Free Wire Twisting Jig

Step 8 Twist Some Wires!

Take three equal lengths of wire and twist or tie the ends of each wire to one of the hooks on the twisting jig.

Take the free ends and tape them to the table tightly (keep them spread apart a bit).

Now, hold the jig by the stirrer, pull the wires slightly taut, and crank the handle with your other hand. Continue to twist until the desired tightness is reached. Be careful not to twist so tight that the wires break. When you are done and release the crank, it will unwind a turn or two due to tension, but the twisted wires will stay together.

Cut the wires from the hooks and slide the remaining loops off the hooks and discard. Carefully pull up the tape and dress the ends of the wires to the length you desire, strip them, etc.

Comments

[dewexdewex]

Cut a 4 inch diameter disc of 6mm plywood with an  100mm M6 bolt secured in the centre with a nut and a washer. Slot the disc radially from the cirumference at  30 degree intervals with a tenon saw to a radial depth of 10mm. Drill a hole of about 5mm diameter at the bottom of each slot. stick an eyebolt in a vice, then thread a continuous strand of wire back and forth between the slots in the disc and the eye up to as many times as the number of slots will allow, secure the two ends of the wire at the eye bolt, stick the end of the bolt in a drill chuck. wind it up, and cut it off. You can have from 2 up to 12 strands. Obviously, subdividing the disc further will allow more strands.

[think3000]

You should make an instructable about that. Or maybe you already do?

[throbscottle]

This is sooo cool!  I'm well impressed.  Now that I've read how to use it, I would suggest one improvement (don't know offhand how you'd do it, you'd need a more complex twister) - if the individual wires were able to rotate freely (eg by hooks that could turn) - you'd get a self supporting twist (this is how rope is made) - ie less inclined to come undone.

[Braunchitis]

I like using a hand-held mixer (the kind you use in the kitchen) for this. Wrap your wires to a door knob or whatever. Attach the other end of the wires to the mixer paddles. Then turn it on slow speed and let it do the work. Works quickly and twists the wire uniformly.

[DELETED_gabethegeek]

(removed by author or community request)

[TheGeekFather]

cordless screwdriver and an add on chuck works pretty good instead of a drill. It's a lot easier to stop in time. Think the chucks sell for 15 at home depot. You can pick up a cordless screwdriver for 19.99 at most hardware stores.

[LauraLarsen]

Very nice, can also be used for jewelry work. Thanks for the tip!

[KD7CAO]

This is a neat idea for doing multiple wires by hand, for longer wires or for doing stiffer wire, use a cordless drill. Slow speed is always the best.