Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Tutorials & "How To’s" ... => Topic started by: John W E on April 26, 2006, 08:57:48 pm

Title: HOW TO MAKE A SMALL SHACKLE
Post by: John W E on April 26, 2006, 08:57:48 pm
Hi All

... here we go must keep the boss 'Martin' happy ?;D

I make a lot of small fittings out of Bell wire - which I purchase from (dare I advertise ?? well B & Q diy store - for our continental cousins & our cousins over the pond) you get about 25 metres for about ?4 which normally lasts me about a year - hooks, railings, rigging, uses endless.

First of all, I cut off about 300mm and strip the insulation off.

I then stretch the wire by fastening one end in the vice and gently pull with pliers on the other end, this gives a reasonably straight length of wire - now for the build of the shackle...If you look on the drawing, beside each diagram there is a piece made from copper wire- these are about 3 times the size of the actual shackle and at the bottom of the page (if you can make it out) you will see the exact sizes of the finished shackle which I made. ? On my latest model there are about 40 of these little shackles made just for the rigging alone.

Hope you understand all my garble.....

Aye
John E
Bluebird

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Title: Re: HOW TO MAKE A SMALL SHACKLE
Post by: flag-d on April 26, 2006, 10:26:32 pm
Hi John

Wish I'd thought of this before I bought some (just the memory of what they cost gives me the shivers!).

Mike
Title: Re: HOW TO MAKE A SMALL SHACKLE
Post by: MikeK on May 03, 2006, 09:10:49 am
Hi John,
When I built my 1/24 Thames barge, I used dressmakers hooks and eyes to attach the jibs etc. Just twisted (carefully!) the eye shoulders through 90deg and hey presto a bow shackle, used some spare soft metal wire snipped off and superglued across the lugs as the pins. Never did find any use for the small pile of hooks left over tho !
best regards
MikeK
Title: Re: HOW TO MAKE A SMALL SHACKLE
Post by: John R Haynes on May 03, 2006, 10:20:33 am
I use my PE  stanchions in 18 thou brass. I  cut one so as to include two holes , this  is then bent to shape, easy.
Title: Re: HOW TO MAKE A SMALL SHACKLE
Post by: malcolmfrary on May 03, 2006, 11:26:24 pm
Hi Bluebird - a bit more for straightening copper wire - when pulling it after fixing one end in the vice, put about 3 twists per foot into it.  Rather than use pliers, I hold it in a hand drill chuck.  Not only do you get straight wire, but it will be considerably stiffer as well.
Title: Re: HOW TO MAKE A SMALL SHACKLE
Post by: John W E on January 27, 2007, 07:46:49 pm
Hi there tigertiger

here is revised drawing which I hope is of some help - unfortunately, I have misplaced the original.

Aye
John E
BLUEBIRD