What to use

[greenie]

Hi, got a question/query on what to use.

I need something pliable, about 5 mm O/D and can be bent to a 90 degree angle over about max 5 mm radius with-out deforming the round shape ?
I've thought of rosin core solder, but can't find any with a diameter of 5 mm.

What would be a good product to use, that you could do something like this with it ?

Any and ALL suggestions gratefully received.

regards  greenie 

[lab-dad]

What about annealed brass rod or even aluminum rod?

That should get you started!
-Marty

[marc_reusser]

5mm?.....so about 3/16"

Sim to Marty's suggestion, annealed brass tube with a bending tool inside and a form to bend it over.

How accurate/exact do you need it and for what end use.....was thinking, what about the corners of a model kit sprue frame......some have nively radiused corners, and the injection mold makes them stable and on good kits quite evenly round and radiused.

[greenie]

Thanks for some good suggestions there fella's, much appreciated.

The ally one is a bug bear, if you try and bend it too tight, no matter how much annealing you give it, it just cracks apart, been there, done that, seen that movie before.
Brass might be the go, I'll try and get hold of some solid at 5mm and see what happens.

The square corners on sprue was a good idea, checked all the kits I got around the place, but couldn't find any sprue that thick.

I'll keep trying to think of something that is easy and pliable, so, any more suggestions, please.

regards  greenie 

[David King]

Aluminum will work if you have the right alloy, unfortunately the formable alloys are not available in rod (5052 and 6061-T0, not T6) and most of them are hard to get.  The one exception is available in nearly every hobby shop, if you are in the US at least.  K&S .014 wall aluminum tube is 3003 alloy which is very formable, but since it's tube you'll need to do something to keep it from kinking.  It is telescoping so you can put tubes inside each other until it's nearly solid, but it will still deform a bit.

Copper 110 alloy is formable and is available online from Mcmaster:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#copper-rods/=oasgz5

Is there any reason you can't use styrene?  Styrene requires the application of heat but with a little practice you can make it do just about anything. I keep a radiant electric heater under my workbench, (the basement gets quite chilly during the winter!) and when I need to form a piece of styrene I just set it on top of the grill for a minute then it's like putty in my hands.....for about 10-20 seconds.

http://www3.omnimodels.com/cgi-bin/woi0001p?&I=PLSU7228&P=7

I see you are in Australia,  I have no about idea of availablity of these materials outside the US.

David

[Design-HSB]

Easy to use a piece of copper wire of an electric cable with appropriate diameter.
For this purpose a piece of pre-bend 20 square wire for a car speakers accordingly and tin.
Then straighten and cut to size.

[chester]

If a metal rod (ie. brass or copper) is just a bit too small, slide a piece of heat shrink over it to give it more diameter.

[greenie]

Thank you gentlemen, copper it is, and a bit of heat shrink has done the job nicely.

Found some 3/16th inch which has worked out OK.


regards  greenie