Ikelite Controls

[grouchyturtle]

Finally got my controls this week, just one question...

How do you bend the shafts?

It feels really hard to bend and like it will snap right off if I force it.

Do they need to be heated up, or should I just take a pair of pliers and just bend the sucker?

[Scubacastor]

I believe they are made in stainless steel. Stainless steel is hard to bend for the little experience I had with this kind of steel. Maybe you should try to weld or to glue a homemade extension of the control. I also know that some shaft adaptators/extensions exist in radiocontrolled model boat. I don't know if this kind of strategy is efficient but maybe it is worth trying... Please, let us know of your progress ! :)

[diveh3]

every one I've tried to bend beyond about 1/8" -broke

[grouchyturtle]

Well you are supposed to be able to bend them.

They do make controls with straight shafts, but the exact quote on Ikelite's site for these ones is "machined-to-bend".

So How?

[diveh3]

Well you are supposed to be able to bend them.

They do make controls with straight shafts, but the exact quote on Ikelite's site for these ones is "machined-to-bend".

So How?
I saw that on their site also.
Have you tried to call and ask them what "machined to bend" means? I could never get any response as a DYI-er --although I did talk to them today about that control and they said it can be bent with pliers. give them a call.

I believe my controls were hard-tempered. I finally decided to slide a bendable ss tubing over my broken one.
sorce: http://www.smallparts.com/products/descriptions/htx-xtw.cfm

[grouchyturtle]

Yup that's pretty much it! Just use pliers.
Also they said DON'T heat it.

[mddolson]

I machined the shafts to 1/8 ich dia in a lethe, then just bent them with a vise and vice grips. Here here is the secret! Stainless steel work hardens. So it doesn't like being bend, abd rebent. So make a little prototype shape using a wire coat hanger. Then just bend the stainless to match the finished shape of the coat hanger.

Here's and inside look of my housing with bend shafts.

Mike



Yup that's pretty much it! Just use pliers.
Also they said DON'T heat it.

[Scubacastor]

Nice work mddolson ! :)

[mddolson]

Thanks.

If you have access to a lathe you can make your own glands like I did out of SS hex rod.
I use two internal orings which creates a nice reservoir for silicone grease to prevent the seal from drying out or salt crytals getting through to the inner oring.
Here's my drawing for those interested.
It fits standard 1/4 inch shaft dia.

MikeD


Nice work mddolson ! :)