Is 20 ton enough?

[Dustind]

Heat and beat. If your worried about strength this is the best way.

 

[bigdeano]

This place has good info on the differences between propane and acetylene if the OP is still interested.

Oxyfuel cutting - process and fuel gases - Job Knowledge 49

 

[dragoneggs]

Heat and beat. If your worried about strength this is the best way.

Hard to argue here.

 

[bandaidmd]

you will never be able to bend that in a regular press without a fingered press break.

 

[dadster4]

I would heat it, then clamp the portion to be bent in a sturdy vise using the leverage of the long length to bend it. Add additional length by clamping a 2x4 to the steel if necessary for better leverage.

 

[handirifle]

big deano,
Thanks for the link. Will study up on it.

dadster4

That's how I usually bend most things in the shop. It is also how I did the 1/4" test piece. The press was a passing thought, but I need to upgrade my torch set. The little MC set has seen it's better days. Thinking of a cheap set from Harbor Freight, cause I only use it for projects like this so welding isn't critical. Unless someone knows they are dangerous or something.

 

[dragoneggs]

Hey handrifle, surely don't want us all to talk you out of a 20T HF press. I do love mine, just can't get the sharp bends especially on thin metals. That said, I can do a whole lot of bending/pressing with it for $150 or so. Good luck.

 

[handirifle]

LOL Yea new toys (er tools) are always good, but limited funds will only let me get the gas setup. It will do what I want to do better anyway.

 

[Dieseljeeper]

Howdy, first off, the HF 20 ton press is a bit weak, the biggest problem being the cast plates that come with it. I broke one in half bending metal with mine and also broke my foot. I used the remaining plate to make a nice pattern and cut some new base plates out of 3/4 plate. One other way you can make the bend you want would be cut the outside of the bend you want to make 1/2 way through with a cut off wheel or hacksaw, make your bend and weld the cut closed. Once youve split your angle you have lost the strength of the section of angle anyway and that way would be stonger than a piece of flat bar welded in

 

[muddstopper]

I have bent some pretty thick metal using a cut off wheel on my grinder. For 3/4 I cut a slot about half way thru, heat and bend, then weld up the grove. Scoreing with the grinder first gives a sharp straight line to bend by. Using heat and a 2ft long crescent wrench and it bends pretty easy. Has been a time or two that after welding up the grove, I have took the grinder to the weld to make it a sharp corner. Most of the time the extra grinding is just to much work.