Multiple wire twisting

[tim]

Anyone got any unique methods of twisting multiple wires? Not dual twisted, that's straightforward, but triple, quadruple, etc. And especially the odd amounts.

I can do it, with a drill, but there is a load of waste. And/or disasters!

TIA

[solac77]

Well I often twist mine by way of kitchen whisk. Loop up desired wires hook over whisk blender implement pull out and hold on tight!! Love it when it starts to rope up....some work well all good experiments;)

[VapingBad]

I put a small vice on my very heavy desk and put some forceps in that (just one side so you can still operate them) to hold the ends of the strands, I then put a Ti tent peg (any hook shape would do) in the drill chuck, a reversible drill in by far the best as you often need to reverse to stop it tangling when you take off the tension. For 2 strands I just hook the loose end of a spool in the forceps and unroll it to the drill on the 2 - 3 m away, run it round the hook and unroll it going back to the forceps, always keeping a little tension on it, then cut, twits the ends together and clamp them in the forceps. Once I have the wire ends clamped in the forceps I put a fair bit of tension on by pulling the drill back so the hook is in the centre and run the drill until I am happy. Don't cut the wire yet or release the tension, but slowly lessen the tension and if you see any signs the wire wants buckle, not stay straight put the drill in reverse and take some of the stress out of it or you will have a tangled mess.

For 3 strands I start at the hook end, just go round the forceps (have the bent jaws facing away), the back to the hook just looping around it, then back to the forceps and clamp all three strands after pulling them so they have even tension. For 4 strands I fold a 2 strand twist and twist the other way.




I have used fishing swivels in the past, but there is not much point unless you are doing fused claptons IMO.

[VapingBad]

If the wires (>2) are not even before twisting pull them toward the forceps and put in a few twists by hand to hold them even and clamp that twisted bit. I generally twist the loose ends the other side of the forceps and if they don't have a grip clamp that twisted bit.

[tim]

Well, that's pretty much how I did it Jon VapingBad. A couple of variations, but essentially the same. Still seemed a lot of faff. And an amount of unusable twistings at each end.

But I suppose it's only Ni200, and not triple twisted platinum wire....

[VapingBad]

Maybe you need more tension on the wires both before you start twisting so they are even and while twisting tim I don't get many issues with Ni, Ti, NiFe30 or SS using gauges between 0.16 and 0.4 mm.  I put a lot of tension and have snapped thinner wire more than a few times.

BTW I forgot to mention I clean the strands with acetone just before twisting, especially important with wire from VapeMesh/CrazyWire Co.