How to make this? (Rod/Wire bending)

BongoHunter

BongoHunter

BongoHunter

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Bit of an odd one.

I really need to make some of these:

m23127R.jpeg


Its 2mm spring steel - what gadget would I need to be able to do it? I'm just worried about the curves - I can cut it fine, but I'm not sure what gizmo I need to make the shape...


Many thanks!
 
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Buy a tent peg that's closest to what you need, bend it to shape, cut it to length and file / grind the pointy tip.
 
If you try to make that our of spring steel from cold, it will snap when you try to bend it.
I think it would originally have been shaped while still hot.
If you have a length of spring steel then you could try to anneal it (heat and cool slowly) then shape it, then reharden.
 
Thanks for all the input chaps

Done some more research, I'm going to have to heat/cool spring steel to bend it, and the temperature and cooling duration will impact the strength of the final piece.

The bit I'm trying to find out it how to make this to a reasonably tight tolerance, and I need to make about 20 - I think I want something like this: https://www.neilsentools.com/produc...yy4X0mroeQCHoL_gUdJDrtD-cTR8kNLTuMvJ1rtE0FQGA

But I need to find a tool that will let me do a tight enough radius for the size of the part I have...

Fun fun fun
 
You wont be able to do it in spring steel.

You may be able to do it in regular, get a bit of wood in a vice and screw 2 screws into it close together, then feed the wire between them, you can then pull the wire round one of the screws for a tight turn. Ideally you want your jig in metal, but thats more time consuming.
 
How many are you making? If it's a lot then I would be tempted to make some kind of wooden structure to bend it around. Then cut the ends to size. Once the structure is complete each rod would take seconds to bend and cut.
 
CaNsA said:
Ideas mentioned above are spot on.

If you want to try some cool stuff...
Maximus Ironthumper has recently posted a vid in a cheap, homemade forge.
youtu.be

Blacksmithing for beginners: A cheap and cheerful setup

A video inspired by a request from one of my patrons who's daughter wants to try blacksmithing. This got me thinking about what the most basic forge setup mi...
youtu.be youtu.be
Click to expand...

Urgh why have you activated my interest in blacksmithing again?! :cry:

I did a Blacksmith experience day back in 2019 at Much Hadham Forge and made this nifty little headphone stand which i'm still using today!

Could probably do with going over with a wire brush as it's got a bit of a rusty patina to it after five years!

ggLy7O3.jpg

a0oq0jT.jpg
 
Megahurtz400 said:
Urgh why have you activated my interest in blacksmithing again?! :cry:

I did a Blacksmith experience day back in 2019 at Much Hadham Forge and made this nifty little headphone stand which i'm still using today!

Could probably do with going over with a wire brush as it's got a bit of a rusty patina to it after five years!

ggLy7O3.jpg

a0oq0jT.jpg
Click to expand...
:cool::cool:
 
yes it's rather nice .....


not sure why the OP couldn't make his springs from the steel used in metal coat hangers , or bicycle spokes, plus a former and long-nosed pliers - have used them both on a few tasks;
obviously need to have a long tail on the curved part initially to be able to apply sufficient force for the bend, which you cut off last thing.
e: used an adjustable spanner for some holding/bending of wire too
 
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jpaul said:
yes it's rather nice .....


not sure why the OP couldn't make his springs from the steel used in metal coat hangers , or bicycle spokes, plus a former and long-nosed pliers - have used them both on a few tasks;
obviously need to have a long tail on the curved part initially to be able to apply sufficient force for the bend, which you cut off last thing.
e: used an adjustable spanner for some holding/bending of wire too
Click to expand...
They are pins that carry a fairly decent load, all the easy to bend materials I've tried haven't been up to the job unfortunately :-(
 
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