Peacock Grippers

I call these “peacock grippers” because that’s what they remind me of (peacock feathers) when the zip ties are at full length and symmetrically fanned out around a gripper spring.  Add in colored zip ties, and toddlers enjoy the visual treat.

For ease of use, it’s best to cut the zip ties about 1/4″ away from the spring so that they aren’t always in the way.  I used a pair of wire cutters.

If you want to make a gripper harder, but don’t want to spend the money to buy a harder gripper – put zip ties to work on the spring.  Tighten them around the spring to make your gripper harder.  You can microload the tension increases by adding more zip ties to the spring.

The top and middle photo is a 5/8″ Master.  About as hard as a #2 gripper.  The bottom gripper is a very easy storebought gripper.  Even it was made noticeably harder with the addition of as many zip ties as I could fit on the spring.