Bicycle cable guides: Punch and Die

[Burf86]

I'v been buying in the little cable guides that you see on most bikes these days, but thought I could make a tool to make them myself.
So here are the pics:

 

[wyn]

Those are some nicely made bits of tooling.

Do you bash them with a hammer or put them in a press?

 

[grim_d]

Lovely little pieces! Kudos!

 

[Burf86]

The one with the springs needs a press. It gets stuck once you've punched so I needed some pretty tough springs to get it to return. The Die can be hit with a hammer though

 

[Engineer1964]

In the actual manufacturing enviroment they probably use a machine worth several thousand pounds to make those, You've managed to do it for about a tenner Excellent, and well done

I can see a little cottage industry starting up

 

[breezer]

When it comes to push irons I'm old school. Never seen these before where / how do they get used?

(My bikes have brass cable guides which slot into brazed on lugs...)

 

[Luke]

Nice. What steel did you use for the punch?

 

[Shox Dr]

When it comes to push irons I'm old school. Never seen these before where / how do they get used?

(My bikes have brass cable guides which slot into brazed on lugs...)

They are for Hydraulic brakes, you use cable ties to hold the hose to the mount.

Very nice by the way. How did you make the punch, Spark erosion?

 

[Burf86]

the punch is made in 2 halves and welded together. For the life of me I can't remember what the metal was, the name has escaped my mind... Flat stock? Comes ground to size... Man this is annoying!

 

[wyn]

Ground flat stock?

 

[breezer]

Hydraulic brakes?

...and they replace the rod and stirrup????

Only joking..., lovely neat job and making your own tools is cool!