How to bend 1/4" plate into 18" radius?

[PapaPerk]

You did a real nice job...looks factory made!

Thank you! I appreciate the compliment! :thumbsup:

 

[PapaPerk]

Thanks for posting the photo. That is wha got me thinking about this project again.

You are welcome! The scoops work well... I don't know how well they would work in rocky soil though. One with teeth maybe needed then...

Mine is basically like a giant sharp nosed shovel.

 

[TheKid]

Are there any propane companies near you. When they take large tanks out of service they usually sell them for scrap. My co-worker picked up a bunch of them a while back for $50 each. They were 36" in diameter and either 1/4 or 5/16 thick.

 

[Scooby074]

Press brake.

You could have it bent up in under an hour. Locally that'd be $40. Cutting it into segments and welding would cost more than that in materials, let alone time.

 

[Baby Grand]

Are there any propane companies near you. When they take large tanks out of service they usually sell them for scrap. My co-worker picked up a bunch of them a while back for $50 each. They were 36" in diameter and either 1/4 or 5/16 thick.

That's a great idea.

 

[sdkubota]

Are there any propane companies near you. When they take large tanks out of service they usually sell them for scrap. My co-worker picked up a bunch of them a while back for $50 each. They were 36" in diameter and either 1/4 or 5/16 thick.

Make sure you purge the tank with dry ice or carbon monoxide from a vehicles exhaust before you break out the cutting torch!

 

[sandman2234]

Here is me bending a piece of plate approximately the same thickness and size as what your wanting to do, actually in the yard, with nothing more than a torch, welder, tape measure, soapstone, and a couple pieces of scrap angle iron. This was a replacement bucket for a 30" pond scoop. David from jax

 

[IslandTractor]

Here is me bending a piece of plate approximately the same thickness and size as what your wanting to do, actually in the yard, with nothing more than a torch, welder, tape measure, soapstone, and a couple pieces of scrap angle iron. This was a replacement bucket for a 30" pond scoop. David from jax

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v177/sandman2234/?action=view&current=MVC-014F-1.jpg

You say you used both torch and welder. Did you bend the angles using heat or did you cut and weld to get the angles?

 

[LD1]

You say you used both torch and welder. Did you bend the angles using heat or did you cut and weld to get the angles?

I was wondering the same thing

 

[Danno1]

Originally Posted by muddstopper
You probably wont like my suggestion, but I know it will work. If you run a bead of weld the lenght of the metal, it will start to curve. Move over about an inch and run another bead and then repeat until you have the curve you want. Start in the middle of the sheet of metal and alternate from each side of the first weld as you work yourself toward the outer edges. Yep, lots of welding and a rough surface when you are thru, but it will work.

I would imagine just gas heat applied in a similar fashion would work too and be less messy.

Ya, but if ya used hard facing rod...


.

 

[Danno1]

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I thought these guys were closer to you but I guess not. We use them to fab parts for us at work. They do good work.


Southbridge Sheet Metal Works, Inc.



.

 

[Jesse masterson]

I would never ever cut into a propane tank,good way to push up() get my drift.

 

[ray66v]

A pipe line fabricator could possibly have a piece of pipe you could cut it out of, provided there is such a company in your area.

 

[sandman2234]

I mentioned stitch cut and weld in an earlier post. Thought it might have gotten overlooked, whereas pictures seem to get peoples attention.
Basically I laid out the lines where I wanted a bent, cut slots with a torch on the line, while never actually cutting the piece in two, just basically weakening it so that I could easily bend it. Bent it to the position I wanted, tack welded a piece to hold it in place, and went back and welded the slots I had cut in with a welder. Trying to heat and bend a piece this size would take a lot of pressure, or more heat than my rosebud torch would put out. If you stitch cut it, you end up only having to bend the small amount of metal you leave in between the cuts (3/4" in my case). I welded every other slot from the back side starting at the middle and working outward to prevent an excessive amount of movement "draw" as the welds cooled. I actually ended up with a very good replacement bucket for the pond scoop.(then I filled in all the cuts from both sides just to add strength and reduce places for water to hide)
David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

You say you used both torch and welder. Did you bend the angles using heat or did you cut and weld to get the angles?

see above post... David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

To get a true radius bend, it won't be easy. I bent some similar plate using a stitch cut and reweld, but that isn't a radius. Might be better to find a drop of 18" pipe and go from there. If you just have to use your plate I make consider farming it out. David from jax

Most people noticed the mistake of 18" pipe not being correct and missed the stitch cut and reweld that I mentioned.
David from jax

 

[sdkubota]

I would never ever cut into a propane tank,good way to push up() get my drift.

I have watched workers cutting gasoline lines with torches while gas was running out of the ends of pipe. A little would catch on fire and they would be like meh.... Surprisingly, nothing blew up over the course of 2days of this activity going non-stop. I have also watchjed gas company men smoke within a few feet of a ruptured natural gas line without concern. When I would ask they would say it has to be an exact combination of gas and air before it would ignite. It is amazing I have reached 53 years old.

 

[Jesse masterson]

I know it CAN be done , and people shoot themselves in the head and survive, I'd rather not go with the law of averages.some thing are better left alone,a few dollar savings dosent add up to taking that kind of risk, in my humble opinion.but that's just me.

 

[IslandTractor]

I would never ever cut into a propane tank,good way to push up() get my drift.

Remove valve, fill with water or blow out with compressed air before cutting. Not sure how that would be dangerous.

 

[sdkubota]

Remove valve, fill with water or blow out with compressed air before cutting. Not sure how that would be dangerous.

All you need is to remove/displace the oxygen. I have seen petroleum tanks purged using dry ice and by actually running a vehicles exhaust into the tank prior to cutting. Once the oxygen is gone...there is no risk of explosion.