"Customizing" a tool

[kythri]

So, dumb question.

I've never had the need to heat up a wrench and bend it to something well outside it's parameters as sold.

I don't have the need now, for that matter, but I was curious - are you able to do this with a propane/not-MAPP torch? Or does this require something significantly hotter?

 

[Finky198]

I bent a Craftsman flat blade screw driver with a benzomatic torch and propane. It’s definitely not the fastest method but it worked. I was making a tool for setting trampoline springs.

I have access to a few other torches as well including oxy actyl.. which will do much more in terms of btu. Also different tips spread heat differently. All depends on what your bending

For instance I have some 3/16 steel diamond plate that I need to bend for a trailer and there’s no way I would attempt that with a small propane torch... could you do it with a b tank Probably, but with the oxy actyl setup it will take a few minutes... instead of 20

 

[michaelf]

yes, you can do it with a propane torch, can't beat oxygen, acetylene though

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

You can do a 90 bend with a hammer and the curb too.

 

[samss]

In a pinch one time needing a 1/2" crows foot, took a 1/2" combination wrench and bent it without heat. I expected it to break.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

These were both done on middle of the night, side of the road service calls with MAP gas on a plumbers torch. It's a yellow bottle around here.

There's a reason I kept a spare set or two of wrenches in the truck, not going to use a quality wrench for this. I've noticed now that if you can't buy it (or have it bought for you) the techs just won't do the job. It's a different world out there now.