[Elecraft] twisting wires for KAT2 Toroid

[Lyle Johnson]

Keep in mind that if you clamp BOTH ends of the wire, you are also twisting
the wire itself, one complete twist per turn.  Probably not a big deal, but
you might want to consider the stress this places on the small diameter
wire.  To visualize this, think of clamping one end of ONE wire in a vise,
clamping the other end of the wire in a drill, then running the drill.
Doesn't take too many turns of the drill before the wire breaks.

The method I use is the clamp one end of the pair in my left hand, bend the
wires from each other at 90 degrees (like a wide V with the vertex in the
left hand), then rotate both wires with a twisting motion of my right thumb
and forefinger without actually holding the two free ends (gradually
changing the V to a Y).  This twists both wires around each other and
doesn't add rotational torque to the wires in the process.  Sorry I can't
show you a photo in ASCII :-)

Another way is to clamp the two wires in a vise at one end, then loosely old
the other ends, one in your left hand and one in your right.  Spread the
wires apart (V again, vertex in the vise) and then rotate them around each
other (visualize this by holding the wires loosely in your hands so they can
rotate to avoid the above mentioned torque, then imagine the vise rotating
as if placed on a turntable) gradually changing the V to a Y.

Your mileage may vary,

Lyle KK7P


> Hold the two wires parallel against each other.  Clamp one end of the pair
> in a vise. Clamp the other pair end in a drill.  Now run it...