Bending Wire Gear Legs

[Doug Bateman]

I have 5/32" coil wire gear legs. I need to put a sharp bend at a certain spot. I want to maintain the strength of the material when complete (Temper). Whats the best procedure for the bend and heat treating. Thanks Doug

[Al M]

I clamp it in a vise, bend it slightly in the desired direction, and smack it smartly and as often as required with a large ball peen hammer.

[ElectRick]

K & S Mighty Wire Bender (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGFW4&P=7)

No breaking, no cracking, no hammering, no problems. :)

Rick

[coosbaylumber]

Used to be someone who raved about heat treating etc. That really doesn't apply to small diameter wires. They can be bent by either of the top mentioned systems, and last for years. I would only worry about such with 3/16" wire and larger diameters.

Wm.

[margaret.roberts]

Another thing is using thin copper wire wrap and plumbers solder and flux as it needs less heat, flows out easy and retains 'springiness' if joining up to other wire.

Maggie.

[TheSaint]

You really won't loose any strenght if you cold bend the wire and don't crack it.

We do this to steel pipe for subsea oil and gas pipelines on a regular basis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Baj5o88L2A

And yes, that is 16-inch or thereabouts steel pipe being plastically deformed around a reel. And yes, it is still rated for full strength after it's unreeled, straightened and laid on the seabed.