bending up to 3/16" solid steel rods

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Hey all, new to the forum and to welding.  For my first custom project I want to make some guards for my tail lights.  I'm thinking about using 3/16" round solid core steel for the outside frame and then using some 1/8" solid core rod for the middle supports.I've seen that various manufacturers make tube benders (home depot has one by klien) that can bend tube with 3/16" outside diameter. I'm not sure it will work for solid core rods. And, the documentation does not mention anything about smaller diameter tubes. Also, it's a hand held tool and i'm not sure how easy it will be to work with 3/16" rods and get the angles I want.I thought about using a piece of thick scrap (1/4" or 3/8") and bolting it down to a work bench and having some lag type bolts (for smooth round top) also bolted down and sticking up in various configutions (30, 45, 90 degree, etc) and bending by hand.Would this work for bending 3/16" rods?  Or would it be better to buy one of the hand held tube benders if it can bend solid rods?I know aluminum would be lighter but I'm wanting to practice more on steel.- Dan M
Reply:You said thinking about 3/16" round solid core steel and 1/8" solid core rod. You need something else other than a hand held tubing bender. For most farm and small shop use they use a vise and a pipe of round pipe with some heat.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Bending 3/16" and 1/8" solid steel rod should be no problem without heat. If you are looking to do radius bends, find a suitable chunk of pipe matching the radius you need and maybe 1" high and weld it to either your table or any base that can be either bolted down or 'captured' in a vise or by other means. Run a 1/2" bolt pivot up through the plate in the middle of the radius and attach a wiper bar of 1/2" X 2" in a workable length of 2'-3' onto the pivot bolt. From the wiper bar, weld a short stub from the bar downwards to almost the table top on the working end of the wiper bar just on the outside of the pipe die with enough room for your rod to freely pass through. Add another bolt up through the your plate base anywhere around the perimeter of the pipe with enough room to shove in your section of 3/16" or 1/8" rod to be bent and this will anchor the rod while you 'clock' the wiper handle around the pipe die dragging the rod along the face of the pipe die as you go with the short stub. The bolt need not be tight to the rod as it will maintain its grip once you start the bend.Angle bends are even easier. Do a bit of searching on the site and you should come up with a workable design fairly easily...tired of typing now.Here is a manufactured version of the same idea:Last edited by WyoRoy; 01-18-2011 at 10:32 AM.Lincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:http://www.bacindustries.com/product...rod-mighty.phpHere is a link to the above tool.  These are sold at northern tool from the above company.
Reply:Excellent! Thanks for the replies.I totally spaced on checking at northern tool, I don't go there as often as I used to since I moved.- Dan M