Bending 1/2” round stock in a radius

[Threadkiller]

I have to bend a piece of 1/2” round stock in roughly a 24” radius. The piece is 48” in length. Is there any clever way to do this without a roller? I was going to buy the roller from harbor freight but I’ll probably only use it once, I don’t feel like wasting $200. I don’t have a torch aside from a mapp gas torch. I do have the harbor freight compact bender. I thought about using that and slowly making tiny bends along the length? Idk if that’ll make a nice final result though.

 

[y'sguy]

What is the material? mild steel? If so it can be bent into a radius a section at a time.
With a simple peg-style cold bending rig, a vice and a long section of pipe. How accurate or precise it is up to you.

 

[larry_g]

Making some topiary frames for the wife I opened my vise to ~4" and laid the bar across the opening. I then hammered the bar above the opening, moving it back and forth till I had persuaded the bar into the shape I wanted. It's not real fast but produces the results I wanted and with patience you can achieve some real good results. I didn't beat it with large blows from the hammer, just gentle hits and going through the process till it was shaped as I wanted.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[JeepYJ]

The radius (half the diameter of the circle) is 24”? And you have a piece 48” long? That won’t be much of a bend. Make a template on a sheet of plywood and use wood blocks to make a jig?

 

[Threadkiller]

I actually "misspoke" the radius is 1'. Thank you guys for the suggestions.

 

[Threadkiller]

What is the material? mild steel? If so it can be bent into a radius a section at a time.
With a simple peg-style cold bending rig, a vice and a long section of pipe. How accurate or precise it is up to you.

yes, its mild steel. I have a small peg style bender too. Not sure it goes up to .5" capacity

Making some topiary frames for the wife I opened my vise to ~4" and laid the bar across the opening. I then hammered the bar above the opening, moving it back and forth till I had persuaded the bar into the shape I wanted. It's not real fast but produces the results I wanted and with patience you can achieve some real good results. I didn't beat it with large blows from the hammer, just gentle hits and going through the process till it was shaped as I wanted.

lg
no neat sig line

hmm thats clever. Could be an option.

 

[JeepYJ]

1’ radius makes it simpler. Use a barrel or a bike rim or something close to 24” diameter.
Are you bending it to 90° Elbow or half circle or full circle?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Lay out your radius minus a couple inches for spring back on a piece of plywood. Cut it out and sandwich that piece between 2 other pieces slightly bigger. Drop a screw or bolt thru to hold the rod at the beginning. Bend it...

 

[whateg01]

Cheap, the plywood ideas above work. If you start with the form the size you want, you can do a sample bend to figure out how much springback you'll get then modify the form to account got it. Start with the workpiece long if you want the radius to go all the way to the ends. Cut the straight sections at each end off. Also gives you more leverage when you get to the short end.

 

[y'sguy]

yes, its mild steel. I have a small peg style bender too. Not sure it goes up to .5" capacity

OK, yes, the peg bender is the correct method but, you just need to weld up or make a slightly larger jig out of at least .5" material pegs.. It's just scaled up from your small version.
You can draw out a circle pattern the size you need on any surface ( floor, table, paper whatever) to keep checking g how the radius progresses. It is merely a guide.

 

[y'sguy]

oh, ok. I just read the 1" diameter. That will be a little tougher, but can still be done. You'll need a stout vise mounting with very little movement. you will have to get a large enough piece of pipe tp slip over the 1" bar. At least 3' to 5'. This might provide enough leverage
1/2" is a big difference than 1" to deal with by hand on a 24" radius.

 

[BD1]

What is this for ? Do you have a welding machine ? A metal cutting portaband or bandsaw ? You could make a series of saw kerfs on the outside of the radius and then bend around something to give you the radius you want. Then weld the saw kerfs.

 

[MushCreek]

I've bent stuff into a radius using a conduit bender. Takes a good eye. Keep tweaking it, using a template to check your progress. Won't be perfect; depends on the final use.

 

[PCustoms]

oh, ok. I just read the 1" diameter. That will be a little tougher, but can still be done. You'll need a stout vise mounting with very little movement. you will have to get a large enough piece of pipe tp slip over the 1" bar. At least 3' to 5'. This might provide enough leverage
1/2" is a big difference than 1" to deal with by hand on a 24" radius.

1/2" stock on a 1' radius, unless I read wrong

 

[gte718p]

1/2 in stock, 24 inch radius.

 

[PCustoms]

1/2 in stock, 24 inch radius.

Try again:

I actually "misspoke" the radius is 1'. Thank you guys for the suggestions.

 

[bb29510]

you tube, there a lot of people bending rebar in circles on you tube

 

[Monza Harry]

Am I missing something here? He states that the stock is 48" lg. 48" ÷ π = 15.2788745368" [as circumference= Ø X π.] So he needs a longer piece to accomplish this piece, and at least a foot/foot and a half longer to hold onto to make the bend he desires, and then cut to length [3-6" at the start that will be straight and a foot to pull around his form same will happen with the roller as well (straight at beginning and at the end)]. The plywood/bicycle wheel as a form is likely the cheapest/easiest approach. Alternatively hang out at HF/PAL until you see someone carry one out and see if he would be willing to roll yours for some assistance and cash. Harry [24" × π = 75.3982236862"]

 

[JeepYJ]

Am I missing something here?

