Mount support design.

[bil]

Don't know if anyone is interested, but I came up with this.
In the book on orchids by Wm Cullina, he shows a good way of supporting mounts. You bend over the end of the wire, hammer it tight and push the wire thru the hole in the mount hammering the doubled end into the wood where it grips tightly. You then bend up the wire and form a hook.

The problem is that if you want to use thinner branches, the danger is that you will split the mount. I have a nice supply of forked orange branches, and it's a hard wood, so the thinner ones should last some time.

Here's what I do.

[bil]

So instead of bending the wire over, I take hold of the wire with The Grips of Destiny. ie grips that won't slip.

I then bend it at right angles as shown, leaving a small bit sticking up that is then hammered over while held in the grips to give nice sharp 90 degree bends. If that is difficult, leave a longer bit and then cut off the surplus so that the short piece is only the same length as the diameter of the mount.

[bil]

So, you drill one hole only thru the branch, and slide the long arm into the hole ontil the short arm touches the bark. Twist it so that the short arm scratches the bark, then drill a second hole at that point parallel to the first hole.
Push the short arm into the hole, put a bit of cloth the other side to protect the bark, then use the grips of destiny to push the short arm in to the hilt.

Still holding it firmly with the cloth and the grips, bend it sharply up so that vertically it it snug against the mount.

[bil]

I like to bend hooks for mounts over a metal bar that keeps them all coming out roughly the same. It helps if you weld a couple of blobs of steel to the bar so that when it is held in the vice, no amount of hammering will drive it down.

I shape the wire, twist it back and if necessary tighten up the hook with the grips.

[bil]

Looking at the vice shot reminds me how untidy I am. Ah well.

This mount was a bit small and light, it's for a small lepotes.

I use braided fishing wire to lash it all together. As you can see, it's practically invisible, and I just hate monofilament.

Braided line has its problems, but it also is very useful. It is as thin as thread but will take HUGE loads. The one I use takes 6 kilos load, and yet you can use it to sew on a button where you really don't want it to come off!

[ula]

Thanks for sharing, looks like you're well equipped: greenhouse AND a workshop .

[bil]

Originally Posted by ula

Thanks for sharing, looks like you're well equipped: greenhouse AND a workshop .

I'm shooting for the record of 'Most untidiest workshop ever'.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by bil

I'm shooting for the record of 'Most untidiest workshop ever'.

HA! I've got you beat by at least a bazillion miles in the untidy department.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

HA! I've got you beat by at least a bazillion miles in the untidy department.

Wanna bet? Before you get all cocky, consider this. I once had a workshop that was effectively a small room about 5 metres x 4 metres.

Slowly the junk spread, even over the floor, until I wasn't able to get in.

In the end, I went mad and bagged up everything that I wasn't likely to use. I was putting about ten to fifteen bags of rubbish out for the bin men every week for months.

I suspect that I have a high percentage of squirrel genes in my make up.

In my defense, I have never let a workshop get quite that bad since.

[Helene]

You are so handy and creative😃👌🏻
Thanks for sharing😎

I bought a soldering iron today (a cheap one&#128540, been having fun making holes in small plastic cups for seedlings. Dont have small plastic pots here, and besides- if they had, they would have needed more holes.

And yeah- while poking holes I was thinking "ah, Bil should have seen this- I'm learning to make things myself"😂☺️

Love this, I love all your DIY project- so keep sharing😃