How do you straighten a bent split ring?

[AFAustin]

Please allow a very basic question from an admittedly unhandy CPFer. What is the best (and preferably simple) way to straighten a bent split ring?

Almost every time I venture to remove the split ring from the tail cap of a pocket light, in the course of getting it off---or getting it back on---I manage to bend it. The result is that the rings no longer lie flat against each other but rather now have a gap that I can't seem to get closed again.

When I try to bend it back with pliers, it doesn't work, and I manage to put gouge marks in the ring as well. Last night I tried weighing the ring down with some very heavy objects, in the hopes the ring would flatten back out---no luck.

I would appreciate any simple solutions that don't require much in the way of tools (or skill! ).

Thanks.

 

[Sgt. LED]

My only solution is to buy more. I have never had any luck fixing them and I am quite handy.

 

[Illum]

they're everywhere...just bum one off any promotional keychain.

If you really have to do it yourself, then heat it up, clamp it, then let cool...depending on what form of metal exists in the part this trick could either work very well...or not at all.

 

[AFAustin]

Thanks, gents. Yep, just grabbing another is usually the best thing. But, I need some for my brass Peaks that are brass (or at least a good color match)....I may see if Robyn or Curt could spare a few.

 

[gadget_lover]

You can buy needle nose pliers with thin, flat, wide blades. A pair of these will sometimes allow you to reshape it.

You can also buy "spring benders' or 'wire forks', a rod with a slit at one end to allow you to adjust the tension on a spring.

But grabbing a stray is easier. They sell them in bags of 100 at Walmart (craft dept) and Michaels crafts.

Daniel

 

[THE_dAY]

+1 for the pliers fix.

works great even on the very small split rings.

Just grasp open part of split ring (w/pliers) so it is closed again and bend in both directions.

 

[Sub_Umbra]

Just buy more. Split rings are designed with a notch effect weakness anyway and any bending will likely just exaserbate it.

If you're lucky enough to have any salt water bait shops near you you may buy small bags of stainless steel split rings. They are inexpensive and are of a higher quality than any split ring that I've ever gotten with a light.

 

[AFAustin]

Thanks for all the additional great suggestions. CPFers' collective knowledge always impresses me. :thanks:

 

[M I K]

Something I do once in a while, is turn the ring inside out so to speak. Just take and lift one end up and over the other. Then pull the ring ends apart like stretching a coil spring out. Then flip the ends back over to their original sides again. They will usually be back together nice and snug.

 

[darkzero]

Something I do once in a while, is turn the ring inside out so to speak. Just take and lift one end up and over the other. Then pull the ring ends apart like stretching a coil spring out. Then flip the ends back over to their original sides again. They will usually be back together nice and snug.

:thumbsup: Exactly what I do & it works rather well.

 

[M I K]

Something I do once in a while, is turn the ring inside out so to speak. Just take and lift one end up and over the other. Then pull the ring ends apart like stretching a coil spring out. Then flip the ends back over to their original sides again. They will usually be back together nice and snug.

By the way, a small flat screwdriver usually works good.