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Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

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31–40 of 65 posts

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#31
post #29

Sounds like this person just needs a wire nut twister attachment for their power drill tool. Professional electricians use something like this to finish the outlet boxes. https://www.amazon.com/T-Line-Twisting-BOWT-001-Power-Access...

As mentioned in other comments below, the whole point is that I don't want a big unwieldy tool, it should be the size of the gun-type automatic wire strippers.

You can get very small drills, I have a USB powered one with enough torque to twist wires.

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#32
post #2

Why would you even use twisting as connection method for professional work (i.e. not when you just don’t have any proper tools around)? Various quick connectors like Wago exist for temporary connections, and for permanent ones handheld hydraulic crimping presses are not that expensive.

Why are you saying that wagos are for temporary connections?

This seems to be some sort of meme existing in the US electricians mindspace, which prefer use of cheaper wirenuts on twisted wire. Wagos are approved for permanent connections in the whole world.

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#33

I would advise against using this for electrical work. See the internet for "wago vs twisting". Chicken wire, crafting, etc. sure.

You're not twisting electrical wires together to make an electrical connection, it's just to keep a bundle of wires together.

Cable lacing keeps them together without any twisting.

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#34
post #29

Sounds like this person just needs a wire nut twister attachment for their power drill tool. Professional electricians use something like this to finish the outlet boxes. https://www.amazon.com/T-Line-Twisting-BOWT-001-Power-Access...

As mentioned in other comments below, the whole point is that I don't want a big unwieldy tool, it should be the size of the gun-type automatic wire strippers.

Just put this wire nut tightening tool into a 1/4" multi-bit screwdriver. I used that a lot when I was doing electrical work.

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#35
post #25

I'm sure I saw a method of making a circuit that used twisting instead of soldering. Apparently it was used quite a bit in the days gone by. Anyone knows what that night have been?

Probably not what you're talking about, but everyone should know the Lineman's Splice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Union_splice TL;DR: It's a method of joining two wires that won't pull apart under load; the wire will break before the splice comes apart. Add solder, trim any pointy bits, and you have a NASA approved joint.

Looks very similar to knots used to join fishing line, like the blood knot.

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#36
post #25

I'm sure I saw a method of making a circuit that used twisting instead of soldering. Apparently it was used quite a bit in the days gone by. Anyone knows what that night have been?

Are you thinking of "Wire wrap construction" perhaps? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_wrap

Yes! Thanks!

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#37
post #25

I'm sure I saw a method of making a circuit that used twisting instead of soldering. Apparently it was used quite a bit in the days gone by. Anyone knows what that night have been?

Probably not what you're talking about, but everyone should know the Lineman's Splice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Union_splice TL;DR: It's a method of joining two wires that won't pull apart under load; the wire will break before the splice comes apart. Add solder, trim any pointy bits, and you have a NASA approved joint.

Thanks! I had this one and the Wire Wrap somehow linked in my mind but forgotten the name. Must have seen them both described on the same page a long time ago.

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#38

I would advise against using this for electrical work. See the internet for "wago vs twisting". Chicken wire, crafting, etc. sure.

You're not twisting electrical wires together to make an electrical connection, it's just to keep a bundle of wires together.

The twisting is in fact part of the electrical connection. On a good wire nut connection the wire nut is just insulating the bundle and if it falls off the bundle is still secure.

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#39

This seems to basically already exist. The safety wire twister pliers probably won't have enough leverage for solid core household wiring especially compared to a cordless drill. Drill Powered Wire Twister and Stripper That Has Gone Viral https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxyTou4pMqQ

I've seen these but I wanted something hand powered for the 24~14awg range. The target use-case isn't houseold wiring as Wago's or real terminals are better for that anyway. It's more for smaller low-voltage hobby projects, chicken wire, making twisted pairs, etc.

It seems like toward the smaller end of that range but a wire wrap tool with a scaled version of that bit might be along the lines of what you're after. Wire wrap is meant to go around a long relatively rigid pin as the host for the wrapped wire.

https://jonard.com/network-it/wire-wrap-tools

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#40

This seems to basically already exist. The safety wire twister pliers probably won't have enough leverage for solid core household wiring especially compared to a cordless drill. Drill Powered Wire Twister and Stripper That Has Gone Viral https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxyTou4pMqQ

I've seen these but I wanted something hand powered for the 24~14awg range. The target use-case isn't houseold wiring as Wago's or real terminals are better for that anyway. It's more for smaller low-voltage hobby projects, chicken wire, making twisted pairs, etc.

Also I've had good success with just chucking multiple strands wire into a regular drill to make twisted pairs when needed.
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