Making bender parts all the same.

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So you have a bender and need 100 pcs all the same size. No problem here are a few tricks. I needed 100 hangers for my ceilingtrains.com bridges and they have to be exact to suit me anyway. I start with all my bending on the top of the frame unless its a real thick part and the bending would be done inside the frame where its stronger. I just use longer 5/8" bolts i got cheap from the farm store to hold the round dies. The first step is adding a length gauge to the center die bolt. (pic 1) that way i don't need to measure the parts on each bend. Mine is 8" in this pic. (pic 2) is a length gauge cut from sq tube that id ground on the corner to fit the already bent part radius then butts against the die. You must remove the tube before bending or you will have a nice radius and your part will be too long. So just insert it and set some tension on the steel with the handle then remove the gauge. (pic 3) is the bucket of parts that are the required 7 1/16" at the outside. So next time you hear you can't get perfect parts from a 49 dollar HF bender just give me a yell...Bob Attached ImagesBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:Nice work.  I've always had trouble with repeatability using that style of bender.  Now I know the solution.