I have a 100lb service dog and I am having a new custom made leather harness built for him. I need to have ridged steel handle built to attach to the harness. It must be able to bear my weight (125lb) when I lean on the bar.
I was thinking of doing it myself but I don't know if it is possible. I would have to bend it 3 times and drill between 8 and 12 holes on either end of the metal.
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If you look at the above picture you can see that the two ends must be straight down and consist of two of the bends. The left side will be a 90 degree bend and the next bend would allow the other side to rise 2 inches over 4.5 inches.
Is this possible to do at home with minimal tools and minimal experience? I have bent aluminium with proper tools before. I have a torch, stove and other basic tools at my disposal. I am resourceful and always up to a project.
Do I have to do this cold or can I heat the metal properly with either a torch or stove?
2007-01-18 10:03:25 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
You are right I forgot to specify thickness, I am thinking of 1/8 of an inch which is the thickness of my previous handle. It would also be 1 inch wide and flat steel.
I guess full weight is not appropriate, I meant I would lean heavily on the bar.
The bends need to be right on if possible.
2007-01-18 11:29:40 · update #1
Don't sound so hard. I build many of my own tools at work.
I would start with a soft rolled steel and bend it in a pipe press. After its bent I would use a drill press to tap it out as hand drilling a round piece of steel is very difficult to get true centered holes. After its shaped and drilled I would lay it flat (not on concrete as it will pop whit that much heat) and heat it up to glowing red and then soak it down with cool water. This will temper the steel and make it more ridged. Turn it over and repeat on the other side. Simple, effective, and cheap.
Side note: using heat to bend it will weaken the bends as you have no control over the actual bend.
2007-01-18 11:04:05 · answer #1 · answered by dragon_fire_azz 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't say how thick the steel bar is. If it's less than 1/8" you could probably bend it cold, in a vise. If it's 1/4 or 3/8 you should be able to heat it well enough with a n oxy-acetylene brazing torch. Set your vise just a bit wider than the thickness of the work. Get the spot red hot, then quickly get it into the vise and bend. No need to tighten the vise on it. Just make sure you get the 90-degree angle while it's bendable. Then plunge in water to cool it and go on to the next bend. I'd bend the angles first, then cut it to the correct length after bending. Anything can go slightly wrong when bending, and the bend may end up a fraction of an inch off from where it was supposed to be. So I'd hold off both the cutting and drilling till after bending. You might also want to heat and flatten the parts to be drilled, even if it's just slightly, so the drill bit doesn't skate off-center. Use a good, hefty hammer for this.
The only stove that'd heat it to red-hot would be an old-fashioned gas soldering-iron stove or a metal kiln. No way is a kitchen stove going to heat metal to red-hot!
The only safety precaution I could give you is to be careful about touching the hot metal!
I don't see how this handle needs to bear your full weight, though. You're not going to ride on top of it, are you? Just leaning on it doesn't put your full weight on it.
2007-01-18 11:00:06 · answer #2 · answered by BuddyL 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
How To Bend Steel Rod
2016-11-12 03:40:02 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try ebay. There is a man who makes and sells what he calls 'hickey bars' link below. Or call your local pool installer! Or other cement installer. They'd be likely to have a rebar bender.
I wouldn't advize heating the metal in order to bend it as it weakens the matrix if not heated and cooled correctly; as I recall reading from metal workers.
2007-01-19 08:59:02 · answer #4 · answered by ganymedesgoblet 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, call Superman.
second, I don't know.
Wait, is there a trampoline manufacturer in your vicinity? I once worked at a place where they made trampolines, and they were always bending sturdy steel poles to make a round frame. It was a home based business, they just had the stuff in their garage.
2007-01-18 10:08:20 · answer #5 · answered by Sweet n Sour 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yu will need to heat it so it is RED hot which will take a special type of torch. Take it to a welding shop they can do it for you
2007-01-18 10:09:23 · answer #6 · answered by aussie 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Go ahead and send it to me, I'll take care of it for you.
2007-01-19 18:19:02 · answer #7 · answered by johN p. aka-Hey you. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heat and vice. Use electric drill rather than hand powered drill.
2007-01-18 10:07:37 · answer #8 · answered by victorschool1 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You can use your torch and a combination square for the right angles
2007-01-18 12:47:36 · answer #9 · answered by Bearcat 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