Wire twisting pliers

Jewelry Discussion
1

I went out and bought Rio’s wire twisting pliers, remembering the
thread on Orchid on how to use them, but now I can’t find any
mention of it in the archives. Would any of you mind repeating
those instructions?

Thankyou,
Rebecca, a timid lurker

2

Hi Rebecca,

I went out and bought Rio's wire twisting pliers, remembering the
thread on Orchid on how to use them, but now I can't find any
mention of it in the archives.

Depending on how long a length of wire you need to twist & how tight
a twist you want, you may have better results using a drill or
flexshaft. All that’s needed is a hook to put in the drill or
flexshaft handpiece. A cup hook will work or you can make your own
from a heavy piece of wire.

  1. Secure the hook in the drill chuck.

  2. Measure off the piece of wire you want to twist.

  3. Twist the 2 ends together & clamp them in a vise or twist them
    around a nail driven into a sturdy support.

  4. At the vise, grasp the wires between the thumb & forefinger so
    the wires are laying side by side.

  5. Slide the wire through your fingers until you reach the end.

  6. Place the loop in the wire over the hook in the drill.

  7. Draw the wire taut with the drill.

  8. While holding the wire taut, run the drill until the desired
    twist is achieved.

The drill used can be a manual (commonly called an egg beater drill)
or an electric drill. If the length of wire being twisted is
relatively long, an electric drill works best. The variable speed are
better to use than 1 or 2 speed.

Dave

3

I bought a pair of these pliers as well. I thought I had it worked
out, but the lever holding the handles together pops open every
second or third twist. Am I doing something wrong or maybe I have a
defective tool?

doing it by hand,
karen

4

go to a snap-on tool dealer, or http://chaparral-racing.com/ and
look for safety wire pliers, they put a perfect twist in wire and you
can feed it up through the center of the pliers. and you can use it
to safety wire things on that may fly off your moving tools. or your
car/motorcycle for racing purposes.

5

I love my wire twisting pliers! However…it requires somewhat of a
strong grip to get them to close properly so they don’t fly open when
you begin the twisting operation. When you feel the handle
click…really click… into place, you’re ready to go. The only
drawback is that heavy gauge wire is easier to to twist with a
flexshaft or a hand drill. The pliers are best with 14 gauge and up.

Dee

6

Can someone tell me where I can look at Wire twisting pliers. I am
intrigued. I am a bit of a tool junkie- just got to have it- but I
must admit I have always managed very well with homemade devices for
twisting wire. Ruth :slight_smile:

7 
I  must admit I have always managed very well with homemade
devices for twisting wire.

I used to make very heavy twisted bracelets from 3 pieces of 6 (?)
gauge copper wire. I soldered the straight rods together at both
ends first and annealed everything, then clamped one end in a vise
and grabbed the other with Vise-grips locking pliers. I had to pull
on the pliers with both hands to keep it all straight, but it would
twist up like a dream.

Tas

8

Ruth, Stuller carries a small selection of wire twisting pliers, as
well Rio, and gesswein

Andy “The Tool Guy” Kroungold
Sales/ Tools and Technical