How to make a swivel

[PeelsBells]

I have been asked several times how do i make swivels so here it goes.
First buy what material you want to make the swivel out of i started to make mine out of brass.

1.Get you self a piece of stainless bar about 12 inches long any model shop will cost about 50p. Drill a hole in one end to feed you piece of brass bar through as in the this photo.

2.Next drag the piece of brass around the bar to make a coil as tight as you can as this will make the loop on the end of the swivel.
This is shown in photo No 2

3.Get a junior saw and cut through all the loops.
This is shown in photo No3

4.The end result is the loops as shown.
This is shown in photo No 4

5. get a file and clean the loops to except a rivet later

[PeelsBells]

Next you need to make the base.

1. I got a piece of alloy block and drilled three hows in it the size of swivel i needed, at one end i put a grub screw to hold in place. Make sure the three holes are even and that when the bar is pushed through it is flush with one end as in picture No1.

2. Drill the three holes on a piller drill will cost about £22 BQ in picture No2

3.Once drilled saw off excess material and clean up both ends of brass bar.This is shown in picture No3

4.Picture No4 is the end result

[PeelsBells]

Right now for the hard part to make the jig for the vice, i used mild steel for my first jig easy to come by and not expensive. Measure you vice and make two plates. Then make the shape of the head of the swivel which the brass needs to be bent round.

1.The jigs are in photo number No1.

2.Screw the new jigs to the vice and place a piece of brass between them which has been cut to lengh, when closing the vice the shape of brass bar will take shape infront off you.
See picture No 2

3.Once the shape has taken place this then will fit in to the bar which you made earlier.
See picture No3

[PeelsBells]

Now to make the rivet i have a lathe to make mine but you can buy rivets from abbey saddlery or any horse riding company. Its just i am too tight to buy them lol.

I have shown a picture of me making them on the lathe

[PeelsBells]

Next you put all your parts together and solder with silver or weld if you are making them out of stainless .
I am not making them for production but just for my birds and when i sell young birds as i like to have all equipment on them made by myself.
Its just a nice touch when some one comes a buys a bird that they go away with a full set up and knowing that the equipment is of a good standard:lol:

Well hope you understand what the principles are and that anyone can make them its not that hard and it will cost you pence to set up.
All it is, is time and effort once jigged you can make alot in one day and stainless is not that expensive any more just have a go.

Just like to say Merry Christmas and i hope every one has a Excellent New Year.

Regards

Andy:supz:


Ps heres some i made earlier stainless, brass ,chrome.

[Owl]

they look really well made spot on job have a good new year,all the best for 2010 makin your swivels.atb,tony.

[FlameHairedFalconer]

Thanks for posting this thread! Not something I would tackle myself but very interesting to see how it is done! :supz:

[Tommy No Mates]

Andy thankyou for the tuition,you make it look easy.ATVB TNM

[PeelsBells]

they look really well made spot on job have a good new year,all the best for 2010 makin your swivels.atb,tony.


Cheers mate just though i would show people how to make them, it would be good to see how other people make theres.
Just to give more ideas to everyone.

[Osiris]

absolute quality thread Andy, good going! brill instructions set out, not that i'd be able to do it mind! lol

cheers

[OutHawkn]

Very interesting.....Thanks

[Bueteoman]

Andy, you have talent beyond belief. Very impressive.:supz:
atb Nige

[PeelsBells]

Thanks for all your comments, just trying to help people understand the basics of making things. Nothing is that hard to do just need time and make mistakes as you go along, but learn by your mistakes.
Heres a picture of a bow perch i have just made if people want i will do a thread how to make them as well.

[Eric B]

very good gives you a good insight makes you think what your paying for.

[Joey]

excellent i always wondered how you should make alsorts mate like them high perches i think you would make a decent bit of money out of it

all the best


joey

[HunterPaul]

Thanks for all your comments, just trying to help people understand the basics of making things. Nothing is that hard to do just need time and make mistakes as you go along, but learn by your mistakes.
Heres a picture of a bow perch i have just made if people want i will do a thread how to make them as well.

andy a thread on any of your quality products will always be well recieved... PAul

[PeelsBells]

excellent i always wondered how you should make alsorts mate like them high perches i think you would make a decent bit of money out of it

all the best


joey

I just make things when bored dont want to go into production carnt do enough bells when the season starts. Should be making them now so i have stock but always find something else todo or make. I made a pneumatic air rifle .25 but got told that you needed a licence to make them. I made it at work copied a ripley design pulled it apart and made hammer and trigger which i designed myself so came away from there design so i didnt get done for copy right. Was thinking of selling them at one stage but like i said the law is the law and decided it was to much to go into.
The gun i made was out of stainless steel for the pneumatic chamber and the barrel was taken from an old air arms as my lathe is not accurate enough and also gun metal was hard to come by. I still make silencers for my air arms always changing designs. I do this as silences are to expensive for what they are. Springs and washers etc....
The air rifle was quite heavy but was perfect for what i wanted.
Whats the price for a ripley light weight hunter now adays, when you could make one in your garage for less than £50 :oops: buts thats another story.

