotten less. Of that, I AM certain!

Just received my order of 12 and 16 awg of that silver plated wire. 12 awg looks like 14 awg because the teflon insulation is thin and the 16 awg looks more like t-stat wire. As a better dielectric than PE, it doesn't have to be as thick, I guess. Not talking high voltage anyway but we are talking low capacitance. It's also fairly stiff. Still flexible but nothing rubbery about it. Doesn't fray when insulation stripped either.

On the stuff you ordered, you did notice that was 10 awg combined, right? Meaning that each wire of the twisted pair is closer to 13 awg.