Bending or rolling round metal

Old Bob · Dec 16, 2011

I have read on this site where some of you guys have some kind of apparatus to bend or roll round metal, but have never paid attention to what you are using, or where to get one. I have been to Disneyworld and want to bend some 3/8 or 1/2 round metal into circles, 1 large one for the head and 2 small ones for the ears to make a mickey mouse head. Then put different colored rope lights on them for my 3 year old twin grandaughters. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

teddy52food · Dec 16, 2011

For your use I would use brake line tubing & wrap it around a v pulley of the size it takes. Solid bar is hard to bend without the proper tool. (3 rollers).

barnE · Dec 16, 2011

Don't you want to use flat stock. Like a metal band or something. Hey, how about leather? Metal might be dangerous on the rides. Dave

samn40 · Dec 16, 2011

I don't know exactly what you are doing , but would plastic water pipe do instead,It will naturally bend into a hoop and would be easy to drill and bolt together and may provide enough strength/rigidity for your project.
Just a thought to simplify life a bit!....Sam

Russ from MN · Dec 16, 2011

Find a sheet metal shop with a roller with the radius's in one end, they can roll any reasonable circle out of pipe or round stock. I had one in Brainerd roll a wheel for a boat lift winch, 48" dia.

Janicholson · Dec 16, 2011

Rent a Conduit bender and use 1/2" rigid conduit. Set up a system that limits just how far each bend is made. Space the bends about 3" apart and do it.
Very round circles can be made of any resaonable diameter with a little practice. It will bend a 6" radius, so adjust each bend segment to produce the desired result.
A steel wheel on a Hay rake will also work. HOse clamp the Conduit to the outside, and roll it on concrete to form the bend. Size the wheel to a little smaller than the Hoop desired. Jim

thurlow · Dec 16, 2011

Metal that size can be easily be bent by clamping it in a vise or with a anvil and hammer.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 16, 2011

I have a variety of brake drums, rims, pulleys, etc. with a short piece of pipe welded on to one side of the tangent point. Clampe it in a vise and stick the end of the rod or small pipe into the hole and wrap it around. Works great with very little investment. I even have a 14 inch rim setup for bending one inch pipe for walk in picnic table frames.

Areo

Errin OH · Dec 16, 2011

Up to 1/2 solid I just lay out a wooden pattern and bend it around as needed. Works real good to make pieces and parts for projects. With circles make sure to connect the ends or it will spring back on you.

How big? I have made big stuff buy using the side of the barn.

The tool you refer to is a ring roller that bends it gradually. You keep running it through until the desired bend is reached.
Ring Roller

gene bender · Dec 17, 2011

Why use such heavy when 1/4 or 5/16 is plenty strong. Bending 3/8 and 1/2 is no easy just go buy a piece and try it you will get a good learning experience. You need a device to bend the sizes you mentioned.

fixerupper · Dec 17, 2011

Lay the pipe on the ground, drive a rear tractor tire on it with the pipe pointing forward, chain the end of the pipe to the wheel and drive forward. The wheel pulls the pipe around as you drive. Sounds easy but it's a little tricky keeping the pipe straight and it's probably bigger than you will want to go, but it's workable and cheap.

I used to make pipes for round bale feeders that way. The pipe does spring out to a larger diameter than the tire when you're done so you'll have to use a come-along to pull it together. Jim

Bending or rolling round metal

Old Bob

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teddy52food

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barnE

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samn40

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Russ from MN

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Janicholson

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thurlow

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Anonymous-0

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Errin OH

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gene bender

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fixerupper

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