How do you coil wire with a drill?

Coiling wire with a drill involves securing the wire to a mandrel (a central core) and using the drill to rotate the mandrel, thus winding the wire around it to form a coil. However, simply doing this without proper technique can lead to a wobbly and uneven coil. Here's how to do it properly:

1. Gather Your Materials:

   • Drill (preferably with variable speed settings)
   • Mandrel (a metal rod or dowel; its diameter determines the coil's inner diameter)
   • Wire (the type and gauge depends on your project)
   • Vise grips or pliers
   • Safety glasses

2. Secure the Mandrel:

   • Insert the mandrel into the drill chuck, tightening it securely. The mandrel should be straight and wobble-free. This is crucial; a wobbly mandrel will create a bad coil.

3. Anchor the Wire:

   • Securely attach one end of the wire to the mandrel. You can do this by:
     • Bending a small loop at the end of the wire.
     • Clamping the wire to the mandrel using vise grips or pliers positioned close to the drill chuck.

4. Coiling Process:

   • Hold the wire taut with your gloved hand (or use pliers for a safer grip). Apply gentle but consistent tension.
   • Start the drill at a slow speed. Maintaining a slow and steady pace is important for even coiling.
   • Guide the wire as it wraps around the mandrel, ensuring each coil is tightly packed next to the previous one. Keep even tension on the wire to prevent gaps or overlaps.
   • If using a variable speed drill, experiment to find the optimal speed for your wire and mandrel.

5. Finishing the Coil:

   • Once you've coiled the desired length of wire, stop the drill.
   • Cut the wire, leaving enough extra wire to secure the end of the coil, if needed.

6. Removing the Coil:

   • Loosen the drill chuck and remove the mandrel.
   • Slide the coiled wire off the mandrel.

Things to avoid:

• High drill speed: This can cause the wire to overheat, stretch unevenly, or even break. It also increases the risk of creating a wobbly coil.
• Insufficient tension: Loose tension leads to gaps between coils.
• A Wobbly Mandrel: A secure and straight mandrel is paramount to producing a professional coil.

Example Scenario:

Let's say you want to coil 20-gauge steel wire around a 1/4 inch diameter steel rod (the mandrel) to create springs. You would clamp the steel rod in the drill chuck, secure one end of the wire to the rod (using pliers), and then slowly rotate the drill while carefully guiding the wire along the rod to form tight, even coils.