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Lucid 09-26-2012 20:56:13 75.192.177.32 Report to Moderator	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 [Reply]   [No Email]
Armand Tatro 09-29-2012 05:12:08 98.227.26.140 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Lucid, 09-26-2012 20:56:13   For blacksmithing (heating iron with a forge,etc) information (working hot iron) go to the I forge iron forum. Lots of information there. Armand [Reply]  [No Email]
Puddles 09-27-2012 12:53:45 24.113.77.208 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to C.R., 09-26-2012 20:56:13   Lucid if you want to take your "Bending Metal" to a whole another level, buy this book. Heat shrinking metal is rapidly becoming a lost art. You would not believe how many weldors think of it as Black Magic! Straightening shapes like beams, square tube, C-channel, angle iron, pipe, and T-shapes are a breeze after reading the chapter in this book. :wink: [URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/72/heatshrink.jpg/][/URL] [Reply]  [No Email]
Lucid 09-27-2012 12:04:54 75.243.21.138 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Lucid, 09-26-2012 20:56:13   Thanks for the input! Right now I have a few bent pieces of implements that need straightened. And the occasional damn nut that won't come off. I do have some more "minor" bending to do in the near future. Looks like a mapp torch and a pipe will do for me right now. I have a buddy not to far away that has more equipment, but I don't want to bother him with stuff I could do. Now the forge ideas could come handy one day. [Reply]  [No Email]
Dick L 09-27-2012 11:10:12 184.8.54.44 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Lucid, 09-26-2012 20:56:13   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. [Reply]  [No Email]
Dick L 09-27-2012 11:14:45 184.8.54.44 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Dick L, 09-27-2012 11:10:12   I take that back. The largest I have bent at home was 3/4" round bar. [Reply]  [No Email]
old 09-27-2012 09:05:59 209.86.226.34 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Lucid, 09-26-2012 20:56:13   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 [Reply]  [No Email]
Dick L 09-27-2012 11:12:43 184.8.54.44 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to old, 09-27-2012 09:05:59   Not if your after a sharp 90 degree bend. [Reply]  [No Email]
old 09-27-2012 11:24:34 209.86.226.27 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Dick L, 09-27-2012 11:12:43   ????????????????????????????????????????????????????? [Reply]  [No Email]
glennster 09-27-2012 06:27:51 75.57.143.173 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Lucid, 09-26-2012 20:56:13   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 [Reply]  [No Email]
Stan in Oly, WA 09-27-2012 08:42:50 75.172.118.61 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to glennster, 09-27-2012 06:27:51   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 [Reply]  [No Email]
glennster 09-27-2012 09:07:40 75.57.143.173 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 09-27-2012 08:42:50   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. [Reply]  [No Email]
Stan in Oly, WA 09-27-2012 09:47:49 75.172.118.61 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to glennster, 09-27-2012 09:07:40   That makes so much more sense. Thanks. [Reply]  [No Email]
Cliff(VA) 09-27-2012 05:39:59 70.89.233.37 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Lucid, 09-26-2012 20:56:13   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) [Reply]  [No Email]
36 coupe 09-27-2012 03:15:36 66.186.169.176 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Lucid, 09-26-2012 20:56:13   Ive used a carbon arc torch with an electric welder for 50 years. [Reply]  [No Email]
Cienna 09-27-2012 09:35:20 50.96.5.128 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to 36 coupe, 09-27-2012 03:15:36   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. [Reply]  [No Email]
36 coupe 09-27-2012 16:48:58 66.186.169.176 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Cienna, 09-27-2012 09:35:20   I use a hydraulic press for many bending jobs.A few simple home made tools for the press is all you need. [Reply]  [No Email]
Stick welding 09-26-2012 21:35:00 96.53.210.246 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Lucid, 09-26-2012 20:56:13   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. [Reply]  [No Email]
Kansas Cockshutt 09-26-2012 21:04:45 12.5.176.70 Report to Moderator	Re: Bending Metal in reply to Lucid, 09-26-2012 20:56:13   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. [Reply]  [No Email]