I use a LOT of twisted wire in my art. So looking about for good ideas on different things I could do, I noticed there was no instructable (at least that I could find) for twisting wire. Even with all the really great instructables available on the site, I still couldn't find one. Of course this doesn't mean there isn't one, but I thought I might share this little secret on how to twist wire easily, and get the perfect twist. I have seen a lot of people trying to twist wire by hand, and having a hard time just to get inferior results, and I have seen "manual wire twisting" gadgets that cost a fortune. But why spend anymore than what you absolutely have to, especially when the easiest way to twist a perfect wire is by using things you probably already have around the house.
For this instructable you will need:
Wire cutters to cut the wire
Wire - any pretty much any guage can be used determined on what you need the twisted wire for
A phillips head screw driver, the longer the better so you can hold onto it while twisting
A power drill ( I personally prefer to use my hubby's cordless, just because there is no cord to deal with and I don't have to find a place to plug it in)
And even though I didn't mention it, or put them in the photo, you really should protect your eyes!
For this instructable you will need:
Wire cutters to cut the wire
Wire - any pretty much any guage can be used determined on what you need the twisted wire for
A phillips head screw driver, the longer the better so you can hold onto it while twisting
A power drill ( I personally prefer to use my hubby's cordless, just because there is no cord to deal with and I don't have to find a place to plug it in)
And even though I didn't mention it, or put them in the photo, you really should protect your eyes!
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Signing UpStep 1: Cut the wire and fold it in half
Remember you will need more than twice the length of wire you would require for a single wire peice. You will be doubling the wire over, and you will lose a certain amount of wire in the process of twisting. I don't recommend twisting more than the length you can stretch your arm to hold (see the photo as an illustation). You can twist a longer amount if you have someone or something to hold the opposite end, but since I generally have no volunteers when it comes to working around me and power tools, I stick to the shorter lengths and make do as I can.
I cut a 20 inch piece of wire for this project, and after twisting and trimming I had a 5 inch piece left. This will vary for the guage of wire and the amount of twisting applied.
I cut a 20 inch piece of wire for this project, and after twisting and trimming I had a 5 inch piece left. This will vary for the guage of wire and the amount of twisting applied.
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I started out playing with solder when I was very very young I would sit on the floor of the garage while my dad worked on things, and I would take the scrap solder and make rings and other jewelry. Makes me wonder what I did to my brain cells back then! All that lead, probably some acid core solder? I might have been a true genius had I not done that LOL! Or maybe not. But thanks for the compliment. I have been trying to get back on here to do some more instructables, but my father has been seriously ill so I end up spending more time in the hospital than in the shop. But I shall return! eventually.....
make two piceses of twisted wires same length going in the same direction
put both wires in the drill and spin in oposite direction
it gives a very interesting pattern
It was so awesome.
A small, inexpensive hand operated rolling mill (from Harbor Freight) has allowed me to flatten some of these wires and twists into ribbons or tinsels. Soldering the ends together before twisting can be of great help. In fact soldering the materials along their full lengths can be a help for some effects. Any separation of solder during rolling will quickly repair during annealing.
You may want to experiment with combinations of wires (copper/ brass/ silver etc.) if you want mixed metal twists. Anneal your wire/ribbon OFTEN to avoid metal fatigue and failure.
I also incorporate strands of thread, floss, and feather and fur into some of these twists for decorative purposes. These materials are NOT durable for much milling or any heat, but can add stunning accents and textures to items. submark
Anyhow I am VERY photo challenged. When I sold my SLR to a friend in the '80s it still had film in it from my days in the Navy in the early 70's. Not much of a snaphound.
Check out makersgallery/goss/rollprint for some kickass techniques.
I can't find my little rollpress and Harbor Freight doesn't carry them anymore. If you're really serious about non ferrous metalwork, try to find a used one. They are necessary for serious and quality work.
Cool way of doing it though!
what manner of wire art do you do?
I have used everything from 14 ga to 24 ga wire in a drill to twist it, and they all seem to work well.
Do you do wire art? I would love to see what you are doing.
myself not so much, at least not with such thin gauge wire..
i've found myself rather into chain maille recently, in fact i'm currently working on a full length shirt. i've also done a number of bracelets and other such jewelery.
thanks.
And I only got the pro status today, after having entered the Homemade Holidays Food Contest and getting runner-up. If there is an advertisement in the article, I will certainly consider removing it (if it is something I placed there and you find to be offensive in some way), but I did not place any advertisement inside the article. I know there are ads on the side bars of the articles, or on the header, but those articles are what help keep many websites funded so they can keep going. If you could be more specific, I would appreciate it.