[OutHawkn]

Thanks for all your comments, just trying to help people understand the basics of making things. Nothing is that hard to do just need time and make mistakes as you go along, but learn by your mistakes.
Heres a picture of a bow perch i have just made if people want i will do a thread how to make them as well.

Yes...PLEASE:supz:

[PeelsBells]

Yes...PLEASE:supz:

I will make a thread in the new year as i am back in work and will take photos of the jig, bow perches, are easy to make all it is a plate with dowls in, two dowls in the beginning and dowls postioned in an arch so you can bend round the steel thats it lol. But i will put something together so its easy to understand and anyone can do it.:lol:

[Coney]

you should try your hand at a ring perch andy, if you manage it i'll have one off you! at a discount of course!!

[PeelsBells]

you should try your hand at a ring perch andy, if you manage it i'll have one off you! at a discount of course!!

What i may do is have a crack in the new year if they are easy to make i will do a thread and you could make one yourself how does that sound ;)
I would probably make a couple and get bored, lets leave it to the guys for the game fair lol.:lol:

[HallBeck]

Brilliant thread!

[Rudy]

Very nice Andy !! Please tell me what process you use for your solder/welding ?? Do you use TIG or oxy/acetylene. Do you have then chrome plated ? I would love to try this as I have a everything except TIG. I don't think my experience will allow me to weld stainless that small dia. with an stick/electrode. Much appreciated & best wishes for the new year !!!

[Jacob]

Easy when you no how,used to get mine of a guy local to me,who made his own, excellent quality and very well made.

[Wilfred]

Thanks for all your comments, just trying to help people understand the basics of making things. Nothing is that hard to do just need time and make mistakes as you go along, but learn by your mistakes.
Heres a picture of a bow perch i have just made if people want i will do a thread how to make them as well.

That would also be interesting for sure as i think there has not been really a thread on here about how to make stainless steel bow perches really yourself..and I myself would be interested to know what kind of padding that is in picture it seems like rope but not sure?

[Dave G]

Very good Andy top thread was impressed with your workshop and setup when i came over ;) and look forward to your workshop threads :supz:

[ArnoudH]

Thanks Andy for sharing this.

So you still do make bells?
I'm curious abourt the development with the beryllium (black) ones.
How are the experiences now?
You still make them?

Regards, Arnoud

[PeelsBells]

That would also be interesting for sure as i think there has not been really a thread on here about how to make stainless steel bow perches really yourself..and I myself would be interested to know what kind of padding that is in picture it seems like rope but not sure?

Hi Wilfred you are correct that is rope from a sailing shop rapped around and held in place. Very easy to remove and clean and replace. Lasts a very long time ,i have been using this design since i started. I was shown by Ken Thomas who started me into falconry.I know that we have moved on to rubber but just find i like rope. It doesnt slip or move when fitted correctly just my personnal preference.

[PeelsBells]

Thanks Andy for sharing this.

So you still do make bells?
I'm curious abourt the development with the beryllium (black) ones.
How are the experiences now?
You still make them?

Regards, Arnoud

Not made black ones since i have moved house, i need to find a plating shop near to me as i would have to travel some distance to go to my old plating shop and it wouldnt be cost effective.
I found that the plating was mis match. It depended who was on at the time and this determind how the bells turned out. So i had bells which turned out with excellent coating and others were the coating was rubbing off on the leather work. Which wasnt good for me also if too much plating was on this would dull the bell, but over time the sound would come back due to the coating being worn away.
So yes i will be making them again but not until i find a company who can produce a product which i find exceptable.

[PeelsBells]

Very nice Andy !! Please tell me what process you use for your solder/welding ?? Do you use TIG or oxy/acetylene. Do you have then chrome plated ? I would love to try this as I have a everything except TIG. I don't think my experience will allow me to weld stainless that small dia. with an stick/electrode. Much appreciated & best wishes for the new year !!!

Hi Rude
If using brass, i have been using silver solder and using just a normal burner which you can pick up from any DIY shop. I just dropped mine and replaced it from B&Q for £5 this is the auto start one. So very cheap and gets up to temp well using butaine. I always chrome the brass swivels just to make them look nice and its very hard wearing. Its very cheap to chrome over here for 100 swivels will cost between £7 & £10 depending on which company you use.
Stainless steel i use mig in work or tig at home you can use both just make sure you use 304 grade stainless which i find the best and is very cheap to buy.Just turn your set down and try and not produce to much heat as this will case saturation of the metal and may in the future case fatigue.Remember you are only welding in 3 places 2 were the loop goes through and one for the rivet to the ring .
I am probably telling you to suck eggs, i am sorry if i am.
If you are going to do production get your self jigged up you can make 30 in a day, remember you will need to make 4 jigs for differnet sizes and also if you want them round top or flat top.Only one side of the jig needs making for round and top this is the male side.As the female is the same.

