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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Ken Culbertson on July 11, 2024, 06:32:51 AM

Title: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Ken Culbertson on July 11, 2024, 06:32:51 AM
Does anybody know the wire size and spring diameter for the "Hello Kitty" clips?  I have given up trying to find some and resigned myself to making them.

Ken
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: john e. holliday on July 11, 2024, 07:33:03 AM
You haven' tried the Lee Machine Shop.  He has wire andd the tool if needed. D>K
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Crist Rigotti on July 11, 2024, 07:42:30 AM
Doc is right.  I use Jim's wire and tool to make my line clips at various lengths.
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Steve Helmick on July 11, 2024, 08:57:09 AM
Ken did ask about "Hello Kitty" clips, not the ones most of us use. Otherwise, I agree 100%, call up Jim Lee and get the bending tool and wire for making Derek Moran line clips.

I do have a few words of caution about these clips. DO NOT go nuts and make dozens in all lengths up to +1" over stock clip length. If you want to make some "stock" clip length clips, help yourself, but almost anybody can make up a set of lines that is within 1/4" of eachother...and probably more like 1/16".

I like to use three standard Sullivan clips, keep one clip on one leadout, and both clips on the handle, including the oddball homemade clip. This establishes which line goes to the oddball clip. I hook the lines to the plane first and roll them out and hook up the handle by looking at the elevator and pulling each line. Between rounds, especially on a grass pit area, I remove the handle and roll the lines up to the plane and put the handle on top of the spool, so as to keep my lines from being abused by others who have no idea how to get in/out of the pits without stepping on or snagging somebody's lines.  y1 Steve
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Brent Williams on July 11, 2024, 09:11:07 AM
I measured the wire on a set of Hello Kitty clips,  .047".
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Ken Culbertson on July 11, 2024, 12:52:58 PM
You haven' tried the Lee Machine Shop.  He has wire andd the tool if needed. D>K
I have Lee's tool for regular clips and I will make it work for "Hello Kitty" with a little creative crimping and swearing.

Ken
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Ken Culbertson on July 11, 2024, 12:55:42 PM
Ken did ask about "Hello Kitty" clips, not the ones most of us use. Otherwise, I agree 100%, call up Jim Lee and get the bending tool and wire for making Derek Moran line clips.

I do have a few words of caution about these clips. DO NOT go nuts and make dozens in all lengths up to +1" over stock clip length. If you want to make some "stock" clip length clips, help yourself, but almost anybody can make up a set of lines that is within 1/4" of eachother...and probably more like 1/16".

I like to use three standard Sullivan clips, keep one clip on one leadout, and both clips on the handle, including the oddball homemade clip. This establishes which line goes to the oddball clip. I hook the lines to the plane first and roll them out and hook up the handle by looking at the elevator and pulling each line. Between rounds, especially on a grass pit area, I remove the handle and roll the lines up to the plane and put the handle on top of the spool, so as to keep my lines from being abused by others who have no idea how to get in/out of the pits without stepping on or snagging somebody's lines.  y1 Steve
I do the same thing except I unhook at the wing and roll to the handle.

Ken
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Ken Culbertson on July 11, 2024, 12:57:02 PM
I measured the wire on a set of Hello Kitty clips,  .047".
Thanks!  I have some 1mm which is close enough to use.

Ken
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Motorman on July 11, 2024, 03:30:46 PM
You want .051 stainless steel wire for the Lee machine bending tool. If you use music wire it will rust and you'll wish you used stainless. Also, lengths should be no less than .050" apart. Finer than that and you won't see a difference in the controls so don't waste your wire.

MM 8)
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Jim Svitko on July 12, 2024, 08:55:01 AM
You want .051 stainless steel wire for the Lee machine bending tool. If you use music wire it will rust and you'll wish you used stainless. Also, lengths should be no less than .050" apart. Finer than that and you won't see a difference in the controls so don't waste your wire.

MM 8)


Yes, you want stainless.  I think I got 0.050 stainless wire from McMaster-Carr.
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Brent Williams on July 12, 2024, 11:30:55 AM
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/spring-wire/length~1-ft/material~304-stainless-steel/
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Motorman on July 12, 2024, 03:13:32 PM
Three times more for mirror finish, worth it.
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Ken Culbertson on July 12, 2024, 03:30:16 PM
Three times more for mirror finish, worth it.
The set I got from Lee had more than enough wire but I still have no clue what size to order for the springs.  Since the wire is approx. 1mm I ordered a set of 3mm compression springs thinking that 2 1mm would fit over 2 1mm.  Wrong   So do I get 4mm or 5mm?  Anybody have one they can measure the OD?
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: dave siegler on July 12, 2024, 08:09:26 PM
there is a youtoub video on how to make them.  I cant find it does anyone have the link?
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Dan McEntee on July 12, 2024, 08:43:08 PM
The set I got from Lee had more than enough wire but I still have no clue what size to order for the springs.  Since the wire is approx. 1mm I ordered a set of 3mm compression springs thinking that 2 1mm would fit over 2 1mm.  Wrong   So do I get 4mm or 5mm?  Anybody have one they can measure the OD?

  Start grabbing all the free retractable ball point pens you see. The springs in those might be about right, and if need be, stretched a bit or stacked up for longer clips. Go to the hardware store. A well stock local hardware store will have a decent spring assortment including small compression springs. Those w ill at least help you figure out what size you need.

  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Ken Culbertson on July 12, 2024, 11:01:56 PM
  Start grabbing all the free retractable ball point pens you see. The springs in those might be about right, and if need be, stretched a bit or stacked up for longer clips. Go to the hardware store. A well stock local hardware store will have a decent spring assortment including small compression springs. Those w ill at least help you figure out what size you need.

  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee
Found one owned by a friend.  Just over 4mm.  This adventure has convinced me that the Lee clips are just fine and pretty easy to make.  I am officially stepping back from the ledge.

Ken
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: 944_Jim on July 13, 2024, 03:26:42 PM
Man, I feel like an idiot. What are the springs for?

I thought the JL tool was all about making a loop of wire.of.a.given length, with the loose ends overlapped for about 180 degrees (one half-loop per side, at the "open end," and overlapped so the eyelet can't work loose).

Doh!
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Paul Smith on July 13, 2024, 03:55:39 PM
OK, so I admit that I don't know what a "hello kitty" clip is. 
Please share this information with me and maybe a few others.
I do know about Luxon clips, slide clips, scissors clips and fishing swivels.

PS: is a pull-off between .015" seven-strand core cable and any solid wire over .018" I would bet heavily on the solid wire. 
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Brent Williams on July 13, 2024, 04:05:48 PM
OK, so I admit that I don't know what a "hello kitty" clip is. 
Please share this information with me and maybe a few others.

(https://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=53036.0;attach=296978;image)
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: 944_Jim on July 13, 2024, 09:46:33 PM
Not what I was thinking, but I get it. Thanks so much.
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: dave siegler on July 14, 2024, 06:10:03 AM

making line clips with springs. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5IXtTIJrps (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5IXtTIJrps)
Title: Re: Wire size for Hello Kitty clips
Post by: Tim Wescott on July 14, 2024, 11:47:56 AM
I use 0.039" (probably 1mm) music wire for my Derick Moran-style clips on my full size stunters.  For my smaller planes (2 1/2 pounds or less) I use .025".  I've pull tested the heavier clips to 100 lbs each.

I haven't seen problems with rusting, but up until recently I've been flying slime, and everything I own is coated with castor oil.  I also live in Oregon, which even in the Willamette valley is pretty dry and is 100 miles from the ocean, so maybe I'm just lucky in that regard.