For the February project, we are going to build a fire fork out of a wire coat hanger.
You will need a wire coat hanger, a pair of pliers that can bend and cut wire, a reasonably long stick, and a piece of sandpaper.
First, you will need to cut the twisted portion of the coat hanger off using your pliers.
Then straighten the coat hanger, being careful not to snap it off where the bends are sharp. While it is straight, sand off the lacquer with sandpaper. You don't want that in your food.
Bend the wire around your stick about three inches from the end. You want a slight taper carved on the end. This will allow the loop to pass easily over the end and sit snug on the stick.
Your wire should now have a loop in the center just like this:
On either side of the loop, bend the wire up at a right angle.
Next, bend one of the wires across, again at a right angle. Make sure you make the bend close enough to the first loop so that bend doesn't end up farther than the end of the stick.
Next, place the wire on the stick as shown, and wrap the wire around the stick 1/2 turn so it is now pointing the other direction. Make sure it is close to the 90 degree bend like in the picture. This will allow the wire to "spring" together to clamp to the stick after you make the bend for the other side.
Now we bend the other side at 90 degrees. You want to make this bend slightly farther up the wire so that the two half loops sit one on top of the other.
Put the wire back on the stick, and bend another half loop in the other side. By squeezing the sides together before making the bend, you will ensure there is some spring tension to hold it to the stick.
Finish by bending the two long ends up to point away from the stick.
When it is removed, you can see how the two half loops spring apart. This is how it stays attached to the stick.
Good luck!
