Bending Wire Struts For Retractable Gears??
 

HOW DO I BEND WIRE STRUTS PROPERLY WITHOUT BREAKING THEM, DO YOU GET THEM RED HOT IN FIRE LIKE THEY USE TO MOLD METAL IN THE PAST, DON'T LAUGH @ ME, AS YOU CAN TELL I AM A NEWBIE, I WAS TRYING TO BEND A STRUT, I PLACE IT IN A VICE AND USE A HAMMER TO BEND IT AND TO MY HORROR,GUESS WHAT HAPPENED, IT BROKE, NOW MY PROJECT IS GOING TO BE DELAYED, ALSO CAN SOMEONE TELL ME IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO PERCHASE THESE HEAVY DUTY WIRES LIKE YOU DO BUY PUSHRODS, SO I CAN MAKE MY OWN STRUTS???

Bending Wire Struts For Retractable Gears??
 

Don't get the wire red hot. That will take the heat treatment out of it and it will no longer have spring tension. You really need a wire bender. I used to use a lathe turned by hand to make bends. Hitting it (as you have found) can just break it.

Bending Wire Struts For Retractable Gears??
 

can you recommend a wire bender and can you perchase wires to make struts minnflyer???

Bending Wire Struts For Retractable Gears??
 

I did a quick search and here's what i came up with:

http://www.ehobbies.com/1000-8890.html

I'm not sure of this particular one, but it looks like others I've seen. Your LHS should have the wire.

Bending Wire Struts For Retractable Gears??
 

thanks again minnflyer, the hobby shop in my area is limited when it comes to such items, they order certain items for you, so i just mail order most of my rc items. i will checkout ehobbies asap i also post a thread for such items if i can't get responses then i will certainly go to ehobbies , rc uni has been very great when it comes to finding many of what i want.