Hook and Clevis from Solder

[MeatMan]

I didn't find these on the site so if it's a repeat I apologize.

I needed tow hooks and a clevis for my Land Cruiser so I came up with the idea of using solder. It's pretty simple. For the hook, I started with .062 solder and bent it into a hook. I then flattened it a bit. Next, I used a hobby knife to trim it as close to what I wanted the finished product to look like. After that I filed the hook to the finished product.

The clevis was a bit more difficult, I used a smaller solder, about 1/16" and using looping pliers I bent it into shape using a picture as a reference. It took about four tries each time to get what I wanted. You have to be careful not to hold the pliers too tight, as the solder tended to flatten quite easily, and I'm heavy handed. It also could have been because it was flux core solder.

For the clevis pin I used a shorter piece and flattened the end and filed it even. When I got the clevis on the bumper I added a drop of CA to hold the pin in place.

 

Edited September 19, 2016 by MeatMan

[peteski]

Clevis, I mean clever idea!

Edited September 20, 2016 by peteski

[landman]

Great scratchbuilding. Thanks for sharing.

[Tesla]

Thanks for sharing...I'll definitely try my luck making a clevis.

[TarheelRick]

Very nice idea.  I wonder if an appropriate size beading wire would also work.

[Darren B]

super clean work thank you for sharing.....

[Art Anderson]

Very nice idea.  I wonder if an appropriate size beading wire would also work.

Yes, it would--either the brass or the copper wire.  For ease in working it, simply anneal it (take a piece of the stuff, hold in a pair of smooth pliers, and run the wire through the flame of your kitchen stove--just to red heat, let cool down--it becomes nearly as soft as solder--not to mention the very wide range of gauges that are available.

Art

[MeatMan]

You're welcome guys. The brass is a great idea. I might try it myself.