As far as ads in your 'ible I haven't seen any so my guess goes that he thought it was part of your instructable.
Very nice work btw. We used the same technique in highschool although we used to secure the screwdriver on our workbench.
5 starts and subscribed. Would love to see an instructable about the women in our avatar as well :)
I am actually working on a ible for working with stained glass, it is just taking a little time, since I feel like I really need to start from the beginning for people to understand how to do it right (i.e. cutting the glass to a pattern, grinding, etc). That and I had to finish up some of what was already on my work bench so that I could start on her again. After I sold her, I kept thinking I would like one for myself, at least for a little while. That is the problem with glass work, I end up with pretty much none in my own house.
And thanks! Hope to have some more ibles up soon!
Take your time with it :) I wouldn't want to see a rushed instructable. :) And in my case an explenation from the beginning would be best :)
Yeah I had the same thing.. When I was 14 I had a little workshop in which I sold solderd figures of just about anything... Cars, the simpsons, houses, the sun... And I made some good money off it but I never once had one hanging in my own room :p
Also, I use the drill also for making my chainmaille coils. Building a hand crank isn't really possible, so I just put different sized rods in the the chuck and wrap the wire.
Anyone think they want an 'ible?
http://www.mailleartisans.org/gallery/pics/1534snips.jpg
http://www.mailleartisans.org/gallery/pics/5530action.jpg
http://www.mailleartisans.org/gallery/pics/10814a-1a.jpg
Eventually I plan to set up a dremel stand, lik in the thrid link, so that I can cut rings with my dremel. Of course, I need to buy special metal cutting disks, but it will be well worth it.
Currently, i am using 15 year old, Japanese made wire cutters that were bought in Korea. They are extremely strong, and only dulled a tad bit after cutting several large coat hangers. I can cut 16 guage wire no problem, but a lot of forse is needed becasue there is no torque...
Your closures end up being less attractive and a little more rough unless you sit down and do A LOT of math to get the amount of twist and the ID of your rings "just so"
I'm sure someone somewhere has to have figured out at least a rough formula for matching the ends more cleanly. It has to take into account the wire gauge, the amount of twist, and the ring ID. That's just too much math for my meager faculties.
I do know that saw cut rings work out far better than those cut with snips or bolt cutters. The shearing force of the cutters causes the ends to untwist and deform a bit.
Just make sure you mark them as yours since they run nearly $20 a pair... I always forget to, and they have the bad habit of growing legs when you get them around people who are smart enough to know a decent tool but too stupid to have a basic grasp of ethics and morals.
I don't think it'd actually be possible by hand, at least not with the same accuracy/consistency to have it still usable with a guitar... I may be wrong tho
Then, hold the drill at the same level as the stationary end of the wire, and pull it lightly taut. Start twisting the wire. After a while you'll feel a pull on the drill as the twisted wire gets shorter; just slowly move towards the stationary end of the wire while maintaining a constant tension.
One other thing to remember, once the wire is twisted. Some kinds of wire, like insulated stranded wire, will like to spring back quickly if you simply release it from the drill. It's better to slowly relax the wire, so it doesn't twist back on itself.
This is how it's been done for decades at my work.
You sound just like my hubby with that "that's how it's been done for decades at my work" LOL! He is always telling me how they do it there, but so little of what they do, aluminum die casting, has anything to do with what I do! There is no good correlation between an aluminum furnace at 1800 degrees and a glass kiln at the same temp, other than they are both hot and they will both fry your retinas if you look at them! But I will always keep in mind now that hubby isn't the only one who has done it just the same way for "decades" :))
I am guessing I didn't find it since I was looking using wire and drills and twist for my search. Kiteman left saying Kitewife used the method twist wool cords got me to thinking how many things could be twisted with this method, or at least a very similar one with just a few tweaks.
Thanks!
Nice end-product - how about showing us what you make with it?
I actually did plan on showing you an "end product", but that arctic blast put me off on firing my kiln up when I was taking the photos for this one. Not that it was that cold out in the studio, just that it was that cold outside the studio and kept me busy trying to make sure I didn't lose any of my trees. But looks like today will be a better day, so I totally plan on getting in there and finishing up some cabochons and other bits and pieces and one of which will contain part of that twist. I figured after the way my first ible looked, I better take it easy on doing more so they don't look quite so bad. :))
If you're the type that doesn't mind being corrected, there's a mistake in step 1, line 2. Should be lose not loose. and on step one, line one, piece not peice. :) If you aren't that type, forget I said anything. :D
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Another use for twisted wire is to hang heavy pictures.