Gun worms

[J.D.]

Rich's qustion about original RR tips got me to wondering if there is a good way to bend the two prongs of gun worms?

I have used needle nose pliers to bend the prongs, but there has got to be a better way.

So, would someone mind sharing how you bend the prongs of those gun worms so beautifully.

Thanks and God bless 

[tlivin]

This is a great guestion as I used needlenose pliers and was doing fine till one of the tines broke off.

[Elnathan]

When I made the first decent one I have managed so far, I used a 1/4" steel rod, filled at the tip so it would fit into the little gap at the base of the tines, as a mandrel to wrap the tines around and heated up the tines before bending. I don't think that they were still red hot when I managed to get everything set up. but they were still hot enough to bend easily with needlenose pliers. The only problem with this method is that the tines are kind of soft on the finished product and therefore somewhat delicate - I guess that ideally you would bend them almost to the proper place while soft, and let them work harden as you finished bending them so they would be springy.

The real problem is getting the screw to line up with the rest of the worm without a lathe.

[rich pierce]

The pros must have a jig for hot twisting them to keep it uniform and concentric.  A thick plate with a pin or bolt sticking out the correct diameter for the inner, open area, with 2 prong holes for the prongs to stick in, might work well for the initial twisting.  Heat the prongs orange, stick the prongs into the prong holes in the plate beside the bolt, and twist the shaft while pushing down.  Freehand the last twist later with another heat.  Maybe?