Straightening Tips

[rookie]

Thanks Jonezee,

The thing that scares me about comparing our H-I's is that mine will probably look like a "Rookie" did it.

[jchanner]

Rookie;
I've tried most of the tricks to straightening rods and the old fashioned way is the one that works best for me. Heat the curved area carefullywith a heat gun, alcohol lamp or over a stove<use a heat diffuser, your wife will know what it is<g> )until you can actually feel the section soften, then bend it opposite the curve, take it away from the heat, and hold it until it cools, just a minute or so is all it takes to cool. Sight the section and adjust as necessary. One other thing, as you heat the section, twirl it and move it back and forth, what you don't want to do is just hold it still over the heat source, you run the risk of burning it.
good luck
john