Homemade Tool for Straightening Bends in Straight Guard Wires

[Russ Huber]

I in recent past had a guard with a number of those annoying small/large bends in the guard straight wires between front and rear stock from mishandling in the past. I went and bought a $6 length of steel bar and went to my friend Steve with a mig welder and told him what I wanted out of an old vice grip. Works slick. 

[Chris Jacobsen]

I have seen something like this in our lab.  Would be nice to have skme curve straighteners though!

[Russ Huber]

6 minutes ago, Chris Jacobsen said:

Would be nice to have curved wire straighteners though!

 

You work on that. 

[Chris Jacobsen]

3 minutes ago, Russ Huber said:

You work on that. 

I like this idea a lot, I also have a welder so I will probably follow the same idea but with a curved and channeled nose maybe a pipe bent and sliced.  Haven't really thought of using a vice grips for a custom bending tool before, slick.

[George Durbin]

Cool!

[Roger Borg]

15 minutes ago, Chris Jacobsen said:

I have seen something like this in our lab.  Would be nice to have skme curve straighteners though!

That's what I use. Traditional sheet metal tool used in sign making...

[Russ Huber]

18 minutes ago, Chris Jacobsen said:

I have seen something like this in our lab.

Mine cost $6 + tax and a 6 pack of cheap beer. Fact Jack. 

[Russ Huber]

Make sure if you make one, use manly steel so the compression surface keeps it shape. 

[Chris Jacobsen]

3 minutes ago, Russ Huber said:

Make sure if you make one, use manly steel so the compression surface keeps it shape. 

I am thinking 1/8thick black steel pipe, bend it, slick out 2X 2" sections, fine shape, channel with angle grinder and weld to a vice grip.  It would be perfect for the plethora of bent cages I encounter.  Different diameter?  Just make another!  Of course usually I only deal with 8-12" fans anyways.

[Chris Jacobsen]

Just now, Chris Jacobsen said:

I am thinking 1/8thick black steel pipe, bend it, slick out 2X 2" sections, fine shape, channel with angle grinder and weld to a vice grip.  It would be perfect for the plethora of bent cages I encounter.  Different diameter?  Just make another!  Of course usually I only deal with 8-12" fans anyways.

Slick => slice

[Russ Huber]

16 minutes ago, Russ Huber said:

Mine cost $6 + tax and a 6 pack of cheap beer. Fact Jack. 

I forgot, I got 2 cans out of the 6 pack. Heck of a deal. 🙂

[Paul Carmody]

Very useful information!

[Roger Borg]

1 hour ago, Russ Huber said:

Mine cost $6 + tax and a 6 pack of cheap beer. Fact Jack. 

Wish I had a buddy with a welder... 

[Russ Huber]

3 hours ago, Roger Borg said:

Wish I had a buddy with a welder... 

Take a 6 pack of ice cold beer, your vice grip, and steel bar over to a local welder. Offer him a cold one and tell him you heard around town he is a legend in the welding field. I bet by the 3rd cold one he will be welding your project and will be your best buddy. Have another 6 pack in the cooler in your car as a backup. 

[Russ Huber]

I think if anyone is going to order the Irwin sheet metal vice I would give it some thought. The jaw plates don't appear to compress flat together. That is important that they do. The vice compresses on a narrow strip of the front of the plates, not the full surface.

Irwin Vise-Grip 8 Inch Locking Pliers/Sheet Metal Clamp (8R #23) - Walmart.com

 

Edited August 25, 2023 by Russ Huber

[Roger Borg]

1 hour ago, Russ Huber said:

I think if anyone is going to order the Irwin sheet metal vice I would give it some thought. The jaw plates don't appear to compress flat together. That is important that they do. The vice compresses on a narrow strip of the front of the plates, not the full surface.

Irwin Vise-Grip 8 Inch Locking Pliers/Sheet Metal Clamp (8R #23) - Walmart.com

 

These are probably better than the vise grip version for the reason you pointed out...

[Chris Jacobsen]

4 hours ago, Russ Huber said:

Take a 6 pack of ice cold beer, your vice grip, and steel bar over to a local welder. Offer him a cold one and tell him you heard around town he is a legend in the welding field. I bet by the 3rd cold one he will be welding your project and will be your best buddy. Have another 6 pack in the cooler in your car as a backup. 

Well probably not where I am in CA, likely end up on the wrong side of the law real fast trying a stunt like that...  welding aint cheap here, probably cost at least 50-100 I would estimate.  There are also a number of different flat jawed vice grips by the way, that was the first one that popped up searching "flat jaw vice grip".  Not trying to be insulting in any way, your tool is good quality, just being helpful becase as already stated, not everyone has access to a welder or has a buddy to do it for free.