Bending Metal

[Lucid]

Did some searches here and scanned a few pages of results, still cannot find my answer.

I am looking to learn how to heat/bend metal. The propane torch doesn't get hot enough to heat up nuts glowing hot, or 1" round bars so I can bend straight. What kinda tool(s) am I looking at learning with?

Thanks
 

[Kansas Cockshutt]

For a few pieces I always used an oxy/acetylene torch with a rosebud or welder tip depending on thickness and area. For lots of pieces it would be worth setting up a forge, you can make one from an old semi brake drum, google for plans.
 

[Stick welding]

How much heating do you want to do? For thicker
pieces use a rosebud and an oxy/fuel set up. If all
you want to do is heat larger/thicker pieces, I'd
recommend propane as you don't have to worry about
withdrawing it too fast like you do with acetylene.
If you want to do any welding and/or cutting and
have a multi-purpose set up, I'd recommend acetylene
and oxygen. If you buy a rosebud(heating tip) make
sure to get the proper one for the fuel gas you are
using.
 

[36 Coupe]

Ive used a carbon arc torch with an electric welder for 50 years.
 

[Cliff(VA)]

I heat large pieces of metal with coal in a railroad forge that I bought at an estate sale years ago. My largest was a 7' x 1' x 1/4" scraper blade that a previous owner had bent. I had ~8" x 8" area glowing orange. At an orange heat steel works about like playdough. After straightening and painting, my BIL thought I had bought a new blade.

The advantage of the forge is that you can build any size fire to fit the area that you need to heat. The disadvantage versus a torch is that you cannot pinpoint the heat as well.

I am near Winchester, VA. If you are close enough I would be happy to help you at my forge.

Cliff(VA)
 

[glennster]

here is a link to shoups catalog for their super bender cat no sb100. it is pretty much 2 pieces of thick steel plate, 2 pieces of thick angle iron and some long bolts. set it in the hydraulic press and form your parts. doesnt look like it would be hard to build with some basic shop tools. one of these days i may get around to building one.
poke here

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Interesting, and looks like it would be easy enough to build, as you said. Why do you think the vertical rods that the upper unit moves on are shown as threaded? It seems like it could only be to change the distance between the upper and lower units, and I'm having trouble coming up with the purpose for that. Clamping the workpiece in place before starting to bend it?

Stan
 

[old]

A lot depends on what your bending and then what your doing with it. If say your bending round stock a simple pipe bender will do the job and it costs around $100. If your going to bend sheet metal the thin stuff a simple bender is made for that. Now if your going to bend the heavy stuff then you either need a big machine or an Ox/ac torch. I have bent a piece of flat stock that was 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick in my pipe bender and that came out well. Made a heavy duty clevis with it
 

[glennster]

the rods are not threaded, those are springs. it will hold the bender open to put your stock in, then you hit it with the press, when you release the press, the "jaw" opens back up. i think a stack of old valve springs would prolly work good.
 

[Cienna]

36 coupe----I agree with your method. Acetylene and oxygen can produce up to 6000 degrees, whereas carbon arc produces up to 10,000 degrees.
 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

That makes so much more sense. Thanks.
 

[Dick L]

I do bend up to one inch steel rounds with a propane torch with a yellow map tank in my home shop. It takes longer than the big torch at work for sure but even though it is slower it is faster than loading stuff up and driving ten miles one way, unlock, turn on lights, carry stuff back to the tool shop and then do it all backwards to get home.
 

[Dick L]

Not if your after a sharp 90 degree bend.
 

[Dick L]

I take that back. The largest I have bent at home was 3/4" round bar.
 

[old]

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