Homemade Washers

Not a very exciting subject but something we need from time to time for our models…. I’ve been making these for a long time for small models, particularly for wheel retainers… Always hard to find the just right size so I make them from copper wire..,Photo below shows the steps from left to right….

Wrap the wire tightly around a drill bit secured in a vise… The bit needs to be slightly larger than the landing gear wire

Peen the loop flat on a hard surface with a small hammer…. Test fit onto the LG wire… Peen it some more if the inside hole needs to tighten up…

Cut the washer free with some small wire cutters

I prime the solder joint first with a little plumber’s solder flux to help it flow better … Any burr’s on the washer can be filed off after soldering….., Done!!

Hopefully it might be useful to some needing that just right size washer