Wire fids

[matdand]

Whats up?

Alright, I just got back from a hobby shop that actualy had some piano wire. I got some 2mm (.79) stuff, its the smallest they had. Anyway, I'm trying to bend this stuff around a clevis, man is it tough! Anyone have any advice on how to make this stuff more malleable or just general info on how to make a decent wire fid.

Thanks

 

[NickfromWI]

I put it in a bench vise and clamped down on it.

 

[emr]

I take a fat wooden dowel and drill 2 holes through it from one side to the other. The holes are located in the middle of the dowel and drilled parallel to each other about 1/4" apart from each other. I bend the wire in half and put each of the two ends of the wire through the holes, leaving about 2 inches sticking out of the dowel. I then bend the ends of the wire to about 90 degrees and use black tape to tape the crap out if it. The wooden dowel acts as a handle and it actually works pretty good for me. I have mostly used this set up for splicing 12 strand hollow braids but I have done a couple of double braid splices with these fids as well.

 

[evo]

Place it on the burner of your stove, get it really hot and bend it? You'd kill the temper if it is, but should still be plenty strong.