Welding Table Mounted Bender, think it will work?

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Looking to make a small bench mounted bender. You think this design will be capable of bending 1/8" pieces?Its 1/4" steel construction all around.Attachment 1112641Attachment 1112651Attachment 1112661Attachment 1112671Attachment 1112681www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:You probably will be able to do narrow pieces, but not very wide. I used to put 2-3" pieces in my vise and hammer down the other end to 90 degrees. Takes a lot to bend a 3" piece.I would think about reversing the design so you are pulling down (think use your weight) rather than doing arm curls up. Not much difference in building it.I finally took all the advice on here and bought a HF 20 Ton press. They are on sale right now for $155. Then you still have to build a simple brake, but would be a lot easier than building the design you have. I quickly put together a simple brake that does 5/8" solid rod with ease. It would do 5" wide 1/8" gauge, no sweat. I also built a 18" brake out of scrap in my shop. Let me know if you want a picture of either.Last edited by wb4rt; 05-18-2015 at 04:45 PM.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:I've seen several that were made similarly and they worked great for the user, but the radius of the bent corners was like 1/2"-1/4" at the best. But all the ones I've seen have used more than just a flat plate to hold down the work piece. Usually a combination of Angle iron or even a truss structure. Something that supports the middle of the piece more than just the sides. The ones I've seen would bend like 30" lengths.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:I would be bending 2" pieces tops. I currently use the vise and BFH technique.If the table was lifting off the ground from the force I would probably flip the bender over to push down.www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:It would probably be a wise move to bolt the table to the floor regardless of the direction of the bend to prevent the table from skating away from the downforce or up as you move through your bending arc. This project is for bending 2" pieces, but if you're like anyone I know, it will soon be used for other projects especially if you make a decent quality brake. A 10 to 20 ton press may be the best way to go given the 2" pieces, they're cheap and can be easily used for myriad purposes.  When a welder tells you to "stick it", what do they really mean?"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
Reply:Yes, it will work.  I would suggest a different configuration to bend heavier stock or purchase something.  Seems like a lot of work for 1/8" flat. Should you proceed, Add a squaring fence and depth stop.
Reply:Are you bending 1/8th steel or aluminum? For aluminum I built something very similar. I've bent 16 gauge steel with mine without any problems. For 1/8th steel I suspect the design is too light weight unless you hot bend. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ade-snow-shoesThicker material is generally bent using an air brake (meaning the bend is performed in the air above the die). 1/8" mild steel requires about 7.2 tons per foot to brake using a 1" wide die. You should search for a "vise press brake" which should bend a few inches easily. Here's a cheap one: https://www.grizzly.com/products/4-Vise-Brake/H3243Or make one easy enough like this:http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/be...er-please.html
Reply:I've got a home made bender similar to what you're depicting there. It does a lot but it gets down to manpower and table weight. The tight radius they can bend takes some uuumph. About 1x1/2" by 1/8th and I've got to use one leg to hold the table down. Course it's only a couple hundred pounds. Maybe a table around 400lbs would max out the user. I do use it every now and then just because of the convenience."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt