Member Submitted Tutorial
Published by kelly
March 3rd, 2008
Making Consistent Screw Locks - Rev. 1.0
Making Consistent Screw Locks – Rev. 1.0
By Kelly
To make consistent screw locks, Kelly made a couple of home tools shown below.
Kelly fabricated a piece of aluminum by drilling a 5/32” hole and cutting a slot to the edge for the wire to feed to the screwdriver. The screwdriver also has a cut along the handle to assist in holding the wire.
This side view shows how the cut in the piece of aluminum goes to the hole that was drilled. The wire will feed through this slot to the screwdriver. The slot in the screw driver is cut using 1/64 cutting blade in a Dremel. Then I put a slightly larger wire than 0.026 wire that I will use. Maybe a 0.030 wire then hit it with a hammer making a cup, so the wire slides in and won't pop out when you twist it. The wire I like to use is the mig welder wire 0.026, with no problem of corrosion yet.
Kelly explains, “I bend the 90 first sliding it into the screwdriver bending it then twist it in the peace of aluminum twisting it backwards so the plastic will screw on righty-tighty. I like to leave the last bend out and bend it loading it in the mold running it down the hook.”
Here you can see how the coils fit into the mold and ready for lead.
I think I should add a few things because of all the interest. The slot in the screw driver is cut using 1/64 cutting blade in a dremel. Then I put a slightly larger wire than 0.026 wire that I will use. Maybe a 0.030 wire then hit it with a hammer making a cup, so the wire slides in and won't pop out when you twist it. The wire I like to use is the mig welder wire 0.026, with no problem of corrosion yet. Thank you spike-a-pike for helping me make this. If you make this addition too the tutorial magically appear, Thank you again.
I had not worked on this project in some time but as soon as I get a chance it will use the information up date to go a little further.... Using a good old "Hand Drill" keeps popping in my mind when it comes to this subject ??
JSC
I had not worked on this project in some time but as soon as I get a chance it will use the information up date to go a little further.... Using a good old "Hand Drill" keeps popping in my mind when it comes to this subject ??
JSC
While a hand drill would work, it would mean having to mount the aluminum block to keep it from moving because the hand drill required two hands (if your talking about the old egg beater type drill). The nice thing about Kelly's screw lock maker is you can take it into the house and talk or watch tv with the family while you make screw locks. Just food for thought.