I’m working on a 1:35 scale model that requires me to make handles for tool chests and other items out of narrow guage brass rod. The hand grabs of the handles will be about 3mm long and straight. So, I need something that will make 90 degree angles out of narrow guage rods that are about 5mm in total length. What tool and brand would you recommend that I use for this? Thanks for any suggestions. Barrett
Barrett, I’ve used needlenose pliers for jobs like this. That and some hemostats should enable a good clean bend. Good luck!
Gary
I have a machinists vice. Marvelous tool.
A machinist’s vise for 5mm long narrow brass rods? I’m impressed that you can get it to bite the rod tightly enough to get a good bend. You’re in the space I’m thinking about, though. I want something stationary. I’m not sure I can get uniform lengths on both ends using pliers. But I hope there’s something smaller out there and designed for this particular kind of application.
I find needle nose pliers great for grab irons and similar. I find and mark the point where the jaws are equal in width to the inside dimension between the bends, grab a piece of the brass rod/wire, and bend down on both sides of jaws. Then I cut the ends to length.
Sometimes I have cut a piece of hardwood to the right width, hold rod/wire over piece and bend down on each side. If you are doing a bunch that needs to be exactly same size, this prevents worrying about getting the piece in the exact point on jaws of needle nose.
For larger grab irons I try to get unhardened brass rod, or else use copper wired. This makes bending the larger sizes easier.