crystaltreefrog
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2017
Posts: 14 
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Post by crystaltreefrog on Oct 6, 2017 12:41:05 GMT -5
I just ordered a multi mandrel set today, any recommendations as to the best quality yet inexpensive -uhm- whatever-they're-called tools for actually doing the wrapping/snipping?
Thanks!
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 6, 2017 16:30:14 GMT -5
That's kind of vague question. What kind of wrapping do you want to do? You will need a good flush cutter. It doesn't have to be expensive to be decent. These are really good, unless they have gone down hill since I used them. But, I liked them a lot and you can find them for cheap. Then you will need comfortable pliers. Rio Grande has a set of German pliers which are really good. You can them much cheaper, but you usually get what you pay for. Real cheap pliers are not worth the money and they tend to leave worse tool marks. Those are pretty much the basics of what you will need. |
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fishnpinball
Cave Dweller 
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491 
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Post by fishnpinball on Oct 6, 2017 17:32:11 GMT -5
I can add a question. In my electronics work, I used pliers with different shapes to form different shapes of wire bends. A lot of them were possible to, at least do closely, with a standard type, but you could get it exactly right using the right plier. Does that carry over to wire wrapping?
I can add there were 3 basic types of jaws. Half round, Flat and Round. All were available with smooth jaws so you were less likely to mar the wires. Different sizes were available but you could also change the size of circles in your wrap with where you held the wire in the jaws since the jaws normally started out small and got larger as you worked back towards the hinge.
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Post by grumpybill on Oct 6, 2017 17:55:22 GMT -5
You will need a good flush cutter. It doesn't have to be expensive to be decent. Everyone already owns inexpensive decent flush cutters: nail clippers. Awkward, but useable. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 6, 2017 18:05:47 GMT -5
I can add a question. In my electronics work, I used pliers with different shapes to form different shapes of wire bends. A lot of them were possible to, at least do closely, with a standard type, but you could get it exactly right using the right plier. Does that carry over to wire wrapping? I can add there were 3 basic types of jaws. Half round, Flat and Round. All were available with smooth jaws so you were less likely to mar the wires. Different sizes were available but you could also change the size of circles in your wrap with where you held the wire in the jaws since the jaws normally started out small and got larger as you worked back towards the hinge. There are TONS of specialty tools and pliers for wire wrapping. She didn't ask about all of them. She wanted cheap. You can start with a set of pliers- flat nose, round nose, chain nose. Actually, I don't own or use a chain nose, myself. I have a bunch of exact sized flat nosed. Yes, you want smooth jaw. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 6, 2017 18:06:32 GMT -5
You will need a good flush cutter. It doesn't have to be expensive to be decent. Everyone already owns inexpensive decent flush cutters: nail clippers. Awkward, but useable. Yes, they can be used in a pinch, but I doubt that the edge would hold up for long cutting wires. |
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Post by grumpybill on Oct 6, 2017 18:25:23 GMT -5
I've been using them on dead soft copper and they're still going strong.
If they don't hold up, I'll just put them back on my wife's night stand where I found them.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 6, 2017 18:34:11 GMT -5
I've been using them on dead soft copper and they're still going strong. If they don't hold up, I'll just put them back on my wife's night stand where I found them. LOL! Sneaky! |
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Post by grumpybill on Oct 7, 2017 5:00:35 GMT -5
She hasn't noticed (yet) that her diamond nail file is also on my work table. Works great for smoothing the ends after I cut the wire.
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Post by grumpybill on Oct 7, 2017 5:23:14 GMT -5
A few weeks ago I found a cheap source for pliers with nylon padded jaws.
JoAnn Fabrics got a bum shipment of them...the nylon inserts come off...so they threw them into the bargain bins for a couple bucks each.
I bought one, glued the nylon on with a few drops of CA, and they've been staying together. I'll just re-do the glue if they come apart again in the future.
Other than that, I don't recommend the wire-working pliers from JoAnn. I needed to spend some time with a file and sandpaper before they were useable.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 7, 2017 9:59:05 GMT -5
A few weeks ago I found a cheap source for pliers with nylon padded jaws. JoAnn Fabrics got a bum shipment of them...the nylon inserts come off...so they threw them into the bargain bins for a couple bucks each. I bought one, glued the nylon on with a few drops of CA, and they've been staying together. I'll just re-do the glue if they come apart again in the future. Other than that, I don't recommend the wire-working pliers from JoAnn. I needed to spend some time with a file and sandpaper before they were useable. Even on good pliers one should do some work on the edges. Sooooooo, when are you gonna post your work? |
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Post by grumpybill on Oct 7, 2017 11:43:03 GMT -5
Sooooooo, when are you gonna post your work? Too embarrassed. I don't want you all chuckling to yourselves while typing obligatory polite compliments. <laughing> Everything I've done up to this point has been very simple and rustic. Rough stones, homemade sea glass, sea shells, etc. Mostly one-wire wraps. Still practicing technique. (Not to mention I'm not much of a photographer.) My finger tips went south on me just after my first batch of decently polished stones came out of the tumbler, so my wrapping attempts are on hold for a few more days. Maybe I'll swallow my pride and post a few after the grandkids go home this evening. |
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