Bending Piano Wire

[Tiger Tim]

I have long struggled with creating symetrical piano wire undercarriages.

Does anyone have a simple ,fool-proof method of bending this material?

(I am developing a jig with bolts as posts to bend the desired shape,but am keen to find a simpler method)

Perhaps RCME might like to run a series on this important topic.

[Rick Tee]

Get yourself one of these K&S 326 Mighty Wire Bender with Coil Winder and a good bench vice, works for me.

[Ernie]

Hi Tiger Tim, It's an old question. I think the best method is to buy a GOOD wire bender, and mount it in a big vice which in turn is mounted on a solid bench. It will be easier to bend if you heat the wire, but this takes the temper out, and it will bend easily in use ernie

[Peter Miller]

There are other threads on wire bending giving details of where to get good wire benders.

I have one screwed to the end of my bench which is just a flat pack desk, works well.

DO NOT heat piano wire to bend it. It turns it into somehting about as useful as wet spaghetti.

FOund it, this is the bender that I use. Works very well.

BENDER

Pricy but it will last for years, mine must be at least 30 years old, possibly more and must have bent hundreds of undercarriages.

Edited By Peter Miller on 20/08/2013 08:58:33

Edited By Peter Miller on 20/08/2013 09:02:04

[Foxfan]

I just use a vice! I do have five different sizes of vice though!

Martin

[Andrew767]

As others have said...use a wire bender....much better than a vice and can do coils as well. I've had an MFA one for years and like Peter's it screws to the bench. They very soon repay the purchase price.

Andrew

Edited By Andrew767 on 20/08/2013 11:47:30