Music Wire Tension Bars

[KokomoLock]

Video tells it all. Any questions let me know!!!

[fat ed]

Excellent video, gonna try and track some music wire down locally and make me a few of these bad boys.

[nozza36]

The same can be done (to a point) with bicycle spokes but they don't have as many gauges to work with .

[jeffmoss26]

I just ordered some music wire from ebay! Thanks koko for posting this

[fat ed]

Just went to the local hobby store and picked up a 3 foot length for $2.95.

[KokomoLock]

Just went to the local hobby store and picked up a 3 foot length for $2.95.

Cool!!! Post some pics when you get one made please!!

[easy-e]

Great video! I've been looking for something like this for a while. I'll post pictures once I get some made.

[awol70]

a link to some pics,and thanks again koko, for the awesome wire =)

viewtopic.php?f=102&t=3750

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[MBI]

Thanks for posting the tutorial. Your videos are very user-friendly.

I've seen some people who have done this, both with bike spokes and music wire, but for some reason your video really spurred me to get off my butt.
I just ordered some bundles of music wire, can't wait for it to arrive.

[jeffmoss26]

Here is what I came up with so far:


Also made a double ended one with one short end and one longer end.
Nice stuff to work with!

[OneManClan]

awesome stuff. what gage is the ones you got?
as far as making ones for specific locks... you could get some multi colored heat shrink tubing, and put a 1/2 inch piece near the top somewhere to color code them for quick reference. been doing that with regular wrenches.

btw, they are also available on Amazon. different widths, too. thanks for the idea!

edit, nevermind, you got the gage size in the video and description. thanks.

HEADS UP
just bought 2 of these 18in 5/32 for 3 bucks. a little thicker than what he used, just gotta file it slightly more.. only a few left, grab em now...

  Code:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/K-S-Music-Wire-5-32-or-156-x-18-long-/160879841062?pt=US_Character_Radio_Control_Toys&hash=item25752f8f26

[Josh66]

I needed some stuff from Lowe's today, so I figured I'd see if they had any music wire. They did, but it was only 6" long, and it was a pack with 4 different sizes in it...

I got it though, the thicker stuff I can file down. I think one of them will probably be too small for a TW, but I might be able to make a pick or something out of it.

My most used TW's are made from stainless cotter pins - and I think they're pretty similar to what you've made with the music wire. The music wire is probably stronger though.
With the cotter pins, I just straighten them out, put a bend in it, then file it down till it's a good fit. They will bend if you put too much torque on them, but they seem to be working pretty good.

I'm interesting in seeing how the music wire compares.

[jeffmoss26]

I got 15 pieces of .078 music wire on ebay, 3ft each. If anyone wants a piece or two, I can cut them down so they can be mailed much easier.
Let me know

[OneManClan]

im thinking they are gonna have the tensile resistence between a straight TW, and a twisted one. anyway, if they are great, ill replace all the ones i got with them. they will fit nicely in my peterson soft leather case. the flat ones dont like to lay on thier side in the small pockets when you force them.

also for the TOk version, im gonna try to make it so its rests facing left, not vertical. easier to control. might not be good for counter clockwise turning though. might slip.

[gnarus8429]

Just got 15 of 36" .078 pieces. This is really good steel In addition to cutting a nice tension bar I making a snapper pick out it. It worked great. It bends nice and stays put. I may have to buy a wire bending jig now. This stuff will be great for all kinds of tools ! Thanks for the post and sharing your materials.