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'Posable' wire
Slimy38 - 14/7/17 at 09:31 AM

I'm after a description of something so I can google it and hopefully buy it. The easiest way is to show a picture;




This is a phone mount with flexible arms that can be moved, but stay in place to hold the phone. I'm trying to find an equivalent of the legs, but just in one long length. I'm guessing it's some sort of plastic covered stiff wire, but I'm not sure what you'd call it. It doesn't need to be ribbed like the phone holder, but it does need to be of a decent length and price per metre.

I've been looking at foam hair curlers (too weak), coated foam wire for holding plants up (again, too weak), but nothing seems to match.

As a guide, it needs to be able to carry about 500 grams of weight on one of the legs, when mounted on the wall. I'm planning on a pair of legs carrying an xbox controller. I might actually resort to buying one of those spiders and chopping it up, but I'd prefer to buy the material in a raw form if possible.

Any ideas?


Toys2 - 14/7/17 at 10:02 AM

What you describe sounds a little like "pipe cleaners" often used by kids on craft projects, these normally only come in 300mm lengths though
Also not sure if they would be strong enough

Pipe Cleaners Chenille Craft Stems 30cm 12" Lots of Colours Pipe cleaner


Could you use "piano wire", it's just spring steel wire available in all sorts of diameters, sold in meter lengths, maybe sleeved with heatshrink tube if it needs to be a little more chunky
It would be more - bend it once into position though, so may not be suitable if you need to re-position it frequently

[Edited on 14/7/17 by Toys2]


Slimy38 - 14/7/17 at 10:08 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Toys2
What you describe sounds a little like "pipe cleaners" often used by kids on craft projects, these normally only come in 300mm lengths though

Pipe Cleaners Chenille Craft Stems 30cm 12" Lots of Colours Pipe cleaner


Yes, that's the sort of thing, but it needs to be a lot stronger. Enough to stick out about 4 inches and carry a controller. If they had coathanger wire inside then that would be perfect!


nick205 - 14/7/17 at 10:13 AM

Search on ebay for smartphone holders - lots out there and they're cheap too. I have one with a suction cup on it for windscreen mounting.


gremlin1234 - 14/7/17 at 10:49 AM

could you use main cable? (not flex)
you could even have a thick spine then separating into thinner legs


Slater - 14/7/17 at 11:18 AM

I would suggest you visit your local power coating companies with some coat hangers and other similar wires and see if they can help you.

I'm not sure how flexible the powder coating is but they might have some experience in doing this sort of thing. Maybe there is a special "rubber" mix they can use instead of the regular coating.


loggyboy - 14/7/17 at 11:35 AM

Poundland had something similar in the DIY section some time ago. advertised as roof rack brackets IIRC.


Theshed - 14/7/17 at 12:16 PM

What about a few sections of this stuff

https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/flexible-coolant-pipe-1ft-1-2?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=809062969&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk -eLnOCI1QIVzantCh063gVdEAQYASABEgKV4_D_BwE


bonzoronnie - 14/7/17 at 12:58 PM

Coat hanger wire covered in shrink wrap tube.

If you want a soft finish, cover the wire with neoprene tube.

Kinda like this stuff Ebay item no: 252034508674 , not the cheapest tube but you may be able to find a shorter length cheaper elsewhere.


tomduffield13 - 14/7/17 at 02:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Poundland had something similar in the DIY section some time ago. advertised as roof rack brackets IIRC.


These are the type that poundland had in:

https://www.amazon.com/Twist-Store-Heavy-Fasteners-Organizing/dp/B00NP3BKF8

Amazon USA, i know, but i'm sure something similar can be bought here too.

If it's only a couple you need, i've got a bag full of the pound land ones somewhere.

Edit: Here are some UK versions: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-60318-Twist-Tie-Set/dp/B0080R1QGC/ref=pd_cp_201_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2GEMQYHPADPQWDE56W93

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Henai-Multifunction-50cm-Twist-Multi-color/dp/B01DIVWH6M/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_60_lp_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=G7AD53 E9T21Q9QMC8BY2

[Edited on 14/7/17 by tomduffield13]

[Edited on 14/7/17 by tomduffield13]

[Edited on 14/7/17 by tomduffield13]


ian locostzx9rc2 - 14/7/17 at 06:40 PM

I use the Poundland ties for holding car parts when I'm working on cars


Madinventions - 15/7/17 at 11:11 AM

I've got a Joby Gorillapod tripod for my SLR camera which is similar. It's pretty sturdy stuff and can hold up a decent sized SLR camera with zoom lens.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Joby-GorillaPod-SLR-Zoom-Tripod-Cameras/d p/B000KFRSG4

You can make your own version of these using the segmented hose often used for coolant feeds on milling machines and lathes too:
http://www.filtermist.co.uk/products/coolant-control/loc-line-mod ular-hose.aspx

Ed.


Slimy38 - 15/7/17 at 01:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by bonzoronnie
Coat hanger wire covered in shrink wrap tube.

If you want a soft finish, cover the wire with neoprene tube.

Kinda like this stuff Ebay item no: 252034508674 , not the cheapest tube but you may be able to find a shorter length cheaper elsewhere.


This is what I've gone for, thanks. I've bought two thicknesses of shrink wrap to build it up a bit. It doesn't need to be soft, but metal would mark the controllers.