Metal benders

[charlz]

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

That's how I have been doing most of my bending. Last project I used a OA torch an 8lb sledgehammer and the edge of a concrete step to make the bends in the in the 3pt A frame pieces

After watching the video a shop press is definitely on my list

 

[Baby Grand]

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

.

With some practice and skill you can make some intricate forms with the "cavemen" method. Throw in some wooden forms and you'd be doing what's called repousse. That's how the copper sheets that make up the exterior surfaces of the Statue of Liberty were formed. If you try this method for a few odd jobs you'll quickly realize why blacksmiths seem to be obsessed with collecting different sized and shaped hammers.

I really like the hyd press forming and forming tool & die - what a great idea. And I thought the arbor press was just for pressing bearings. I am a little concerned that one of those pieces might try to "squirt out" under 20 tons squeeze. Could be ugly. I'll have to make up some kind of containment thingy.

-Jim

 

[6sunset6]

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.

pretty thin flashing aluminum 14" wide 1 hem and a 3" bend
I am going to use doug fir 2 x 6 I only have to make 30 bends.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

check the current issue of "Shop Notes" - they have plans for a thin gauge sheet metal brake that would be pretty easy to expand out to 6 or 8 foot wide.

 

[GuglioLS]

Thought I'd share a few details of the tools (anvil?). I've made several styles of these to fit different arbors on various presses. First pic is the raw material I start with.







Last pic bottom right is the 4" wide die for bending up to 4" wide and 1/2" thick steel. Somewhere on my list is to make an adjustable die to accommodate various metal thickness and angles.


Larry