Speaking of DYI tools, does any one have a Haywire Klamper or know where to find them? This is small hand held tool for tighting haywire and twisting it into a tight lock in just a few easy steps. I first read about this tool in the old American Survival Guide Magazine back in the mid 80s. I have never been able to find one anywhere and they may be out of production.

This?
http://www.clamptitetools.com/shop.html

I would not buy a special tool just for tightening wire.
Most people I know just use a pair of pliers.
It is an expensive little bit of kit too. I bet if you look at it for a minute or two you can figure out how to make one out of a bolt and a piece of scrap tubing fairly easily.

You can find those in stores that sell woodworking and gardening tools if you really want to buy one.

Maybe you are thinking about the twister tool for closing sacks, but I don't think you are.
http://www.rhodespackaging.co.uk/acatalog/wire-sack-ties.html
It takes premade twist ties and you yank on it to twist the ties shut around the mouth of a bag. You sometimes see them used on potato sacks.
It is a pretty specialized item.

Thanks, but neither one of those are it. The Klamper also would tighten the bundled items together before putting in a simple hook twist. IIRC it sold for about $25.00 and was shaped something like a hand crank can opener.

Sorry I can not help.
I don't remember anything like what you just described.

You can find good ones at most feedstores- horsetack, farm supply outlets. It looks like a big plier, with a hammer on one jaw and a big claw like marlinespike on the other.
There are two sets of notches below the jaw's 'mouth' for crimping and a cutting surface for snipping 'bob war.'
They have a VERY romantic name not commonly heard outside of farms and ranches- we call them fence pliers.

I don't think that fencing pliers are what he is looking for. I am thinking that what he wants works something like the tool that they use for twisting safety wires on some helicopter gizmos...

I think I have or had one of those. It looks like a hand crank for an old car (smaller version) with a hook at one end. You wrapped whatever you were trying to contain, made a loop in the end, inserted the hook and began to turn the handle, the hook would cause the wire to tighten upon itself.

Something like these only stronger:
Wire twister

Wire twister

or

Milbar wire twister


Concrete Form Twister


wire-twisting-pliers

Pete

The wire-twisting-pliers are what I was thinking of...

They Kline Dykes are what those are called and you can pick them up at any industrial supply company. Used them for years when I was iron working. Used them for everything! Mostly used for tying rebar.

Here is one source.

Another dealer with a much better price...

Thanks for the input guy's, but those items are not the Klamper. I believe that the Haywire Klamper was a limited run tool and was not very common so may not be known to many people. I do think that scafool and Chris have made a good point with the fence pliers which I will follow up on.

Good luck. I have a pair of fencing pliers, carry them in the vehicle, use them often. But for twisting wire, I have not had good luch using them. Maybe you will do better...

Homer,

Good luck in the search. For what it's worth you might want to check some antique farm tool places. I know waaaay back in the day my uncle had a tool with U-bend handle crank that would tighten wire around hay stacks. I think this may be the kind of thing you are talking about. But that tool was old as dirt when I was a kid. No clue if they are made anymore.

Fence pliers have a hook on one side and a hammer head on the other for pulling and driving staples.
They are not really designed for tying wire. the jaws are designed to grab and pull out fencing staples

For tying wire a regular pair of electricians pliers with side cutters is better.

http://www.channellock.com/acb/stores/1/349_-_9_inch_Linemen_s_Plier_-_P63C8.cfm

That is an expensive professional grade pair, you can get them cheaper, especially in pawn shops.

Just for interest sake here is a pair of rescuer's multitool pliers.


http://www.channellock.com/acb/stores/1/88_6-N-1_Rescue_Tool_P181C17.cfm