Needle-threading thingies

[Steve Maskery]

I would like to make one of those needle-threading thingies. It's a loop of wire that you poke through the needle, giving you a much larger hole through which you can get the thread. The wire then drags the thread back through the eye.

Does anyone have any idea what would yield a suitable piece of wire? I have a roll of iron wire, but it is a bitt too thick and quite brittle. I need something finer and quite springy. I've been through my boxes of bits and everything is either too thick or too soft.

Any ideas, anyone?

Cheers
Steve

 

[AndyT]

I think I'd invest a pound and buy one!

http://www.johnlewis.com/230859335/Product.aspx

 

[Steve Maskery]

Well yes, it's pretty much the conclusion I'm coming to. Cannibalise a commercial one.
I want it to look nice, though. A piece of cocobolo or bubinga or something like that. Monogrammed. It's a Thank You pressie for a friend.
S

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Steve, cannibalizing a commercial one is certainly easiest if you can get the wire out of the handle but I wonder if there's a hobby shop near by that has stuff for model airplane builders. They might have some suitable wire. And if you're going to make one, you might as well make several.

If it weren't a gift, I would just tell you the easy way to thread the needle so you don't need one of those thingummys.

 

[Steve Maskery]

That's a good idea, there is one in Beeston, I'd not thought of modelling.

If it weren't a gift, I would just tell you the easy way to thread the needle so you don't need one of those thingummys.

Go on then, I'll bite.

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Take the thread and wrap it tightly around the needle. Slide the thread of the needle and as you do so, pinch the bight in the thread tight and flat. Shove that bight through the eye of the needle. Pull it through until an end comes through and you're done.

You'll end up with thread going through the eye the same way the threader will pull it, by the bight. I tried to find an image showing this. I'm surprised that I couldn't.

 

[barkwindjammer]

If you know someone with an electric guitar Steve-just nip along for a coffee and take a pair of nail clippers with you-while they're in the kitchen brewing up just nip a small section off the skinny 'E' string where it protrudes from the tuning key-seemples

 

[pren]

It might be possible to get some suitable wire from some thin braided wire cable? Unbraided, it might yield something useable.

 

[Steve Maskery]

The guitar idea I like. I wonder what my mate Bob will say...

I did try a couple of pieces of unbraided wire. Too soft.

I've ended up making the body of this ting and hoping I can get a bought wire thingy to fit it. If not, well I've had a pleasant couple of hours in my workshop.

Thanks for all the ideas, much appreciated.

Cheers
Steve

 

[jpt]

If you have a Hobbycraft or similar they do very thin spring wire which would do the job perfectly. I should be going to one tomorrow so I will have a look and see what they have.

Thats a good idea you had there do you mind if I pinch it as well?

john

 

[Anonymous]

fishing line.

 

[toysandboats]

I use fuse wire - you must have some around somewhere Steve!

David

 

[woodbloke]

Does anyone have any idea what would yield a suitable piece of wire? I have a roll of iron wire, but it is a bitt too thick and quite brittle. I need something finer and quite springy. I've been through my boxes of bits and everything is either too thick or too soft.

Any ideas, anyone?

Cheers
Steve

Steve, haven't got a scoobies what you're on about, but have you thought about guitar strings? No1 son changed the strings on his cottonpickin' geetar over the hols and I was at a loss with what to with the old ones...they ended up in the bin. Good thing is that guitar strings are available in loads of different types and gauges so you ought to be able to find something to suit
Edit - seen someone has suggested this route already, but it's the one I'd investigate...interested in the bandsaw tenon jig, may send you a PM later on - Rob

 

[Setch]

Yep - as suggested, a fine gauge guitar string would do the trick. You want the thinnest high E string you can get, .008 would probably be the thinnest you'll find commonly available.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Well I've cannibalised a commercial one. Not sure if it is OK as I left it half done last night and have spent today moving speedily between bed and bathroom. Not done anything. It's now just about blown over, but as I've spent most of the day asleep, I now feel like getting up, just as it's bedtime proper. I still have aches on my aches, though. I hate being ill.
S

 

[maltrout512]

For the price..http://www.lakelandflytying.com/2833/pr ... eader.aspx I think this is what you need

 

[Steve Maskery]

I just thought I'd give an update.

I did make one, out of solid walnut, but my 3mm router cutter does not cut deep enough to accommodate the loop of wire, so it gets squashed.

I could fabricate the thing, but I really think I might just buy her a bunch of flowers!
S