Twisting brass wire

I have to twist two lengths of ca. 1 meter of 0.7 mm brass wire. I annealed it before trying but still it is not as even twist as I would like to have, perhaps someone with more knowledge can give me a little help. Niko.

I've done this several times in precious metals (which is not totally dissimilar to brass), but used single lengths bent double. The free ends were clamped in a vice and a small hook was held in the chuck of a drill brace (I used a hand brace but a cordless drill will do the job). The hook was placed in the end of the loop of wire and the drill started. I had to keep the wire in slight tension as the twist developed.

As the twist progresses the wire work-hardens and will break unless it is re-annealed. Keep going until the required amount of twist is reached.

I,ve done the same thing,using 1/16th brazing rod,and it worked fine.

Take it slow [hand brace] and anneal before and during twisting.

I used to have to wirelock aircraft fluxvalve attachments with brass wire. What was provided to us was about 26SWG and it seemed very stiff, so not annealed. I just used Robinson wire twisters and can't recall ever having a problem.

Gordon are you sure it was brass wire that you used for wire locking the aircraft components as the standard for aircraft work was non corodible steel wire (I.e. Stainless) and it was very tough but easy to twist when using locking wire pliers, 22 years in Aircraft work equals an awful lot of wire locking.

Dave

Thanks for all advice, as it turned out I am not a good "twister". It is usuable what I made today but certainly not what I had in mind. Niko.

Maybe you never had to wirelock a fluxvalve?

No Gordon your right never did.

Dave

In my time in aviation we used both brass, and stainless lock wire, I can't remember, but there must have been specified areas whereeach was used.

Ian S C

We used thin brass wire to protect guarded switches and emergency exit hinge pins or latches. It wouldn't break with vibration, but was easy to break deliberately.

Bob

The brass wire was to be used in the close vicinity of compass equipment - the stores also kept a totally brass toolkit for the same purpose. Stainless wire was used most other places, though a different material was used on the hot parts of engines - monel? Normal tinned copper wire was used to seal guarded switches etc.

Finally got it as wished, problem was the wire, the 0.7 mm on sale here was very hard, changed to 0.8 mm which is readily available. Almost every DIY market in France has 0.7 mm which is made by Filiac, but it seems not to cross their border only the thicker size. Niko.

I wanted brass wire a while ago, went to my supplier of brass and other non ferrous metals---sorry we don't have brass wire, no one wants it! Would 3 mm rod do?

Ian S C

The official label on the 0.8 mm wire reads "ijzerdraad, messing" which translates as "ironwire, brass", another seller labelled it as copperwire. Niko.

I have seen some nice gold colour wire on the cork of wine bottles which seemed quite bendy/flexible, perhaps a visit to a wine store?

Clive