Metal bender

[Theintegrator]

I'm mainly a woodworker but am beginning to incorporate iron into my projects. I need to bend 2x1/4 flat stock to serve as legs for a 24x18x5 coffee table I'm making (I just recently cut the timber from a nice big fir I dropped on my property; used a chainsaw mill). I have looked at the HF model and think it's too puny. I checked out a northern tools model that's touted to handle what I need.

Here's the URL to the NT bender; sorry I can't upload a pic on the device I'm using now.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...duct_7826_7826

I would like a Hossfield but $$$$. Any opinions on what it would take to bend the stock I want to use?
Thanks.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Your link doesn't work for me. I think the BBS software truncated the address.

If you're milling your own lumber, you might want to look into bending steel without a bender:

http://www.metalgeek.com/archives/2005/05/01/000047.php

 

[Theintegrator]

Jack, this is sweet. Thanks a ton.

 

[Zeke]

1/4" x 2" is some tough stuff. You're right, the HF bender might not be the ticket.
Question is, how tight a radius? And how many? If it's a gentle bend, you can use a vise. Heat works too. If you find a 2" square tube, you can slip that over the flat bar for leverage. Or a large dia pipe. I've put bar under my truck tire and bent it.

Also you can bend between two beefy rods or bolts mounted through lumber with a 2" open space. Driven into a stump. The ideas are endless.