Metal benders

[Hooked_on_HP]

I am always building somthing and needing to make brackets. Does anyone have a bender they are happy with. I'm not talking about an ironworker either. I am talking about a hand operated bender the I can bend flat steel 90deg.
Bill

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yes, a 6" bench vise and my 4# sledge.

Sorry, could not resist. I do use my home made log splitter from time to time to bend thing by installing my shop press adapter I made.


Chris

 

[Robert_in_NY]

We have two brakes for bending amuminum coil stock both are 10.5' and get a lot of use. I have a smaller 3' brake for bending sheet steel and have used it a few times and it works well for what its designed for. To bend anything thicker you would most likely want a press with the correct dies. Then you could bend thicker steel into what ever shapes you can imagine for brackets and such. I plan to buy a simple 12 ton press for our shop for the few times I need it. Currently anytime I need one I take the part to my friends machine shop and they use their nice press to do it.

I don't recall the brand of my 3' brake but its is just a simple unit you bolt to a work bench. It works well for small items and it is what I used to bend the 1/8" steel plate to make the protectors for my rear work lights I mounted on my TN 65 (I have never wired them up though but they have been mounted for 4 years).

How thick of steel do you want to bend? 1/8" is about the max you can do with my small brake, anything thicker and you will want a hydraulic unit.

 

[Tig]

I made a 30" brake out of 3" angle iron. I bend body metal on occasion. Not sure what the limit would be on flat stock.
Log splitter mod is a great idea.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Most of the stuff I bend is 3/16" I have a small brake for sheet metal. I see benders advertised that will bend 1/4"x 1 1/4 90deg or radius to 180 deg. They are around $120. Does anyone have one of these.
Bill

 

[GuglioLS]

Bill,

If you have a press you might consider making you own bending tool and die attachment. For thick stuff (1/2" or thicker), here is one I made for my H/F 20 ton press. It easily bends 1/2" X 3" wide flat bar.



This one is a 90* on 1/4" X 2" flat bar.



Video showing a series of bends in 1/2" X 3" wide bar to make some TPH arms:







For thinner flat or round I use this one from Harbor Freight:

It has an instruction booklet to make all the letters and numbers, plus U bolts. Mine is the short bench top model, not the floor model pictured. For some reason I can't find a picture of the bench top model that I have. It works great and the price is good. Depending on die used it can bend a radius or sharp angle.

CLICK HERE link

Larry

 

[dfkrug]

I have the floor-mount unit that Larry describes. I mount it on my fork
frame, not the floor. I have bent 5/8" rods to very tight radii with it.

 

[Bird]

We have two brakes for bending amuminum coil stock both are 10.5' and get a lot of use.

Instead of doing it myself, I hired a guy to install Alcoa vinyl siding on everything on the exterior of my house that isn't brick. That's the same size brake he used. No way I have enough use for one to justify the cost, but that sure was a neat machine.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Instead of doing it myself, I hired a guy to install Alcoa vinyl siding on everything on the exterior of my house that isn't brick. That's the same size brake he used. No way I have enough use for one to justify the cost, but that sure was a neat machine.

They are nice. We use them often for bending metal on windows, doors, facia, beams and flashing. They are real handy and the new ones have a lot of nice features compared to the older ones.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Larry nice pics and video. When you are bending the 1/4" you are using a V block. How big (deep) does the V block need to be? Will a deeper V give you a better bend? Do you use the HF bender verry much? Is it worth having?
Bill

 

[GuglioLS]

Larry nice pics and video. When you are bending the 1/4" you are using a V block. How big (deep) does the V block need to be? Will a deeper V give you a better bend? Do you use the HF bender verry much? Is it worth having?
Bill

Hi Bill and thanks for the compliment,
As you keenly noticed, I did use a small V block to bend that 1/4" stock. I failed to mention I went to far on my second bend and snapped the V block clean in two DOH! my bracket came out a perfect 90* though. Instead of using a V block, it best to make a die. Channel works best like you saw in the video, or two upright flats welded to a base plate. I was in a hurry and just wanted two "quick" brackets. The basic rule of thumb to calculate the bending die width is 7 to 8 times the thickness of what your bending. For example .5" thick steel X 8 = 4" die width. I wanted a sharp bend in that 1/4" stock so I got the brilliant idea to use a shallow V block, (bad idea).

The H/F bender comes in handy, nothing beats having the right tool especially when you live rural and need a quick part for a project or repair. I've made several custom U and square U bolts using threaded rod and a few right angle bends for small brackets. It will bend various metal for ornamental and artwork. Even make fancy scrolls for window bars or the like. I don't use it all that much but when I do I sure am glad I have it.
It would be a nice gift to yourself.


Larry

 

[jjcc246]

i use the Hf 36" metal brake. retail about $250 in sale for $220 20% coupon about $170 works very nice.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I was thinking of using my log splitter, (24 tons I think) and wood dies. Would that work? Any suggestions? I can't weld yet, so no metal.

 

[GuglioLS]

I was thinking of using my log splitter, (24 tons I think) and wood dies. Would that work? Any suggestions? I can't weld yet, so no metal.

Well I suppose wood dies wood work, just so long as it's IRON wood

Larry

 

[6sunset6]

Funny this came up now. I am finishing a shed roof off my barn and need to close up the soffit between the new roof and the old roof. I had a guy lined up with a siding brake so I bought the material. To make a special soffit drip edge. 14" wide material . Now he has disappeared off the face of the earth. I could rent one I guess but thats no fun. So I thought about building one out of wood. The trick is to get the pivot point at the same place as the bend. 10' is really long for wood and besides I have some 8' stuff around. So if the hinges have to be off the ends the brake could be
7'4" Allowing for 4" butt hinges. I worked up some sketches attached. Work is in progress. This is a one time deal about 30 bends. Upload link is broken ,will upload later . If I did not care how crisp the corner would be I could probably use a piano hinge. So to answer the question if wood will work, we will see. I have seen wood tooling before, it will work for a little while if it does not break up on the first pass. Heck there used to be wood bearings.

 

[6sunset6]

added attachment

 

[charlz]

I have the same HF bender. Works pretty good. You need to have a solid place to clamp/bolt it with space around to work the handle. It helps to clamp the piece you are bending as it tends to pull the work in around the die... or just use a bit of Kentucky Windage on how to position the piece

 

[6sunset6]

attachment

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

how wide or thick of stock are you bending?
I have a cast iron attachment for my bench vise that lets me bend up to 3" wide stock - it holds onto the jaws with magnets and cost was less than $20.

Metal Bender - Lee Valley Tools

this one is good for up to 3mm (1/8") mild steel.
you can also make something similar using a hard, dense wood, like cumaru or ipe.

 

[JB4310]

Good thread, I like the use of the press and the idea of the log splitter. gotta make up some dies for mine.

Up to now my only method of bending heavy metal is a O/A torch, a monster vise and heavy hammers.

Straight-up CAVEMAN by today's standards

.