A woodworking forum for everything from hand tools to CNC.
https://workersofwood.com/
sorry its sideways I don't know how to rotate the image on here.I heat bend them around an old car brake rotor inner hub that I use for a form. The size worked out just right. I bend the hooks on the same jig just welded two bolts to the rotor hub. I am going to build a propane forge pretty soon to heat them. The oxy acetylene gets kind of pricey. 1/2" rebar is kind of tough to bend cold. I would probably need a hydraulic bender. Maybe if I can sell enough I can buy oneHerb Stoops wrote: ↑Fri Mar 26, 2021 2:17 pm It is OK, Roxanne, when you click on the picture it comes up right side up and larger.
I like those, I have a couple of singles, those doubles are the real deal. You got the curves nice and uniform and sized the same. Do you bend them around a form? heat to bend,or cold bend?
Herb
Hydraulic benders can get a bit pricey...roxanne562001 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 6:51 am 1/2" rebar is kind of tough to bend cold. I would probably need a hydraulic bender.
I would have to sell a lot more than I am to justify the cost StickStick486 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 3:59 pmHydraulic benders can get a bit pricey...roxanne562001 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 6:51 am 1/2" rebar is kind of tough to bend cold. I would probably need a hydraulic bender.
there is a Plan ''B''....
there are Hickey Benders also...
You should really watch those terms Herb LOL someone might get the wrong IdeaHerb Stoops wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 1:46 pm If you had a forge, and an anvil, you could start blacksmithing,Roxanne.
HErb
EDIT: Oops, I mean Metalsmithing.
I have a nice big old farm Anvil that my Dad gave me. Now I just need the forge.A truck brake drum might work well. They're built to take heat. Probably don't need a huge amount of air. Way back they used foot operated bellows. If you lived in north Alabama you'd have coal available. I remember as a kid going with relatives from near Cullman out to where they were constructing I-65 and shoveling it out of a cut bank into the back of their pickup.Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:34 pm My Dad always used charcoal in the forge and got it going with the Oxy/acetylene torch, then an air blower. He welded some legs on an old closed truck rim. You could probably make your own forge. I didn't know that propane was hot enough, maybe Oxy/Propane is.
Herb
Cherryville Chuck wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 4:19 pmWhen I went to visit my brother at Ninilchic,Alaska, we drove along the beach and did the same from a vein in the cut bank. It was kind of soft coal, more like charcoal.Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:34 pm
A truck brake drum might work well. They're built to take heat. Probably don't need a huge amount of air. Way back they used foot operated bellows. If you lived in north Alabama you'd have coal available. I remember as a kid going with relatives from near Cullman out to where they were constructing I-65 and shoveling it out of a cut bank into the back of their pickup.
Herb
My dad had an old Blacksmith forge I used to crank the blower for him. He always used charcoal. I am thinking about building a propane mini forge there are many videos on youtube. Something sort of like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcaqhNlRRB0Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:34 pm My Dad always used charcoal in the forge and got it going with the Oxy/acetylene torch, then an air blower. He welded some legs on an old closed truck rim. You could probably make your own forge. I didn't know that propane was hot enough, maybe Oxy/Propane is.
Herb
ED: Come to think of it he used coal, not charcoal, and stared it with the Oxy/Acetylene torch, and had an old hoover vacuum cleaner motor/fan to blow the air.
I only have a wire feed welder with gas now. I used to have a stick welder but I sold it. I would like to buy a tig machine someday or maybe one of those combo machines I have been thinking about this one https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Electric ... gchamps-20Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:41 pm To make those large diam. bends your forge will have to be a tad larger, and maybe have some coals to lay the rebar in to hold the heat for a longer length.
Do you weld wire feed or stick? Just curious.
Interesting project./
Herb