Brass suspension clips

[Farmman]

Following 50ft-trads recent suspension clip thread I started thinking this may be an ideal way for me to carry my edc tool rather than in the bottom of my pocket with everything else.  Being a true Yorkshire man there was no way I was going to spend £10 on one though.  I decided I would make my own, I mean how hard could it be?
The hunt was then on for suitable material.  SWMBO confirmed I was not allowed to cut up the tea spoons and so in desperation I looked through the bit box.  There I found the two halves of a broken brass hinge.

If you don’t have any spare broken hinges lying around you could get them the same way I did. An argument with the wife tends to lead to much door slamming, with the resulting casualty. This was months ago and I am even allowed to sleep on the house now.
 
Then out to the garage.  I used a belt sander to shape and smooth edges.
Then on to the bending.  At this stage I found out that brass is case hardened by the rolling process and quite brittle.
  The way around this is to anneal it first (i.e. heat it up to a dull red glow and let it cool slowly).
 
Once cooled into the vice and hit it with a hammer to get the fold, then back to the vice to nip up all the way around.  Belt sand any misalignment away and polish.
 
Quite pleased as I managed to get two usable clips from the broken hinge and I am now going to try working the picture hook.

[badwolf]

Excellent work, some of you amaze me at what you can do Will have a go at this, thanks

[Farmman]

Cheers. Used a magnet to check its brass, if it is steel, it will need to be red hot to work. Brass you work cold.
Good luck

[sparky415]

Nice job Mate 

I have made a few from (charity shop  ) spoons in the past Badwolf

[badwolf]

Nice job Mate 

I have made a few from (charity shop  ) spoons in the past Badwolf

Wow, spoons and charity shops, there's one just round the corner from me, will check it out

[50ft-trad]

Nice work feller  If I knew you'd got a linishing belt in that shed of yours I'd have visited more often    (I will phone first though in case your mrs is having another strop and busting more door hinges - couldn't imagine it was you doing that mate    - don't tell her I said that    ) If you want a REALLY cheap suspension clip though mate ... paper clip ... lightweight, preformed, and they're useful in their own right too as any Macguyver fan will testify  Polished brass always looks better though 

BTW - For everyone outside the UK who thought that copper wire was invented by two Scotsmen fighting over a penny - it wasn't it was two Yorkshire men   

[jekostas]

You know, I've still got a bunch of the kydex ones I made.

[Farmman]

Linishing belt? That makes my upturned sander sound posh. However any time you want to come over and use it you are more than welcome.

I have seen you kydex clips and they look really cool, but I wanted to make my own. However in the future I can see me making some purchases.

Charity shop spoons no arguments from swmbo, good call.

[sparky415]

Linishing belt? That makes my upturned sander sound posh. However any time you want to come over and use it you are more than welcome.

I have seen you kydex clips and they look really cool, but I wanted to make my own. However in the future I can see me making some purchases.

Charity shop spoons no arguments from swmbo, good call.

I'm sure she just wants to keep you out of the cutlery draw Farmman 

[jekostas]

Linishing belt? That makes my upturned sander sound posh. However any time you want to come over and use it you are more than welcome.

I have seen you kydex clips and they look really cool, but I wanted to make my own. However in the future I can see me making some purchases.

Charity shop spoons no arguments from swmbo, good call.

Perhaps a touch out of line for me to mention that here, sorry.  Anyways, another thing I found works well is picture hanging hardware, especially the brass ones.  They're a little thin but plenty strong enough and you only have to attack them with a pair of pliers.

[Farmman]

No offence was taken about your post. Infact check you inbox I have requested some of the clips

[Farmman]

Having shown my brass clips to some friends I have been asked to make some for them. The one stipulation was they must be brass. Found these at 75p for two, they take minimum amount of working to get a very strong discrete clip.
Thought I would share.

[badwolf]

Aah I see now, wondered what you used, sneaky and smart still using the smaller one at the mo

[Farmman]

Aah I see now, wondered what you used, sneaky and smart still using the smaller one at the mo

If you do make any go for the next size down. I think they are 50mm. A little cheaper and you don't need to cut any off the rod.

[rayraychil]

Well guys you have inspired me to have a go at these myself although I have never worked with metal's before it should be interesting project will try the B&Q brass hooks first as they seem fairly easy for a suspension clip making virgin like myself ! wish me luck and keep putting stuff like this on the site it really gives the less clever folks like me the ideas we don't have or can't think of on our own.

This will be a challenge and a mission I am willing to accept