A Perfect Twist

Step 5 The twisted wire is done!

You can twist the wire as fast as you are comfortable with, but don't go so slow that the wire begins to twist on itself.  Remember you MUST hold the wire as taut as you drill so that it will twist evenly.

When the wire is completely twisted, it will break on it's own.  You can release the chuck and remove the two small peices of wire that are left in the chuck. 

Slide the looped end from the phillips head and you have a nice, evenly and tightly twisted piece of wire to use for whatever the purpose is you planned.  You also have a nice loop with a strong twisted wire on it if you want to use it that way.  It makes a great hanger for objects it can be soldered onto. 

Comments

[AEchinoderm]

 If you have a bench vise, you can flip the whole thing around. Instead of inserting the two ends of the wire into the chuck (and having them come off eventually), get them held by the vise's jaws and put a hook (one of those with a thread, to be screwed into walls) into the drill's chuck (by the straight end).

[AEchinoderm]

 The hooks I mentioned:

[jenmcd]

If you are using a long enough piece, you could also hold the drill near your torso, and use your feet to hold the screwdriver. I've done that when "power twisting" yarns/threads, and have done it with some wire before, too. The tension is provided by pulling up on the power drill.

[barefootbohemian]

 I've done that too :). Except I used an old flag pole, the kind that people put those "cutesy" flags out on their houses with. I kept it from the trash because it was a good long piece of straight metal and I figured I could use it someday, it worked perfect for that! 

[Redfrk]

Awesome technique.  This looks like copper wire, and I think it would look great as a bracelet!
thanks.

[barefootbohemian]

 I am thinking that if a larger gauge wire was used, like say an 8 aug or a copper conduit wire, and then hammered flat after it was twisted, that would make for a really cool bracelet! Of course I have a thing for copper, always have... :) Sounds like you have a great idea started!

[Loki-me]

when ypu put advertisement inside your articles you convince me to  NOT go pro 

[arashiodori]

Might I convince you to go Firefox + Adblock Plus? :)

[barefootbohemian]

 I'm sorry, I don't know what you are talking about. What advertisement? 
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. 

[MichelMoermans]

I think he is referring to the "support DIY and instructables: become a promember" above your 'ible.

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 :)

[barefootbohemian]

 Do you mean the glass piece in my avatar? You confused me with the "women in our avatar", went to go and look closer at your avatar and couldn't really see any women lol!.
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!

[MichelMoermans]

Ow it seems I typed to fast there It was supposed to say Your avatar :p

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

[salishsilver]

You also want the drill to go at a pretty controlled speed.  if you try to go slow and then fast you can get uneven results.  I use my Foredom and twist about 4 feet of 20 gauge at a time for jewelry.  I put the looped end over a long pin I have on my bench.  I have also used my regular shop vice.  For smaller work I have a pair of aircraft safety wire pliers.  They cost about 15-20 dollars.  You lock the wire in the jaws, put it on a pin and pull the handle, and it twists it all up in a few seconds.  Not as handy as the drill, but I like it better for very fine wire, 24 and 26 gauge.  It breaks less.  And, If you own a plane, it might even come in handy for that!

[soapbox derby car]

if anybody's looking for those pliers, they're used for the safety wire that locks the oil filter in place, so they shouldn't be too hard to find. Snap-on trucks ought to have a few different sizes even.