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PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 4:16 pm 
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Hey Folks,

When I first started making hanging Christmas ornaments, I found that the small screw eyes needed were ridiculously expensive. So I decided to make my own from some 0.040″ stainless steel safety wire.

The first step is to bend an oblong loop with an overlapping end.

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Then, cut it loose and clamp it in a vise so that the overlap is compressed.

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Next, I give it a few twists using a small screw hook, chucked in my drill motor. It’s important to go slow, and apply tension at the same time. Stop before you think you’re done, it’s easy to over do it.

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Finally, trim the end and you have a small eye for hanging ornaments.

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Cheers,
Tom

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PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 12:59 am 
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Cool idea, Tom. But I prefer brass eyes. Just so happens I have a spool of brass wire so I'll give it a go.

Thanks.

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PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 10:48 am 
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Hey Dennis,

Owning a spool of brass safety wire definitely marks you as "old school", but I don't suppose that bothers you any. :wink:

Cheers,
Tom

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 10:54 am 
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Well, it's a small spool, though. :)

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 10:56 am 
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Perhaps I miss the emphasis on "safety" wire??

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 12:12 pm 
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Hey Dennis,

It's just that brass safety wire hasn't been used to secure rigging for the past 70 years or thereabouts. :roll:

Cheers,
Tom

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:35 pm 
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It's just brass wire as far as I know. Don't even remember what I got it for.

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 7:21 pm 
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TMS: Curiosity. Do you set the eyes with adhesive or just screw them in bare?

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 7:23 pm 
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I use Duco cement (nitrocellulose).

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 1:47 am 
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I just screw them in. Although I realize finials and icicles being spindle turnings end up presenting end grain to crew applications, I've not had a failure that I know of. Your hanger presents a much more aggressive 'thread' that lends itself to an adhesive.

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