Relaxing Steel?

admin

Hello, I had my first experience making a frame for a round end table top yesterday.  I tacked a piece of 1" by 1/8 flat bar to my table and started bending it around the top, tacking as I went.  The last bit was tough on the thumbs as it was a tight bend and I ended up making a slight mistake (left a gap).My question is this, how could I limit the steels tendency to spring back closer to its old shape?  I need to keep the dimensions I have already made and just trim a slight bit out of the circle.  Would hitting it with a propane torch and letting it cool help?  Also, what is the proper word for steels tendency to not hold a bend?Thanks for all the help.
Reply:You need to cut a table top that is smaller and bend it around to allow for spring back.Ed 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:Well the table top is a piece of marble that has sentimental value to me so I can't trim the top down.  Actually my issue is the outer steel band being to big for the top not the top being to big for the band.
Reply:You cut a smaller diameter out of wood.   This is your bending jig.Smaller than the marble top so that when you go to wrap it around the marble it will spring back to the correct diameter you need.Last edited by Broccoli1; 01-19-2016 at 11:51 AM.Ed 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:Originally Posted by RonfoxrunHello, I had my first experience making a frame for a round end table top yesterday.  I tacked a piece of 1" by 1/8 flat bar to my table and started bending it around the top, tacking as I went.  The last bit was tough on the thumbs as it was a tight bend and I ended up making a slight mistake (left a gap).My question is this, how could I limit the steels tendency to spring back closer to its old shape?  I need to keep the dimensions I have already made and just trim a slight bit out of the circle.  Would hitting it with a propane torch and letting it cool help?  Also, what is the proper word for steels tendency to not hold a bend?Thanks for all the help.
Reply:Other tears are spring-back or memory.  You have to over bend such that when it springs back upon release of tension, it is in the final shape/dimension that you desire. Unless you have quite a propane torch or keep it hot for a good long while, it'll still spring back.  Getting it good and red hot with an O/A torch will do it faster. If you are using cold-rolled bar, annealing it in a fire before working will soften it up a bit."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Thanks for the input everyone, I ended up going a different route for securing the top but I need to know these things to incorporate bends that aren't locked into place. Every new project is something else I don't know yet so this is some fun learning.