Anybody have a good method for bending thick brass

[ps junkslinger]

I am trying to bend 1'' solid brass round stock. I keep getting cracks /breaks
tried heating and still getting the same effect. Anyone have a method ? I have never tried to bend this large of diameter and don't seem to be getting any where...

 

[rjspitz]

hmm, not sure, but you could try metalmeet.com, a good source for anything related to metal.

Here's a hit...
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=258584

 

[rsanter]

its all about how sharp you are trying to bend it
depending on the allow it will have a tendancy to crack

bob

 

[Kevin54]

About the only way, and it depends on th ebrass alloy would be a set of matched metal dies. But I seriously doubt that you are going to get it to bend without problems. When you start compressing and stretching it, then start seeing cracks, it's just as bad on the inside as you see on the outside. You might have to heat it with a rosebud to get it hot enough to bend without breaking. Whay are you trying to do? Maybe there is another alternative to what it is that you are trying to accomplish.

 

[rjspitz]

Brass does not bend with heat, it breaks. Non-ferrous metals need to be annealed prior to bending. Heat then immediately quench in cold water. Annealing makes brass softer, the opposite for ferrous metals which become more brittle by heat/quech cycles.

You'r best bet would probably be to heat/quench and bend a small radius, maybe 20% of the final radius. Then heat/quench again and bend another 20%. Continue this cycle until the it's in the shape you want, hopefully.

Read the post I linked to in my first reply.

 

[ps junkslinger]

I was actually using perfectly fit roller dies, I have one of those triple die roller benders and the heating and gradual bending did'nt work. I will mess around with rjspitz' heat quench advice. (oh yea, I am attemting to make a 1''dia set of handle bars for one my bikes. They will be very small drag style bars with only about an inch pull back on each side.)I figuered if they were very short the solid brass would be strong enough. I may be wrong. ? I actually spent a nice chunck of change on the brass and a few hours on the lathe knurling and making them look good and then I snapped them trying to make my first bend. Literally minutes from acomplishing my objective. Thanks for all of your advice. I will let everyone know how I make out with the heat quench method.......

 

[rjspitz]

Sounds like a fun project. I'd like to see pics whether or not it works.

 

[ps junkslinger]

I will post some soon , thanks for the help.....

 

[plinker]

Brass also "work hardens" meaning gets harder as you work it.


(it does for cartridge cases anyway)

 

[metal1313]

i dunno, it might be very very difficult to produce a decent bend in 1in brass. even with heating-quenching-bending cycles. before wasting a ton of money on brass, id think about making them out of steel and having them plated.

that said i love brass and copper, usually plating on bikes.