tomo55 Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Hi What is recommended way of bending piano wire? in particular to fit a flair plan built Junior 60. Will heating the wire weaken it? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Hi Chris, I use a vice and pliers on smaller gauge stuff, and a hollow rod on larger stuff. I keep meaning to buy some of the custom made wire bending tools, but never seem to get a round to it. I do intend to do so before I comence the TB-3 build, as there is a lot of bent wire in the undercarrage of 1, never mind the 3 I plan on building! Olly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 hello chris.....vice...tin of spinach...and brute force ......dont use heat.....it will weaken the metal... ken anderson ne...1 spinach dept....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowerman Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Ask around the members of your local club (you are in a club ?) for some one with a bipe bending tool, then take the wire and drawing to his place and ask him to demonstrate how to use the tool. Job done ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toni Reynaud Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Bench vice, long tube or cloth to get a good purchase on it, start the bend by hand, then use a hammer to get the bend sharpish next to the vice jaws. cnceyrate to get the second ben in the right place and at the right angle. Or get or borrow a bending tool - brilliant piece of kit! Can't do a coil without one. Edited By Toni Reynaud on 30/04/2013 19:32:33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koen Smits Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Chris and all other readers who are struggling with bending piano wire On the link below is a downloadeble drawing from my wirebender, feel free to download and use it. because i am from the metric side of europ, the dimensions are in metric **LINK** Pictures how to use the wirebender on the links below, **LINK** **LINK** **LINK** **LINK** **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Just a bench mounted vice and a large pair of pliers---all I needed when I was 15 to bend up my Junior 60 12 SWG undercarriage. However when I was bending my Southern Dragon 14 SWG undercarriage the piano wire snapped and the sharp end stuck in one of my fingers and I nearly passed out ---some care is needed! MJE---Bend it like Beckham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew767 Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Posted by Mowerman on 30/04/2013 19:23:23: Ask around the members of your local club (you are in a club ?) for some one with a bipe bending tool, then take the wire and drawing to his place and ask him to demonstrate how to use the tool. Job done ! The only Bipe bender in our club is you Roy!!.......Is this post a hint that you're in need of an undercarriage making??Lol Chris...Buy a wire bender..easier than a vice or pliers and they soon pay back their cost. Have a look at Model Shop Leeds,they have the MFA one. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 I agree with Andrew - yes you can do it with a big vice, a hammer and pair of heafty pliers - but why struggle? A wire bender isn't expensive and such a joy to use you'll find yourself bending up your U/C and a spare just for the pleasure of it! Well, perhaps not - but you get the point. I use this one and its excellent - last you a lifetime. BTW - in case no one has mentioned it - don't heat it to bend it - if you get it very hot it will lose its temper! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew767 Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Chris....Forgot to mention..a wire bender can turn up a sprung noseleg as well.....Try doing that with pliers!!! Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim A Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Chris.....You can make one quite easily out of some scrap steel plate and some bolts of the correct size. Search the forum under Wire benders, plenty of info & advice on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Smitheman Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Please wear goggles, one of my mentors way back then lost an eye bending piano wire, when the wire shattered. He kept on flying, but he became known as mid air Dennis! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomo55 Posted May 2, 2013 Author Share Posted May 2, 2013 Thanks for the replies I bought a K&S mini wire bender and have just had a go at making up a U/C for my Junior 60, well chuffed with the results and only took 15 minutes even though I was constantly checking against the plan. wore goggles as advised. Pic taken. Thanks again Chris Edited By tomo55 on 02/05/2013 11:57:00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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