I will be setting up & testing a 3 mm (.1181") piano wire drive that is an exact copy of the the type used by Ed Kalfus in his record setting tether boats. He fully developed this technology in 1937 & 38 using ready available K & S piano wire which is still available in most hobby shops. The same type & size , precision ground "single split" collet assemblies, were used to effectively clamp 3 mm, 1/8", 3/16", 1/4" solid, as well as flexible 1/4" cable drives. I will be making a comparison between the 1/4" flexible cable & the 3mm piano wire drive with a set up that will be interchangeable at the lake site. The photos show how some 1/4" size hardened & ground, precision single split collets, were easily made. This type of single split collet mounted in its hardened & ground clamping body, with a 32 pitch OD thread, never wears out & it will maintain its precision forever! Notice the machined spring steel thrust washers which allow severe tightening of the 32 pitch ID clamping nut against the collet.
Jim Allen