Wayne Parham Messages: 18787 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
Copper is a fine conductor, so it's great for the wire. But it oxidizes easily, and copper oxide is an insulator so it doesn't make a good connector.
That's why it is best to use gold or silver at the ends for connections. Gold doesn't oxidize easily and while silver does, silver oxide is a conductor so it isn't bad. Even tinning the ends of a copper wire with solder helps make a better connection.