Bending wire to 90 degrees...

[Mayohoo]

I am trying to bend soft florist wire to 90 degree angles to make handles for chain pumps to be located on the gun deck of my HMS Surprise. It requires 4 90 degree angles in a row to create a rectangular handle. However, I am having trouble getting the angles to be sharp enough to look as good as the Jotika model on their website.

http://www.jotika-ltd.com/KitPics/LRG/Surprise_Const073_lrg.jpg

 

 

Does anyone have any tips on how to do this?

[russ]

Try bending them over a steel machinist's square or a small anvil. A piece of machined metal will give you the sharpest angle over which to bend the wire.

 

Russ

[MD11pilot]

Do you have any friends that are into RC airplanes? If so, they could lend you a special pair of pliers used to put 90 degree angles in control rods. It's just what you need. I'm traveling right now, so can't post a picture but you could find a description on any RC hobby sales web site.

[bizibilder]

Florists wire may not take too kindly to a sharp 90° bend.  Maybe try brass wire and heat it to red and then allow to cool, bend it and use a light hammer to persuade it to go 90° over a sharp 90° block.  It can be painted or chemically blackened to look "right".

[Mayohoo]

Thanks Guys!

[Jean-Pierre]

In a set of 4 excellent pliers I bought from Micromark, there is a "flat nose plier" which I use for this kind of job (example: photo etchings).  Works pretty well for me.

[von stetina]

I use a pilers with a smooth side to the jaws narrow enough to fit what I need. I gring to size cheap pliers with smooth jaws, or hemostats. I clamp the wire at the bend and give it a tap with a small hammer. It gives a sharp bend.

 

Von Stetina