How to bend flat bar stock?

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I make a lot of farm implement projects for my little John Deere tractors of years gone by. I'm always bending flat stock for brackets like 3 point hitch mounts. I usually use 3/8" x 2" cold rolled steel. I have been bending it using a jig welded on a piece of 3" channel, by heating the stock with a rosebud to the point it easily bends to match the jig.  Anybody have a bender design that would bend stuff that thich hydraulically ?  Like a press brake type thing ? Or am I on the right track?   Here's a tandem disc I build from old Brinly parts and some of my own design and fabrication. Attached ImagesNot a beginner, not a pro !
Reply:How 'bout this Planewelder...Press brakehttp://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:If you have a press you can buy short mechanical brake dies to use in the press..... 3/8 x 2' wouldn't take alot of pressure, with a 2" bottom die opening I think it works out to about 7 tons or so.Or you could just look at what ZT posted while I was typing at my painfully slow pace Last edited by lorenzo; 12-31-2006 at 05:25 PM._________________Chris
Reply:Cold rolled will crack, doesn't bend well at all because it is workhardened.  If you will heat it in the area to be bent to barely red, you can let it cool and bend it cold on a bender.  I'm partial to a hossfeld type of bender.  When you heat it like that, it takes away the work hardness.
Reply:Originally Posted by lorenzoOr you could just look at what ZT posted while I was typing at my painfully slow pace
Reply:Heres a little guideline..works in the field or in the shop..http://www.weldingweb.com/search.php?searchid=105265...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:lol go to "bend then weld" post.. ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:you will still have to heat cold rolled to form it hot rolled can be bent with out heat ,but not cold rolledChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Compression formed bends are nice, but for what you are doing not really necessary.  Any press would probably do the bends you showed there. I've got a cheapo 20 ton and make my own jigs for whatever I need. It doesn't take a very elaborate punch and die for those bends. They are pretty forgiving and the iron cooperates very well. A 12 ton would probably work unless you want to get into the crush mode. Keep the receiving die more open in design and the punch sized in the 1/2" range and cracking shouldn't be an issue. The grain is lineal with the flat strap and your bends will be across the grain. Cracking generally gets to be more of an issue when either bending with the grain and/or tiny radius bends and punches and/or radical compression bends.For what you are building, micro cracks aren't too much of a concern any way.
Reply:I have bent a huge amount of cold rolled flat.  In my experience, all the material in the bend area must be softened by heating to a dull red.  Once this is done, the material can be bent while it is hot or after it cools off.  It is a lot easier to handle after it cools.  I would never trust a bend in a piece of 1018 cold rolled steel just as it comes from the distributor.
Reply:Check out the new sig for zap, lol..Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Check out the new sig for zap, lol..
Reply:The place to look at is "Shop Outfitters"  They make a large number of great metal forming tools, Benders, Rollers, Press Brakes for a Hydraulic Press, and many others.  Their e-mail is "shopoutfitters.com" and their phone is 719-676-5555.  Also, check out "plasmacam.com"., part of the same company. All of their tools are "Made in The U.S.A"  GOOD FOR THEM.
Reply:The place to look at is "Shop Outfitters"  They make a large number of great metal forming tools, Benders, Rollers, Press Brakes for a Hydraulic Press, and many others.  Their e-mail is "shopoutfitters.com" and their phone is 719-676-5555.  Also, check out "plasmacam.com"., part of the same company. All of their tools are "Made in The U.S.A"  GOOD FOR THEM.        Hope This Helps.       Billetbob