How to bend spokes to make stuff
 

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Impressive. Many members have made tools and objects d'Art from spokes. Using the hole in the hub is a good idea, at least to start with. Perhaps a piece of steel with a hole in it might work equally good although it may lack the meaty "handle" f the hub.

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Acme Spoke Bender

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File this under old bike parts used for applications other than cycling. In addition to spokes, I use old tires, tubes, chains, brake/shifter cables, and cable housing for things that are entirely not related to cycling. My most recent re-use is cutting the bead off of foldable tires and using it as rope. The cord in the bead is strong stuff.
Speaking of bending spokes…I can’t find it now, but a couple years ago I was in a pinch and quickly needed a single spoke but had none on hand of the correct length. So, I cut the head off a longer one, and using the vise, hammer, and pliers I bent a small loop in it right at the correct length to function as the head. It worked perfectly. I posted pics of it here in the BFs. A responder posted pics of a manufactured hand tool specifically designed for this task, and a pic of a wheel laced entirely with spokes fashioned in this way.

Dan

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I put a new clutch in my Volvo 242. The reverse lockout ring was connected to the mechanism with a short bicycle spoke, no fooling. I damaged it on disassembly, so I improvised with a bicycle brake cable.

I’ve made many rear view mirrors for eyeglass mounting with spokes.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b368437ba.jpeg

The little bender in the link works great. I had mine out bending staples for garden fabric out of coat hangers. Old inner tubes are cut into ranger bands. I strip old bikes and save parts to help others get there bikes working

Some neat spoke bending going on there! Thanks for sharing!

Cheers!

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