How To Bend Sheet Metal By Hand
Posted on: 25 July 2017
Sheet metal is commonly bent with a press brake or a sheet metal brake. You may think nothing short of superhero strength can bend sheet metal, but it is possible to bend by hand since residential metal has a thin gauge. The trick is getting it the right precision. Follow these tips to bend sheet metal at home:
Prepare to Bend the Metal
To bend the metal, you need the following:
- work gloves
- dust brush
- straight edge
- protractor
- erasable marker
- rubber mallet
- two by two wood strips of wood
- wood clamps
- sheet metal tongs
- self-locking pliers (optional)
- vice
Lay the metal on a flat work surface, and clean debris from the surface, which could cause dents in the metal. Measure one end of the sheet metal, mark the location of the desired bend and place another mark parallel to the first one. Use a protractor to measure angled bends.
Find the bend allowance using an online calculator to get an idea where the bend should begin and end in correlation with the center line. Indicate these figures on the middle of the line.
Align the Tools
Place the metal along the top of the straight edge, and clamp them together with one wood clamp to prevent shifting that results in inaccurate bends. Lay a two by two wood strip even with the line on the metal, and extend the clamps the length of the straight edge, metal, and wood. Close the clamps, ensuring everything stays aligned.
Alternately, align the edges with that of the work table, and attach a pair of locking pliers on each bend mark. If you are bending angles, set up a vise, which should have an edge to match the desired angle. Clamp the sheet metal to the vise.
Bend the Metal
Clamp the second wood strip or another pair of locking pliers to the metal with the inner edge parallel to the line, move it an eighth of an inch away from the line, then add two more clamps or pliers. Tap the metal extending from the work table with the mallet alternating between marks until it gets to the desired bend or angle
Tighten the bend by tapping it with the mallet. If a long length of metal protrudes from the work table, get an assistant to hold it up for you. Release the clamps or locking pliers, reverse the metal with the bend pointing up, and bend the short part with the tongs.
You don't need special tools to bend residential sheet metal. It only requires a careful hand. However, if you are unsure of your abilities, hire a professional.
Contact a company like Magna Steel Sales Inc. for more information and assistance.
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