Hook Bender
In fact, this project is so simple, I didn't take any photos of the "building" process.
Starting with a piece of 1/2" thick aluminum, I drilled it in the center and tapped it 3/8-16. Then I freehanded a spiral out to the edge and ran a bunch of similarly tapped holes along the line.
Looking through my scrap boxes, I came up with a variety of round stock pieces from which I cut discs, and center drilled to 3/8."
That's it. I use a 3/8 socket head screw for the round piece in the center, and a cutoff 3/8" screw for the outboard post.
I use any number of hooks around the house, work and home shop.
And then there's my wife, who makes and sells various kinds of hanging ceramic items, like this birdhouse.
So every year, I find myself making at least a hundred little hooks of different sizes and shapes.
Using the bender couldn't be easier. I just clamp the plate in my vise, screw a mandrel on, and place the post as close to it as I can, stick the wire stock into the gap, and wrap it around.
If I'm making a bunch of identical hooks, I'll start with precut lengths, and mark the degree of my arbitrary bend so each bend will be the same.
Then I'll take the hook out, flip it over and do a secondary bend if I want to center the loop.
The hook automatically catches at just the right point as I bend the shank back.
Naturally, I'll mark that bend, too.
Here's a recent batch of brass ones, some "S" hooks, some with centered bends.