Wire Bender
05-07-2003, 05:17 AM
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Wire Bender
I realize this doesn't pertain to twins, but does there exist a wire bender that bolts to the bench? So far I have only been able to find the Higley and the K&S. Both of these require a heavy vise which I don't have. I don't have any place to mount one if I did have it. My workbench consists of a ping pong table half inverted on top of a desk. It's 3/4" fiberboard, not very stout.
Anyhow, with all the years and years of experience on this forum, I figured someone must know where I can find such an animal. How about it WR?
Thanks
John
Anyhow, with all the years and years of experience on this forum, I figured someone must know where I can find such an animal. How about it WR?
Thanks
John
05-07-2003, 07:11 AM
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Wire Bender
John:
The best thing I can tell you is get a piece of steel plate, roughly four inches by eight. Drill and tap a hole near each corner so you can use screws from underneath your ping-pong table to fasten it down.
By bringing the screws up from underneath into tapped holes you will not have the screw heads in the way of your bending operations. And by using the fairly large plate you'[ll spread the load over a large enough distance that the flake board should hold up OK. In addition, by removing the screws you'll still be able to play ping-pong.
You are familiar with the Higley and K&S bending tools. With your plate secure, drill holes in it to insert steel pegs that you will cut from music wire, pattern the holes however you like, by making the pegs removable you can set up almost any bend you want.
If you set the peg holes near one end, you can use a sharpie marker to indicate how far to bend the wire, matching bends are more easily done that way.
If you don't want to use a steel plate aluminum will work, but for long tool life you might want to make it thicker and use deeper peg holes.
Hope this helps.
Bill.
The best thing I can tell you is get a piece of steel plate, roughly four inches by eight. Drill and tap a hole near each corner so you can use screws from underneath your ping-pong table to fasten it down.
By bringing the screws up from underneath into tapped holes you will not have the screw heads in the way of your bending operations. And by using the fairly large plate you'[ll spread the load over a large enough distance that the flake board should hold up OK. In addition, by removing the screws you'll still be able to play ping-pong.
You are familiar with the Higley and K&S bending tools. With your plate secure, drill holes in it to insert steel pegs that you will cut from music wire, pattern the holes however you like, by making the pegs removable you can set up almost any bend you want.
If you set the peg holes near one end, you can use a sharpie marker to indicate how far to bend the wire, matching bends are more easily done that way.
If you don't want to use a steel plate aluminum will work, but for long tool life you might want to make it thicker and use deeper peg holes.
Hope this helps.
Bill.
05-07-2003, 03:16 PM
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Wire Bender
MikeB:
Agreed on the case hardened pins, but short lengths of music wire can be cut easily, and they are much easier to find. I was going for the "Quick and Dirty" "Get it right now" kind of tool.
Bill.
Agreed on the case hardened pins, but short lengths of music wire can be cut easily, and they are much easier to find. I was going for the "Quick and Dirty" "Get it right now" kind of tool.
Bill.
