========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm ]========
> A wonderful, talented artist I study with, working with
> wire, Wil Peterson, uses a power screw driver, to twist wire.
>
> Wil determined, the slower speed gives you better control of the
> process.
I've twisted 1000's of feet of wire & in my experience the most
critical item to watch when twisting wire is the tension on each
of the wires. This is particularly critical when twisting an odd
number of wires. In order to get an even twist, i.e.. one in
which each wire wraps around the other the same number of times,
the tension on each wire must be the same. This is easily
achieved if wrapping 2 wires of the same size & material. An
even twist also requires the wires to be of the same hardness.
Twisting wires of unequal hardness will result in more wraps of
the softer wire around the harder wire.
1. Cut a piece of wire twice as long as the twisted wire
needed.
2. Clamp both ends of the wire in a vise, they should
touching each other.
3. Place a cup hook in the chuck of a variable speed drill.
4. Grasp the wires between the thumb & forefinger at the
vise.
5. 'Draw' the wires through the fingers until the closed end
is reached.
6. Place the wire loop over the hook in the drill.
7. Pull the wire taut with the drill.
8. While holding the wire taut start the drill. The wires
will twist evenly for the entire length. If the wire is long
(15-30 ft) it may start bounching. If this happens, laying a
finger lightly on the wire will stop the bounce. Twist the
wire until the desired pattern is achieved or the wire breaks
( it usually breaks at one of the ends). Clip off about a 1
inch length of the twisted wire. Save this piece as a
pattern in case you have to twist more wire for the same job.
This pattern can be compared side by side with the next batch
of wire while it's being twisted. When the patterns match,
it's time to stop.
To help keep the wire from breaking prematurely while twisting,
try to keep the drill at the same height above the floor as wire
is in the vise. Also keep the axis of the drill parallel to the
face of the vise jaws. These 2 actions reduce the amount of
flexing the wire is subjected to. Remember, flexing wire work
hardens it & if it gets too hard it'll break.
If the length of wire to be twisted is short, a pin vise or a
small hand drill (egg-beater type) can be substituted for the
electric drill.
A similar technique can be used to twist an odd number,
different sizes, shapes, hardness of wire.
1. Place the drill with the cup hook installed on the floor,
about 3 ft father away from the vise than the length of wire
to be twisted.
2. If the wires are of different sizes or shapes, twist one
end of each wire together.
3. Place this end over the hook in the drill.
4. Grasp the wires between the thumb & forefinger at the
drill.
5. 'Draw' the wires through the fingers until the ends are
reached. Don't pinch the fingers so tight the drill is pulled
along.
6. When the ends are reached, hold the wires tightly,
pulling the drill along, until there's about 1/2 inch of the
shorter of the wires left. Clamp both ends in the vise. The
wires should be side by side.
7. Return to the drill & pull the wire taut with the drill.
8. While holding the wire taut start the drill. The wires
will twist for the entire length. If the wire is long (15-30
ft) it may start bounching. If this happens, laying a finger
lightly on the wire will stop the bounce. Twist the wire
until the desired pattern is achieved or the wire breaks ( it
usually breaks at one of the ends).
HTH
Dave
Would you like to reach Members of the Ganoksin Project to educate
them about the wonderful array of supplies, services and products
you have to offer?
Please request a copy of the Ganoksin Media Kit if you would like
more indepth information regarding Ganoksin's advertising services.
Navigate by Topic:
[