He didn’t say he needs to make a complete circle, just a bend with a 12” radius. He hasn’t specified how much of a bend he needs.

 

[Threadkiller]

Thank you guys for the responses. The bend will be a total length of about 3 feet. I figured the 4' piece of stock I got would leave enough room to hold it and bend it but i could be wrong hence why im here haha.

 

[JeepYJ]

would leave enough room to hold it and bend it

Slide a piece of pipe over the end to give you the leverage to bend it around your jig.

 

[PCustoms]

Thank you guys for the responses. The bend will be a total length of about 3 feet. I figured the 4' piece of stock I got would leave enough room to hold it and bend it but i could be wrong hence why im here haha.

So you have 1/2" stock, that you want to bend into an arc with an arc length of 36" (3') and a radius of 12" (1').

 

[Threadkiller]

correct

 

[PCustoms]

correct

How many you making?

 

[MovingAlong]

And what is the level of precision required? (hint: knowing the purpose would be a huge help here...)

If just garden art, just grab a sawhorse and push down on each end making little bends along the way until you're close enough.

 

[Threadkiller]

How many you making?

just one

And what is the level of precision required? (hint: knowing the purpose would be a huge help here...)

If just garden art, just grab a sawhorse and push down on each end making little bends along the way until you're close enough.

its actually going to be a handle for a cauldron style firepit. The fire pit will be a tripod with a chain hanging and a hook. The hook will be holding the bent stock. the stock will be attached to a bowl made from an old well tank. It doesnt have to be precise, just has to look as nice as possible and be the right dimensions to meet the outside of the well tank.

 

[WoodsTruck]

Any chance any part of the well tank is stout enough to bend the rod around it?
I would think if it were bent around the tank, the exising springback would be about right for a handle offset when completed.

 

[PCustoms]

just one

its actually going to be a handle for a cauldron style firepit. The fire pit will be a tripod with a chain hanging and a hook. The hook will be holding the bent stock. the stock will be attached to a bowl made from an old well tank. It doesnt have to be precise, just has to look as nice as possible and be the right dimensions to meet the outside of the well tank.

Trace your shape on a template.

Mark every few inches along the length of the rod

Put it in a vice/bench corner etc. and bend a little at each mark. Check against template. Repeat as needed.

Alternatively you can make a small section of plywood for cut to the 1' radius and bend against that. Either way your "tails" will be a bit straight, so plan to cut 6" off each end.

Heating the bar to red will make it bend easier.

 

[MovingAlong]

just one

its actually going to be a handle for a cauldron style firepit. The fire pit will be a tripod with a chain hanging and a hook. The hook will be holding the bent stock. the stock will be attached to a bowl made from an old well tank. It doesnt have to be precise, just has to look as nice as possible and be the right dimensions to meet the outside of the well tank.

Precise may be inconsistent with the feel of the project then anyways... seems like any of the suggested methods will meet your needs.

Be sure to post pictures of your work and the results when finished! Interested to see how this one turns out.

 

[Fixr]

Precise may be inconsistent with the feel of the project then anyways... seems like any of the suggested methods will meet your needs.

Be sure to post pictures of your work and the results when finished! Interested to see how this one turns out.

Doesn't the classic bail for a cauldron have kind of an upward kink in the middle of the bend to keep it centered on the hook that it hangs from? Might be good to start with that kink and bend toward each end from there. Adjust until the cauldron hangs level enough for the purpose.

 

[Threadkiller]

Any chance any part of the well tank is stout enough to bend the rod around it?
I would think if it were bent around the tank, the exising springback would be about right for a handle offset when completed.

I thought about that. Unfortunately its kinda thin. The remainder of the tank will be getting cut up and tossed to Im not worried about hurting it.

Trace your shape on a template.

Mark every few inches along the length of the rod

Put it in a vice/bench corner etc. and bend a little at each mark. Check against template. Repeat as needed.

Alternatively you can make a small section of plywood for cut to the 1' radius and bend against that. Either way your "tails" will be a bit straight, so plan to cut 6" off each end.

Heating the bar to red will make it bend easier.

Thank you.

Precise may be inconsistent with the feel of the project then anyways... seems like any of the suggested methods will meet your needs.

Be sure to post pictures of your work and the results when finished! Interested to see how this one turns out.

I definitely will!

Doesn't the classic bail for a cauldron have kind of an upward kink in the middle of the bend to keep it centered on the hook that it hangs from? Might be good to start with that kink and bend toward each end from there. Adjust until the cauldron hangs level enough for the purpose.

They do actually. I wanted to steer away from doing that. Im actually loosely copying the cowboy cauldron and they are just a regular radius. Im not sure if the bowl will be inclined to move without the upward kink like you said. I might have to figure out a way to keep it where I want it. I didnt want to make that kink.

 

[JeepYJ]

I might have to figure out a way to keep it where I want it

A couple clamps or weld short pieces to each side of the center to act as stops.