If anyone has suggestions on how to achieve a smooth bend, I'm all ears.
The plate is 1/8 inch thick, and the finished piece will be about 8 x 12
inches with a bend radius of about one foot.

Thanks for any help.

--
Ted Bennett

Put a sheet of 1/4" or so rubber on the diamond side and run it
through sheetmetal rollers. Use lots of passes to sneak up on the
diameter you want. You may need to work the edges a bit if you want
them curved as well.

Cheers,

Kelley

On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 16:04:26 GMT, Ted Bennett
wrote:

If anyone has suggestions on how to achieve a smooth bend, I'm all ears.
The plate is 1/8 inch thick, and the finished piece will be about 8 x 12
inches with a bend radius of about one foot.

Thanks for any help.

1/8 inch aluminum ought to bend fairly easily. If you have sheet
metal , I would expect you could bend it without using the rubber
sheeting suggested by Kelley. If I were doing this with what I have
available, I think I would try laying a 5 gallon propane tank on its
side and seeing if I could bend it with a few ratcheting web straps.
Not very high tech, but what I would try first. A five gallon propane
tank may have a bit too small a radius. You might have something
better.


Dan