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Bent steel rod

4K views 12 replies 13 participants last post by  MrRon 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
For my current project, I need to either make or buy a steel rod (probably either 3/8" or 1/2" diameter) with a 90 degree bend in it.

I can find all the straight steel rod I could want online or in local stores.

Does anyone have any experience with bending rods like this, and if so could you please share!

Thanks,
Mike
 
#2 ·
You have to heat it if you want a tight bend. You can
take a couple of pipes and tap a hole in each one for a
set screw, then clamp the pipes to your rod with
perhaps 3" of rod exposed in the middle. Heat it red hot
with a torch if you want a tight bend. If you want
less tight bend you can do it cold. Clamp a 3/4" pipe
upright in your vise and use it as a fulcrum to pull the
pipe handles towards you.

There are lots of ways to do it. If you try to do it without
handles you'll get a bulging affect near the bend. It
won't look like a straight rod with a clean bend in it.
 
#8 ·
If you can't find a welder, a muffler should should be able to as well if you don't feel like cranking up a torch or even a BBQ pit with a little charcoal.

It doesn't take a lot to bend 1/2" stock.
 
#10 ·
Depending on the radius you require, a pipe bender as used by plumbers will do this. I have seen 1/2" re-bars bent to make ground anchors using one. I thought at the time there's no way that'll do that, but it did and I was amazed.
No heat required. Got a mate who's a plumber?
 
#13 ·
Merchant grade steel bars (the ones found in big box stores), are not good enough quality to bend without breaking. Dependind on how sharp a bend, you can heat it up before bending. Hot rolled steel (black) rods will bend better than cold rolled steel (shiny) rods.
 
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