Help - Z bend pliers?

i have my eye on these, but not yet my wallet

they are for multiple shapes, not just Z

https://www.micromark.com/Metal-Forming-Pliers-Set-of-4

I use a "Harry's" Z-bender for 1/16" music-wire. I've had it for 30+ years. The pliers are cool.. but they wont make an "L-bend". I use L-bends more than Z-bends as of late.

It's much easier for me to remove a linkage that uses L-bends held captive by a spring-type wheel retainer. A "Z-bend" requires removing a horn. Not a big deal with a servo.. but an elevator horn or bellcrank could be a PIA. Sometimes there's also a fairlead (rod-support) to consider as well.

I have both types.  The Harry's is good for many things.  But the Z-bend pliers reside on the pegboard above my worktable and are convenient to grab for a 1/2A pushrod.  Mark the wire, grab the pliers, squeeze.  Only takes a minute.  My pliers are the old Hobbico branded pliers.

The Minute Man Mark

roddie wrote:I use a "Harry's" Z-bender for 1/16" music-wire. I've had it for 30+ years. The pliers are cool.. but they wont make an "L-bend". I use L-bends more than Z-bends as of late.

It's much easier for me to remove a linkage that uses L-bends held captive by a spring-type wheel retainer. A "Z-bend" requires removing a horn. Not a big deal with a servo.. but an elevator horn or bellcrank could be a PIA. Sometimes there's also a fairlead (rod-support) to consider as well.

]

I have been using these keepers (for L bends) lately and L bends also. But I still like z bends.

I just used strong pliers for 50 years. First bend with pliers, second bend with needle nose, or if the second bend needs to be narrower,then I put it in a vise and bend it at 90 degrees, and then twist it to be in a straight line. I did however get one of those pliers a couple years ago for cheap at a swap meet. It seems good on the couple tests that I did on some thinner wire. Have not really used it on a project, and I just looked for it and it seems to be hiding.

I gotta' get me one of them...

There's your dinner!!! The long leg using Taryl's tool is bent a bit, not the greatest, but it can be massaged later.

aspeed wrote:There's your dinner!!!  ......

Taryl's my man!!

His bender is really designed for slightly smaller and softer wire, but for choke and throttle cable bends, it really works pretty well.

*SIGH*

Am I going to have to make a video on how to use Z-bend pliers???

The Old Skool Mark

batjac wrote:*SIGH*

Am I going to have to make a video on how to use Z-bend pliers???

The Old Skool Mark

Please.

 None that I have seen provide the nice tight bends that I like and limit internal slop to a minimum.  I can do as well with a vice and needle nosed pliers on smaller gauge wire.

I've gotten by with using needle nose pliers and combination pliers, do Z bends in 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or smaller music wire. It is quicker, as Bob relates, have sharper bends that are easiler to adjust. If I were involved in some form of say, kit manufacturing operation, then a special tool with emphasis on saving time might make such a tool worthwhile.

How many guys buy an electric special and expensive brand name tool, then maybe use it a handful of times over the next 10 years? I used my Sears purchased Craftsman single speed electric drill for 30 years before I got a variable speed one, and I still have it 20 years later. It was only recently that I bought a Harbor Freight cordless drill, and I made sure I got one of their upper line ones. (Their cheap electric stuff is usually not worth getting.)

Still have my 25 gallon 3.5 HP Craftsman (Devillebiss) air compressor I bought in the mid 1990's, still works like the day I bought it, replaced the air hoses a year ago. Have painted cars and motorcycles with it.

rsv1cox wrote:
None that I have seen provide the nice tight bends that I like and limit internal slop to a minimum.  I can do as well with a vice and needle nosed pliers on smaller gauge wire.

Sounds like work, and hard on the needle nose pliers as well. I tried a Z-bend pliers once, but didn't like the bends it made. They were a bit less than 90 deg. I use the 2 pliers method to get tight, square bends in music wire up to .062 dia.

Sorry I am a bit late to the party as usual lately.... But here is what I use. I just took an old pair of slip joint pliers and made a couple of grooves with a die grinder and a 1/16" disk. A bit crude, but works well for me and my uses, which is for RC airplanes of .15 to .40 size. You could definately use a Dremel type disk for smaller wire diameters if one needed. Hope this helps.