Wire bending help

Home Model Engine Machinist Forum

Help Support Home Model Engine Machinist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Omnimill

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2009
Messages
1,090
Reaction score
47
I need to make about 20 pot holders from 3mm galvanised wire. I plan to twist a loop on one end, pass the free end through the loop and then make another loop on the free end for hanging the pot up. Do any of you have any ideas for making a simple tool/jig for twisting the loops? The wire is quite tough stuff and I'd like to make neat tight loops on the ends if I can. The finished holders will be about 9 inches in diameter.

Vic.
 
Hi Vic,
I'm having trouble visualizing what you want to do. Any chance you could post a sketch or photo?
Dennis
 
Something like this Vic. ?

WIRE LOOP.jpg
 
Very nice drawing, thanks. Yes, I planned on an extra turn on the loops but that's it!

Vic.

Update: Here's a pic in some smaller plastic coated wire:

IMGP1664.jpg


Thanks for your interest guys!
 
I would grab my wire pliers. Mine are crescent brand marked special. you may want to take a cheap pair of linesman pliers cut the nose drill for a couple of pieces of drill rod then weld or solder in place. you can buy wire bending pliers but most of what I see on line if more jewelers tools.
so here is a pic of mine.
wireplier.jpg

tin
 
Spot on ausdier!

Tin, something like that may work, but not in my hands! Even though it's gardening wire it's quite tough stuff!

Vic.
 
If you have a vise and presuming that this is "soft steel wire" and not spring wire. Put a piece of rod a little smaller than the ID of the loop you want to make into the vise jaws positioned vertically. Bend the wire around the rod about 450 Degrees leaving 4-6" on what will become the part wrapped around the other part of the wire. This is so you'll have something to hold onto for the next step. Most of this will get cut off later. Remove the wire from the rod and clamp the loop in the vise with what will be the long part of the finished part vertical and the 4-6" end more-or-less horizontal. Wrap the 4-6" part around the vertical part a turn or two or however many times you want. Cut the remainder of the wrapped 4-6" leg off with an abrasive cut off wheel taking care not to nick the other wire. Thread the free end of the long wire through the new loop . Repeat. You will be throwing away a fair amount of wire, but you need the length to get adequate leverage to bend a tight wrap. You could experiment with shorter lengths gripping the end with vise grips or maybe slipping a piece of pipe or tubing over the end of the wire. By the time you get to number 19, you'll have it optimized. Good luck.
 
Thanks all for your help, I'll be giving it a try as soon as I can!

Vic.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top