Bending 1/2" steel rod?

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I need to bend some 3/8 or 1/2 inch rod into a 90 degree angle, can this be done with a small propane torch or do you need something that gets hotter than that. I do not need to do too much of it, but not sure if I need to pick up a torch to do this kind of work.
Reply:A propane plumbers torch will do that, but it will take a long time to get hot enough.A MAPP plumbers torch with a swirl flame will work very well.
Reply:A compact bender will do it quickly and easily...but if limited to a torch, I would probably want to use oxy-mapp, oxy-propane or oxy-acetylene personally.--Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:hammer and a hole will make all the 90* you will ever want to make.  put pressure in the direction you want to bend and use the hammer to upset the metal.  in a very short time you will have a perfect 90*
Reply:use a hole and pipe and cold bend it.  you can also dress it up with the hammer.
Reply:i have a 20/20 bender from shop outfitters(i would not buy anything from them again)the HF bender will bend 1/2 solid but you get what you pay for Attached Images
Reply:How pretty does it need to be?  All you really need is a vise and a sledge hammer (or a big pipe wrench).Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:I have a 2020 benderI have a Mapp TorchI have a BFHand have used all 3 methodsIf you are going to  Bend it cold a piece of Pipe to slip over the Rod will help with leverage.Just stick the Rod in a Vise and bendEd 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:Thank you Jack and Scott for reassuring me that there are still people out there that can think past their machines!!!!  Next grilled cheese is on me! Like they have said, a vise or hole in your table and a 3' length of black pipe and you done. I made a scrap 1/2" plate that clamps to my bench or vise that has 5/8, 1/2, 3/8, 1/4, and 1/8" holes that I use to do sharp bends with. Even have a depth stop for accuracy and repeatability. No heat needed. Though the heavier you are the easier it would be, I supposeYou didn't say how sharp a bend you need?200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:thanks bert.  If you want a radius bend use the hole the table and bend it over a peice of pipe the diameter of the bend you want.  With my big rear I should be able to bend 1" cold roll. LOL
Reply:Google Search Tip.It is actually easier to search Google Images when looking for references as it only finds Images with the words associated with the Image- Search Google Images for  "Bending Jig"http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&s...=&oq=&gs_rfai=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:This isn't anything fancy or even particularly tight.  But it's 1/2" round stock that I needed to turn up.  I just used a long pipe wrench to twist each end up.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:thanks ed.  that was a feature i had forgotten about.  too cool.  I stumbled across that a while back and wasted a day cruzing pictures.  I like it.
Reply:Google changed the game big time a couple years ago when they created a game to Tag/Label all of the Images on the internet- pretty cool idea and how it exploded with people playing the game.http://images.google.com/imagelabeler/Before the Google Labels only Images that were tagged by the author would show up in a Search. Searching Images is/was great because if you searched "bandsaw" it only found images that were actually labeled and those were usually inside a Manufacturer's Website or a personal website where someone took the time to label the images.If you searched Google Web it found every reference to Bandsaw on the netEd 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 Jack OlsenThis isn't anything fancy or even particularly tight.  But it's 1/2" round stock that I needed to turn up.  I just used a long pipe wrench to twist each end up.
Reply:It is easier than you think.  Follow these steps, I can testify from experience that they work:1. Select a 1/2" steel rod that you need to keep straight - this is very important, it should be absolutely necessary that this particular sample remain straight (intended to be used as an axle for example).2. In the middle of an unrelated project decide that you need to pry something - it doesn't matter what it is as long as it is big (in my case a piece of the 1 ton pickup rear suspension).3. Use the rod selected in step 1 to try to pry the work (in my case moving a 2000# item).4. Watch the rod bend quickly and easily.5. Go buy another rod to replace the one that absolutely needed to be straight.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:Originally Posted by bert the welderNice gusset detail, Jack!
Reply:Originally Posted by gwileyIt is easier than you think.  Follow these steps, I can testify from experience that they work:1. Select a 1/2" steel rod that you need to keep straight - this is very important, it should be absolutely necessary that this particular sample remain straight (intended to be used as an axle for example).2. In the middle of an unrelated project decide that you need to pry something - it doesn't matter what it is as long as it is big (in my case a piece of the 1 ton pickup rear suspension).3. Use the rod selected in step 1 to try to pry the work (in my case moving a 2000# item).4. Watch the rod bend quickly and easily.5. Go buy another rod to replace the one that absolutely needed to be straight.