Bent Bucket

[TPnTX]

I've read a lot of ideas and watched a few videos on straightening a bent bucket blade. There are some pretty interesting ideas and different ways to do it. In a similar mindset as most of those ideas I was determined this past weekend to fix mine. I really dreaded it too because my list of things to do is pretty long right now.
Literally at the last second it occurred to me a possible way that was so easy. I knew I'd saved a heavy gauge ornamental fence post that I'd cut loose leaving the rail stubs. I grabbed it a heavy duty clamp and a pipe wrench.
Problem solved and it worked great. I know this is a fairly common issue for some so I wanted to share and maybe save someone else some headache and time.

Many things could be used as a standoff type setup. The 2" square tube worked well because something like 4x4 wood post + stand offs is too big for a typical clamp to grab.

 

[coldsteelva]

In that pick it looks clamped in the wrong direction. In that orientation, the clamp would be creating/worsening the bend and not lessening it. Shouldn't the bar stubs be inverted under the bucket with the clamping force going the other way?

Please explain how this would work.

 

[TPnTX]

Nope, the edge was bent down. "smile". To straighten you overshoot by bending into the "frown" position. take your time and don't go too far. bend check, bend more check until it's perfect and straight.

 

[Sysop]

good job! and welcome to TBN!

 

[k0ua]

Thanks for posting.

"remember a smile is just a frown turned upside down"

 

[Thomas]

Good idea :thumbsup: thanks for sharing.

 

[Deere Dude]

How are you going to keep it straight now. Unless it is beefed up it will bend back easily, I would think.

 

[Egon]

To make it a none repeat cut off the present cutting edge and put a larger sized one on.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yep welcome and good thinking... I think I would attach a wear strip to reinforce it.

 

[coldsteelva]

Nope, the edge was bent down. "smile". To straighten you overshoot by bending into the "frown" position. take your time and don't go too far. bend check, bend more check until it's perfect and straight.

'

Okay, I thought that was the BEFORE picture not the after. Thanks for clearing that up.