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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Coburg Melbourne
    Posts
    3

    Default Bending Flat bar

    Hello,
    I am wanting to make some brackets using 25mm x 3mm copper or aluminium flat bar. I have made some using my vice - that is holding it tight in the vice and hitting it with a hammer until the desired bend is formed. This works OK but is hard to get a consistent form. and will probably wreck my vice.
    Can anyone recommend a reasonably cost effective tool/machine to do this. I have looked online and can see a few benders ranging between 90-420 dollars. Are these any good? any brands recommended or not?
    The tightness of bend is the same as what I would get doing it in the vice or say a 5mm internal radius, and I need to bend only 90 degrees with say 30-40mm between bends.
    Alternatively I would be happy to either pay some one to bend small batches for me or pay to use a machine myself.
    I am in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

    Thanks in advance.
    Cheers Tony

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Hi Tony, any of the bar benders will bend flat bar. Any chance of a pic of your item that you're trying to make, please?
    Just makes it easier to suggest an alternative method, if required.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    The fact that you say you think you are damaging your vice and that you have to hit it with a hammer suggests you are working with materials that have been (work) hardened and you would be far better off to anneal (heat soften) them first. Then you should be able to bend it by hand and use a soft faced to get the desired radius.

    Don't use an iron hammer or you will bruise the metal - instead you should use a lead or softwood or leather lined hammer. Maybe even a nylon hammer will do it.
    Also don't use the vice jaw as the bend point but form a bend out of Al or brass and sand or file the radius to suit, the angle of the former will need to be slightly less than 90º.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    54
    Posts
    825

    Default

    G'day Tony and welcome to the forum.
    As Kryn says a drawing of what shape you need to bend to would be helpful.
    I've got a Bramely bender which will bend 25x3 like paper, the only problem might be the 30-40mm between bends part, I'm not sure what you mean by that.
    I'm in Fawkner and you are welcome to call in and see if it might do the job.
    Shoot me a pm to sort the details if you like.
    Cheers,
    Greg.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Coburg Melbourne
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Thanks guys,
    Apologies for posting in the wrong folder. I will read headings and instructions more carefully next time.
    I will probably buy a folder if I can't find someone local whose machine I can use. It looks like it would be a good thing to have in the workshop.
    Thanks for your kind offer Greg. I am in Coburg so not far away, so I will try to contact you next week to arrange a visit.
    I will PM you in the mean time.
    As to what I want to fold I can send you a photo once I have your number but what I wish to fold starts with a bit of flat bar 190mm long. 1st fold is 90 deg 10mm from one end. Next fold is 90 deg, 100mm from the first one, the 3rd fold is 90 deg 40mm from the second one and the final one is 90 deg 40mm from the third one. So I end up with 3 folds and viewed side on looks a bit like a capital G. Pretty straight forward.
    cheers Tony

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Vic
    Age
    48
    Posts
    544

    Default

    Hi Tony,

    I made an adaptor for the hydraulic bench press with Angle-Steel on the top and V-block for the bottom and it seem to work upto 90 degrees (probably a bit less after spring back). I bent 5mm x 30mm stainless steel before. I will take some photos tonight when I get home.

    below is the 3mmx25mm stainless steel I bent.
    20180127_145950.jpg

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Hi
    We are a nosy lot, aren't we?
    How many bent units do you require?
    If there is a good number involved it might well be beneficial to make a bending jig if you have the material and tools to make it.

    If your visit with Greg does not produce workable results something like this might be an answer for you.

    Yes the pic shows round bar but it will do copper flat easily. Practice on steel scrap steel first though.

    Some 25 x 10 flat bar, Grd. 8 or better bolts for pivot pins and a drill press and welder and its made.

    Cheap as chips. The pin spacing should accommodate the bend centers you require.

    If no materials some local eng shop / fabricators could cut some at a reasonable cost.


    Grahame

    simple pivot bender.jpg

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Vic
    Age
    48
    Posts
    544

    Default

    here it is with 5mm x 30mm ss. I tried to bend the round stock a few times too and it worked ...but they left those marks on the v-block.


    20180628_180730.jpg

    20180628_180752.jpg

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Hi tophi,

    Is there any progress with the quest for the suitable bender as yet?

    I saw this while surfing the net and if you have the tools it is pretty simple and cheap.

    Simple Bracket Bender

    When it does happen we here at the Metalwork Forum would love to see the results.

    Of course, that means pictures. We are all waiting in anticipation.

    Grahame

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