bending sheet metal

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kenny chaos

Minister of Fire
Apr 10, 2008
1,995
Rochester,ny
1/8"x48"x48" needs to be bent into a "V" shape for trough around 6-way splitter. The bottom point of the "V" will actually be 8" across and the sides need to come up at 45 degrees. There is a guy around the corner with a giant break but he's very seldom in his shop and doesn't like visitors at the house. With a couple pointers, it seems like it would be easy enough to do.
Thanks-
 
hmmmm. I thought I could just bolt a 2x8 down the center of it and run a torch along one side at a time till it softened enough to bend my angle?
 
48" is a long run to heat at one time and keep the entire length hot all at once. Might work if you had 3 torches going all at once.
Some structural steel distributors have breaks and shears. You might want to check around.Maybe even the place you bought your piece.
 
LEES WOOD-CO said:
48" is a long run to heat at one time and keep the entire length hot all at once. Might work if you had 3 torches going all at once.
Some structural steel distributors have breaks and shears. You might want to check around.Maybe even the place you bought your piece.

That's the cool part. I didn't have to buy it. It was a "reflective" shield behind the old stove which was replaced at your guys's insistance! Did I remember to thank you for that?

I do appreciate the replys-
 
One way to do it if you can not find someone with a break is to drill a bunch of holes along the bend line, make the bend and then weld them up, a little hoakey but it works.
 
If you are going to bother welding, cut the sheet into three sections, position them as you like, then weld them together. Personaly, I would bring it to a sheetmetal shop. Craig is right, 11 ga. by 48 inches is a difficult bend by hand. As far as using a 2x, when the metal is hot enough to bend, the wood would be incinerated. If however you MUST bend it by hand, scribe a line at each bend, chase the lines with a large, sharp cold chisel and a big hammer. Clamp the work to a solid metal table, with the chisel scored lines down, and a large section of chanel iron or angle iron on top, and then beat like heck, here heat will help immencely, yet you will be amazed at the effort required.
 
At 1/8", I'd be inclined to cut and weld if I had that option but not a break. Heating and bending is more work, and usually less accurate, even when scored with a chisel as described above.
 
madrone said:
At 1/8", I'd be inclined to cut and weld if I had that option but not a break. Heating and bending is more work, and usually less accurate, even when scored with a chisel as described above.

Agreed
 
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