Metal Bender - Part One

[MTBob]

After reviewing a bunch of metal bender designs on this forum and the web, I finally got around to making a Hossfeld-like bender. This one is scaled down somewhat from the full size Hossfeld's and modified. I'm not too sure how thick of material I can bend on it, but it's big enough for what I think I need at this time. This is a work-in-progress, upcoming jobs will likely dictate changes to the design. A design-as-you-go project.

I'll post a few photos to show some of the design differences from a Hossfeld. All the material, except for the pins and a couple of dies, is scrap I've had laying around. The pins are made from 1144 Stress Free and hardened. I've case hardened (using Kasenit) a couple of the bull nose pieces, but not the dies (yet).

I think the only real design difference in this bender is the use of the saddles and insert tools. By very carefully spacing holes in the forks (using a vertical mill) I was able to make the saddle pins fit tight in the forks. Then, using a piece of receiver tubing for a clamp, I'm able to make just about any fixture I need - and, these fixtures can have a wide range of adjustment. Lots of flexibility. For sure, the bending capacity is limited when using the saddles above the forks.

I've mounted the bender in a receiver hitch tube on my welding table (on lockable wheels). Time will tell whether this arrangement will offer enough torque. But, I can rotate the bender in a number of directions to change the position to get more leverage.

Part Two will be designing a scroll attachment. One that minimizes the amount of flat section on the interior scroll.

[aametalmaster]

Nice job on the bender...Bob

[Geezer]

A very professional job. I do not have a mill as of yet, but sure want one. My lathe is old but does the job, but I would have to think a good bit before I could build this. Good job.

[fun4now]

way cool. did you make the dies also ? looks like a great new tool for the shop.

[k zen]

Very well built , congradulation , looking forward to see more pictures of differents fixtures , keep up the good work.

[MTBob]

Yes, I made all the fixtures. This project has been kind of interesting since I actually haven't figured out how all the fixtures work on an original Hossfeld. So, I'm kind of inventing how I think the bending fixtures could/should work. I'm still pondering how to make a small pipe / tubing bending fixture and dies to edge bend strap and angle.

[aametalmaster]

Here is a link to a Yahoo ornamental iron group and there is a hossfeld manual there. But you must have a yahoo id to get in...Bob

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrnamentIron/


http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cIIPSe8...r%20Manual.pdf

[MTBob]

Thanks Bob! Dang, I'd looked very where to find this manual and couldn't. I'll study this some and think about more mods to the bender I have.

Bob