I had a guy from work ask me to build him a grill for his fire pit...need some help

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Ok a guy asked if i could make him a 50" dia gril for his fire pit. I have no way of bending the metal into a circle. i was going to use like 1/8" or smaller by 1" wide for the base. then was going to put some type of a gril like on top. BUT should i make my only tool to bend the metal and do you have prints or pics to show for making oneOR should i just go to HF and buy one of these...it looks like the Gear Driven Ring Roller for $64 would be my best bet cuz im looking to go cheap as i can.12" x 20 Gauge Slip Roll. $199Gear Driven Ring Roller $64Tubing Roller $169 and make the base out of tubing?
Reply:I have made several custom fire rings recently. I dont have a roll so I make hexagon shaped fire rings. I cut out each of the 6 pieces on my cnc table, then stick weld them together.I use 12 gauge steel.Last edited by snoeproe; 05-25-2012 at 06:55 PM.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:A 50" circle can be easily bent by hand with a bending fork. You can either build one to hold in the vise, or one with a handle to use by hand. Simply lay out a full size circle on the floor and then keep tweeking the bends with the fork until it matches the circle. If need be you can do this in segments and then weld the pieces together.A fork will easily do 1/4" x 1" material. 1/8" I could probably do by hand. Simply bend it around to match and tack the ends together and then tweek as needed to get all the kinks out.I'v also hand bent arcs around existing items, though they usually were smaller diameters. Truck rims, barrels, pipe... all can be used as a form to bend thin stock. If need be I'll sometimes tack the stock to the form and then wrap it around and hold it in place while I tack the two pieces together. Then grind off the original tack and cut thru 1/2 the material with a grinder, retack that section together and then cut the rest of the way thru and fully weld. I've done basement window well grates this way in a pinch. Attached ImagesLast edited by DSW; 05-25-2012 at 07:09 PM..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:well he already has a circle pit in the ground. but yea looks easy enough to build...i will try that to save some money!!! thanks
Reply:You could even use his pit as a jig.
Reply:1/8"x1" material ---- cut the proper length then weld the ends together. Lay a section of the ring  between wood blocks and  fine tune your ring by tapping the section with a hammer, rotate as necessary.  You will probably be close to a circle when you weld the ends, if you get the butt joint correct.
Reply:You can make a jig by taking a piece of plywood and cut it in the shape of a circle. Then wrap your flat stock around it. When you weld it all together it will hold the circular shape.
Reply:+1 on the plywood jig. For one offs, we use plywood forms. If its heavier material, punch a 1/2 hole on the center of the jig and use that for a pivot for a square tube handle and pusher block or bearing to force the material along the curve. "Anybody can talk $h!t behind a monitor, I let the quality of my work speak for itself"Lincoln Square Wave 255 and 355 Tig Lincoln 255 Power-Mig w/ spool gun Koike 5 x 10 CNC plasma Hyd-Mech DM-10 bandsaw Ineco QB-76 NC tube bender
Reply:1/8 x 1" you can easily bend by hand and form a very nice circle. DSW s bending fork is also a great helper.
Reply:Take my advice and stay far away from the harbor freight tubing roller (the one you posted on the stand) I got one and attempted to bend a 2in .045 wall aluminum tube, and it did 10 ft of tube, then broke. It was all we could do with 2 of us to turn the wheel. We spent about 3 hours on the first piece, and got just enough of a bend on the second to scrap it. I would just fine the circumfrence and cut and bend by hand and weld.On another thought why not make or buy the grill first. Then build the ring arround it. You could bend a little and tack it bend a little and tack it. And eventually you would get it done.Last edited by ★ NoBigDeal Fab ★; 05-26-2012 at 11:08 PM.Offering CNC Plasma cutting and welding projects.Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nobigdeal.fabSupport those that support WW.
Reply:Originally Posted by Mango MattoYou can make a jig by taking a piece of plywood and cut it in the shape of a circle. Then wrap your flat stock around it. When you weld it all together it will hold the circular shape.
Reply:...and keep in mind that a sheet of plywood is 48"If there's a fab shop near you, how about finding out if they will make the bend for you and save yourself the headache. If they have a ring roller it won't take them but a few minutes and shouldn't cost much, some shops would do it for free advertising and good karma.Powcon 400SM2-PD60 wire feedersMiller XR controlAlumapro push/pull gunSpeedglas 9100xBFH
Reply:I could probably do by hand. Simply bend it around to match and tack the ends together and then tweek as needed to get all the kinks out.
Reply:so there is a fab shop near me that will do it for $40 with the metal. so i think ill just go that way. like bryan27 said...save the headache if the other guy is paying any ways.Ill post pics when i get it and when i do my welding on it to finish it up!
Reply:Originally Posted by NoBigDeal FabTake my advice and stay far away from the harbor freight tubing roller (the one you posted on the stand)
Reply:Yeah make your own. Look at swagoffroad.com for dies. He has them that were redesigned to make the harbor fright roller better. His dies would be a good place to start on your own build.Offering CNC Plasma cutting and welding projects.Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nobigdeal.fabSupport those that support WW.
Reply:yea most HF stuff looks good in the pics and then when u see it and touch it you see how much of a POS it really is!
Reply:I think every thing in there is a POS. Every thing i had interest in had something F'd up with it. And thats stuff they had on the show room floor!  I did buy some Pittsburg clamps, a step drill, plastic angle finder and a caster for my MIG cart; with the expectation that it's all disposable.Safety 3rdGump
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmDo this then leave it on the plywood while you tack the grill.  Keep in mind that a surface that big will want to sag when it gets hot.
Reply:well i showed the guy the prints and told him $150 and he said no thanks...he said he would buy some grill tops at mejier and have me weld them together...damn cheap ***. that will sag and fall right into the fire. sounds like a waste of my time.
Reply:Welding = $100.00Make it worth your timeEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Any time I have to make a circle I find something that is close enough like a rim, barrel, bar, etc. tack it on one end heat the bajesus aot of it as i work it around overlapping then cut through both pieces together. Twist into position and weld. Works like a charm.HammerFile Big Hammer------------------------------Here, let me Google that for you...