Bending/Cutting With Hand Tools

[cibressus]

I am poor, and only have hand tools. But! there is hope, I recently came across someone who wants me to make sign rotators for him, for like 8 bucks a pop.

I have figured out everything except, how to make a little "u" braket.

basicly, i need to cut strips of 1/16 steel perfectly straight, and bend them at 90 degree angles using only hand tools.

can anyone offer some advice?

[motomitch1]

get a job

[cibressus]

Originally Posted by motomitch1 get a job

come on, serisouly, don't you think i'm trying to do that? can we please stay on topic.

at anyrate, i was thinking of cutting a 90 degree "L" in a piece of hard wood, then using another block and a hammer to bend it into shape.

[Verboten]

Hello,

I'm not really sure what type of sign rotator you're trying to make. Could you could explain it or the part that you are trying to make in more detail ?- how wide the strips would be and their purpose.

Perhaps you could find something at the hardware store that could be adapted.

If you describe the part further I may have other suggestions.

-Jason

[Drassk]

It sounds like you need two pieces of angle iron and an arbor press for the bends. As for the cutting, you'll have to get really handy with a hacksaw or buy a cheap chopsaw, maybe.

[Mcgyver]

depends on the gage and material - hand bending is EASY so long as its a light gage and/or not a super long bend (the force required is a combo of the two + material type). for example i easy hand bend 1" wide 20 gage steel, but 1' wide is a problem. also, material obviously has an affect, half hard brass is easier than stainless for example. appropriately sized sq bar held in the vice and a leather sheet metal mallet can to a lot. next up is a set of bending bars as shown in the link below - all you need is a drill press to make them. If its more than a mallet can handle, I've seen homemade simple brakes made of angle iron right (search dave gingerly sheet metal brake)up complex finger brakes , but that's a big commitment in building one. Here's an example of some handwork in sheet metal I've done

model engine brass gas tank

edit: sorry, missed the 1/16 steel part - that's heavy, but the answer still depends on how wide a strip, bending bars & mallet may work if they are narrow enough