2ballcain357 Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction to find information on how to wire wrap a piece to hide a weld? I have ran searches on IFI and the web, I have found many pictures of it and a lot of info on chain mail and wrapping with flat stock, which is great info but not really what I am looking for. I have attached a pic from the Internet (this is not my work) of what I am talking about just in case I am calling this process by the wrong name. I tried this on my own with 14ga wire and well... I am too embarrassed to show you that adventure lol. My biggest question is how to get the ends so nicely "tucked"? Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Frog Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 That is copper wrap in your pic. It is a LOT easier wrapping copper than it is wrapping steel of the same diameter..... Do you have a O/A torch set? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ballcain357 Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Black frog, yes I have an O/A torch. I know that is copper wire but I have seen pics of other materials as well... This pics was just to make sure I was calling it correctly. I have tried rebar wire and it wrapped ok as well as some galvanized wire that I removed the galvinize from... I just can't get the dang ends tuck in lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeddly Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Maybe you could make the ends longer, and just fish them through and trim the excess? There are alot of different wraps out there. I would imagine that the 550 cord wrapping techniques could be applied to wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ballcain357 Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Jeddly, I didn't even think to look at paracord wrappings thank you.. I searched 550 cord wrapping and found a couple images on how that is wrapped. I will have to try and see if that will work on wire... Not sure on fishing it through the wrap and pulling it back down... But hey I wont find out if I don't try... Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 An ancient technique for preventing the ends of ropes from "unravling", ... is commonly known as "Whipping". The basic technique, can be adapted to just about any sort of "strand", being wrapped around anything else, ... with the ends of the strand trapped under the wrap.. From the "silk" used to attach the "eyes" or "guides" onto a Fishing Rod, ... right up to 1/2" round bar, wrapped around a timber or spar, to prevent splitting, ... are all variations of the basic technique. Soft Iron "Mechanics Wire", ... in the lighter guages, ... can be "tied" in this fashion, ... and when oiled before jerking the ends of the Whipping tight, ... streches down nice and smooth. GOOGLE "Rope End Whipping" for lots of "how to" data, and video ..... . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenylittlemetalguy Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Smooth bore, that was neat to see rope whipping, thanks. It really doesn't address the ends though. If you did that with iron wire you would still have the end sticking out of at least one side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdaleh Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I tuck one end under and wrap over it and the other end taper and work tight againstwhat im wraping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenylittlemetalguy Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 One end tucked under to start seems easy enough but I don't understand the other side? Taper and work tight? Can you clarify? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdaleh Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Taper the end to around a 45 use smooth jaw pliers and work it around what iam wraping so the long end of taper is againts what im wraping so it cant catch anything or be felt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenylittlemetalguy Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Ahh, I see, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Smooth/dress any weld down to be flush with the surfaces at both sides of the join. Then you could try forging one end of the wire to suit the gap on the joint you wish to wrap, bend into a small right angle towards the tip, and lay this into the void in the joint, This should give the smooth appearance at one end you require, Proceed to wrap the joint progressively and tightly using localised heat (oxy/acet) and suitable tongs. At the end of the wrap, cut off any surplus (from the centreline of the join plus a small allowance, say half the width of one of the bars being joined) then using tongs, bend this end to the centreline of the joint, and then using a small punch, punch the free end into the joint's gap to match the beginning of the wrap. You may have to try a couple of times to get the technique to work for you. Hope this makes some sort of sense and helps, have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Think hangman's noose. http://www.realknots.com/knots/noose.htm With your joint cleaned smooth lay a hairpin shaped section of wire along the joint with some of the loop above the end of the portion to be covered. Starting from the far end of the hairpin bend wrap closely and reasonably tightly. When the wraps reach the exposed loop insert the end of the wrap through, draw the eye close, trim the standing end and pull the eye into the wraps. The reason suggest a hangman's not is it has ANOTHER eye at the far end. YES, you got it in one, the noose insert the end you just pulled to draw the other eye closed through the noose and draw it closed. Heat it all to approx 450f and when it cools it'll be tighter than the dickens, do this at red heat and the wire will stretch and never get tight. Okay, this isn't actually THE solution but it's THE place to start to develop the wrap with hidden ends. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ballcain357 Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 Thank you, to all of you for all of this information..I think I have enough tips and wisdom from you all to give this another go and most likely find a few more ways of how to not do this ha ha. Thank you all again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Bill Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 what smoothbore described is a fascinating technique well worth learning. My dad taught me how to wrap the ferrule part of golf club heads (linen string, not wire) and recall he called it "whipping". I've used it with much success with copper wire, mechanic's wire would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNewman Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 The other option is to use heavier stock for your wrap. 3/16"-3/8" and forge a decorative end on the ends of your wrap. A small scroll, leaf or something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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