DIY solid rod bender - looking for help

[DesertGhost]

Hello everyone. This is my first post as I am new to this forum, but from what I can see, Im going to like this forum. You guys build some really nice welding tables (Im looking forward to building one for myself). But to my question. I am in need of a rod bender that can bend 1/4'' solid round bar, either HR or CR. HR is cheaper, but I like Cold Roll better. Im looking for some plans if anyone has any. I the bender will be in conjunction with a small table with adjustable stops for different lengths of rod. The bends will be 90 degree bends in a rectangle box to create a frame of sorts.

Im thinking that a piece of angle iron welded on end would give the necessary contact point to start the bend. My question is, how to create the handle and the piece to actually initiate and create the bend to a 90.

I hope all this makes sense. I dont want to go buy a bender from harbor freight or wherever that doesnt get down to a small enough piece with a tight enough corner. Unless it would be rather easy to modify that type of bender to create the effect I am looking for.

I am also looking for plans to build a DIY sheet metal brake to bend up to 14ga sheet metal to create a custom u-channel. if anyone has plans for this as well, Id really appreciate it.

thank you for all the help.

 

[lilredex]

Here's one, post #7, you can make it any size and install a square at that center pivot to get sharper bends...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69832

A HD sheet bender from the web..


screenshot green

 

[Outlawmws]

Here is one that I used years ago and it still get put to use once in a while.

I can't find the Bending handle, but just as rough, using a piece of tubing that slips over the top of the post and the handle welded to that, then a 'push plate" that moved the flat bar or round stock to bend it.

For a sharp bend you need to weld a post against the inside of the angle, and then use a similar pusher/handle to make the bend. sharp bends are tougher, and you may want to either get a small vertical hydraulic press and make some bending dies, and/or preheat he bend area.

for less than 90 degree bends on round stock you can slip a close fitting pipe over the stock and just bend it on the fixture.

 

[619DioFan]

Harbor freight sells a bender for flat and round stock. about 100.00 dollars. read some good reviews on it.

 

[APEowner]

1/4" solid round? You don't need a bender for that. Just stick it in a vice and bend it. Actually I just did a project with that and I bent most of it by sticking it in the end of the handle of my floor jack and bending it over.

 

[Crusty Nut]

1/4" solid round? You don't need a bender for that. Just stick it in a vice and bend it. Actually I just did a project with that and I bent most of it by sticking it in the end of the handle of my floor jack and bending it over.

Was just going to say the same thing. 1/4 round is easy to bend any which way you want.

 

[Outlawmws]

1/4" solid round? You don't need a bender for that. Just stick it in a vice and bend it. Actually I just did a project with that and I bent most of it by sticking it in the end of the handle of my floor jack and bending it over.

Was just going to say the same thing. 1/4 round is easy to bend any which way you want.

With sharp right angle bends? Really? Please post a pic of this in progress...

 

[A_Pmech]

With sharp right angle bends? Really? Please post a pic of this in progress...

Heat to medium cherry.

 

[Outlawmws]

Heat to medium cherry.

No mention was made by either about heat...

 

[rlitman]

With sharp right angle bends? Really? Please post a pic of this in progress...

Yeah, it still works, but you need to use a hammer. I'll do this with a 3# hand sledge. It does ding up the bend though, but it's fine for for when I don't care enough to use heat.

 

[A_Pmech]

No mention was made by either about heat...

Just messin'

 

[DesertGhost]

Thanks for all the help. I got to digging around a bit more and found a bender for the 1/4 rod. For the guys that said use a vise, that would have been an option except the bends are needed in precise locations and at a 90 degree without much distortion of the metal itself (other than the bend itself).

As for the sheet metal bender, I like the one posted as a reply, thanks for the help. I might be putting something together this weekend.