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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Bill Gruby on June 13, 2007, 03:06:40 PM

Title: Bending Music Wire
Post by: Bill Gruby on June 13, 2007, 03:06:40 PM

   This has probably been asked before buuuuuut, I need to know how I can bend 5/32 Music Wire short of having to anneal it and heat treat it again? This stuff is like trying to bend "REBAR"

                "Billy G"

Title: Re: Bending Music Wire
Post by: minnesotamodeler on June 13, 2007, 03:24:13 PM

Vise and hammer.

Title: Re: Bending Music Wire
Post by: Dennis Saydak on June 13, 2007, 03:33:32 PM

I use a wire bender made for 5/32" wire. It is mounted to the side of my work bench and is capable of forming coiled R/C nose gears. It is many years old and if memory serves me correct it was manufactured by a company named Brieten, or something like that.

Dennis

Title: Re: Bending Music Wire
Post by: Bill Gruby on June 13, 2007, 03:50:13 PM

Ray;

   Vise and hammer are fine I guess, but I don't want to stress the wire. It is for the LG on my "Ringmaster 1000" and I don't want to lose this plane from gear failure. Also I did not forget you I just haven't gotten to my stash yet.


Dennis;

  Would you be able to post a picture of the bender?

       "Billy G"

Title: Re: Bending Music Wire
Post by: Ralph Wenzel (d) on June 13, 2007, 08:50:22 PM

K&S makes one for 3/16" wire; oughtta work with 5/32" just as well. Harry Higley offers a range of benders from 1/16"  - 5/32" at reasonable prices. See:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGFW4&P=ML

Title: Re: Bending Music Wire
Post by: Tom Niebuhr on June 13, 2007, 10:33:22 PM

Bill,
The K&S bender is pretty hefty, and will do the job for you.

Title: Re: Bending Music Wire
Post by: minnesotamodeler on June 14, 2007, 01:20:50 AM

Quote from: Bill Gruby on June 13, 2007, 03:50:13 PM

Ray;

   Vise and hammer are fine I guess, but I don't want to stress the wire. It is for the LG on my "Ringmaster 1000" and I don't want to lose this plane from gear failure. Also I did not forget you I just haven't gotten to my stash yet.

I've done this so much my old vise has a radius worn into one jaw, produces pretty much stress-free bends. I guess a guy could grind or file one in deliberately.  I've never cracked a wire yet.  But those commercial benders look like the ticket.

I make it a deliberate policy never to harass anyone over free stuff!

--Ray

Title: Re: Bending Music Wire
Post by: Russell Shaffer on June 14, 2007, 06:43:50 AM

Good idea on grinding or filing a radius notch, but why not file it into a piece of cheap angle iron?  Then you could make it any curve or width you wanted and not hurt your vice.  Clamp the angle into the vice along with the wire.  I think I'll do just that this afternoon. Thanks for the idea, Ray. 

Title: Re: Bending Music Wire
Post by: Dennis Saydak on June 14, 2007, 07:20:07 AM

Bill here are pictures of my bender. There are two face plates. One is for bending angles and the other is for bending coils. The handle is reversable for each task. It can handle 3/16" wire and bends 5/32" wire easily. If you send me the dimensions I will bend up your gear.

Dennis

Title: Re: Bending Music Wire
Post by: Rudy Taube on June 18, 2007, 08:05:39 PM

Hi Bill,

As shown by others, there are many ways to get a bend in our MW.

Here is a great tool that I have used for over 25 years. It is adjustable for all sizes of MW. It makes round bends, and sharp angle bends. You can bolt it down anywhere, or use it in your vise. It only cost about $8, and is very simple to use. You can order it from Micromark at:

www.micromark.com     Part# 60401

They also have a bar bender like the K&S one (I think it is a little smaller, but more than big enough for your 5/32 MW) for under $11  Part# 60346

Good luck with your LG. .... Can't wait to see photos of your BIG Ringmaster!  #^