Threaded pushrods???

[Paul Taylor]

Anyone just buying music wire and cutting there own threads in pushrods?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXR767&P=M

[Larrys4227]

Well, isnt that a handy little bugger .... nice stocking stuffer. :-)

[Paul Wood]

Paul,

I've tried it and it did not work.  Talking to my machinist buddy, he correctly showed me that the manufactured pushrods have "rolled" threads.  This allows the thread diameter to be slightly larger than the wire diameter for more thread "grip" in the receiver hole.  Cutting your own threads will not increase the thread diameter and the fit is rather sloppy.

Paul

[Dick Pacini]

From their tech specs:

 A must for the scratch builder, modeler, etc.
          Re-threads 4-40 thread pattern
          Intended for use on K+S Aluminum and Brass Stock

[Bill Heher]

The new hardware we have available for making custom pushrods from Carbon Fiber rods and steel or Titanium threaded ends is so superior to music / piano wire I will probably only use the old stuff on low tech/ fly for fun / basic trainer type planes.

You can make a super stiff, lightweight , fully adjustable set of control rods for a flapped stunter for under $15, maybe $20 if you have to buy some JB Weld.  They will last longer than the plane in most cases, I have recycled several already.

Check out Control Line Central, SS or some of the other vendors in the Vendors Corner of this site. I like the Control Line Central stuff, and you Jim hads some pre-made  for specific applications if you don't want to do it your self and want to spend a bit more $$.

[Bill Little]

Trying to cut threads on music wire is no fun! LOL!! I know, I have tried it.

Big Bear

[Tim Wescott]

• You'd have to use the right size wire, which for 4-40 is close to, but not quite 7/64 -- not 1/8 (that's the right size for a #5 machine thread).
• You'd have to either anneal the wire or use a carbide die; annealing is problematical because of what it does to the wire "upstream" of the end, carbide dies are very hard but they're brittle, expensive, and aren't to be had from K&S or the local hardware store
• Even if you didn't want to use a carbon pushrod, you can get those nice solder-on pushrod ends, so why mess with threading?

[Paul Taylor]

Question answered.

Thanks guys!

CLC here I come.

[Bill Little]

I have used many "soldered on" threaded "couplers" (as Dubro calls them) on profiles.  Flite Streaks, Tomahawk, Cosmic Wind, Shoestring, etc., where I can use just a 3/32nd pushrod, a "fairlead", and a ball link.  They work fine as long as you can do a good job with a soldering iron.

Big Bear