[Jacob]

Hi Wilfred you are correct that is rope from a sailing shop rapped around and held in place. Very easy to remove and clean and replace. Lasts a very long time ,i have been using this design since i started. I was shown by Ken Thomas who started me into falconry.I know that we have moved on to rubber but just find i like rope. It doesnt slip or move when fitted correctly just my personnal preference.
That's who i used to get my equipment off Ken,great bloke and really helped me a lot when i started out,i believe he packed it all in a good few years ago,he bred harrises didn't he.

[Odanata]

a very interesting thread, I have wondered many times how they are made. I would like to and probably will have go one day but doubt I would trust my own in use so just an experiment or two use on a lure etc.
Thanks for taking the time to post all these and I would be very keen to see any other similar threads.


Dave

[Scots_Harris_Hawk]

Great to see how Swivels are made , Although i will not be trying this at home !!!!!
Top Thread :supz:
cheers james

[PeelsBells]

That's who i used to get my equipment off Ken,great bloke and really helped me a lot when i started out,i believe he packed it all in a good few years ago,he bred harrises didn't he.
Its the same man he has retired from the harris hawks and making things he works for Orange now. I bought my first bird of Ken and he shown me how to make bells right at the beginning and took me under his wing for several seasons till he packed in.He is a very nice bloke still see Ken and Val.

[TommyT]

Very intresting and top quality tread and swivles ,look forward to see how you make them Bow Perches mate Thanks :wink:

[Markus]

Great thread will deff be giving it a go though may get someone else to weld them
Mark.:supz:

[PeelsBells]

Great thread will deff be giving it a go though may get someone else to weld them
Mark.:supz:
Mark if you are making them out of brass i would use silver solder and you could use a burner from BQ like i use for the joint. They are so easy to make and once you are jigged up you can make as many as you like.
Give it it a go and lets see the end result.

[Leilagsd]

i used to make them in brass years ago now iv'e just started making them in stainless the only difference is i use flat bar with 3 holes in and the rivet end grind to a point and braze a 3mm nut on. also i made a bending tool to make the eyes and loop

paul

[PeelsBells]

i used to make them in brass years ago now iv'e just started making them in stainless the only difference is i use flat bar with 3 holes in and the rivet end grind to a point and braze a 3mm nut on. also i made a bending tool to make the eyes and loop

paul
Paul put you design up to show others every little helps. LOL

[Leilagsd]

Paul put you design up to show others every little helps. LOL

in a couple of days busy curing 5 fox skins for someone at the moment
by the way im using 3.2mm stainless so made a special type of bending tool i tried winding it round like brass but could'nt keep it even

paul

[Falcon_Falcon]

Brill thread, thanks for posting

[Jiff]

another top thread andy, however i will not be running out to buy the tools and equipment required to make my own swivels if thats ok;-)

[Nemanjaz]

beautiful pictures

[GregGarrett]

top thread i think ill just be buying them though :lol:

[PeelsBells]

top thread i think ill just be buying them though :lol:
Just have a go you dont need a lathe as you can buy the rivets they are very cheap from any wholesaler.
All the rest can be done in your garage.

[Bill Blackwolf Costales]

That was cool,thank you for showing it.:P

[Gozzhawk]

how do you test the finished swivel for strength, faults etc??
magic thread by the way

[Stuart]

Next you put all your parts together and solder with silver or weld if you are making them out of stainless .
I am not making them for production but just for my birds and when i sell young birds as i like to have all equipment on them made by myself.
Its just a nice touch when some one comes a buys a bird that they go away with a full set up and knowing that the equipment is of a good standard:lol:

Well hope you understand what the principles are and that anyone can make them its not that hard and it will cost you pence to set up.
All it is, is time and effort once jigged you can make alot in one day and stainless is not that expensive any more just have a go.

Just like to say Merry Christmas and i hope every one has a Excellent New Year.

Regards

Andy:supz:


Ps heres some i made earlier stainless, brass ,chrome.

niceone would love a workshop kitted out wth lathe n stuff to do that kind of work bells swivels blocks bows nice job mate.

[Fergie768]

What a great thread Thank you

[birdtalk]

:idea::idea::idea::supz:

[HawkMom]

In the US, Steve Little and Bill Snell made the best stainless swivels. I think they were cut from pipe, then welded. I still have mine 20 plus years later. Beautiful craftmanship.