Bending cast steel.

Richard G. · Apr 22, 2016

I need to straighten a piece of cast steel on an implement I am building. It is about 3/8 inch thick by 1 1/2 inches wide and will not be under a lot of stress. It is a lever on a mechanical clutch that engages the clutch and came off an old grain drill.
Should I heat it and if so, how hot.
Thanks, Richard in NW SC

teddy52food · Apr 22, 2016

I would get it nice & red & let it cool without water or anything.

Richard G. · Apr 22, 2016

Thanks Teddy.
Richard

RBoots · Apr 22, 2016

Hey Richard, what'cha building out of that device?

Ross

jon f mn · Apr 22, 2016

Heat it,but be as conservative as you can. Soon as you start to see red start trying to straighten it, then let it cool slow. Make sure to heat a large enough area so it bends where you want ot too.

M w J · Apr 22, 2016

If it bent without breaking that far its not cast but malleable steel and should be able to straiten if it wasn't over stressed.

kub6040 · Apr 22, 2016

I ha e found cast does better to heat it red hot and work it to where it is needed then put it in sand to let it cool as it will hold the heat so that it cools very slowly , the cooling process may take a day.

GeneMO · Apr 22, 2016

(quoted from post at 06:22:47 04/22/16) If it bent without breaking that far its not cast but malleable steel and should be able to straiten if it wasn't over stressed.

That is what I was thinking, not actual cast. I would heat it red hot, bend it back, and walk away from it.

Gene

DGinVT · Apr 22, 2016

I would heat that piece slowly and when it turns glowing red( don't over heat), do the bending slowly and don't rebend. When finished bending, cool it slowly in wood ashes, lime or dry sand. If the sand has water in it you take the chance of putting stress cracks in it. Make sure that you bury the piece well in what ever you use.

jeffcat · Apr 22, 2016

I will second your Kub reply. I have Unbent several cast maluable parts just about how you did. The only thing I did was use sandblasting sand and I pre heated that to get the sand as hot as possible. THe part has to be heated till it can be formed on a flat surface with little tap, tap, taps of a hammer with enough heat to keep it very hot. Almost orange hot.

Richard G. · Apr 22, 2016

I am almost through with this project. I will post photos and explanation soon.
Richard

Ultradog MN · Apr 22, 2016

Cast steel is much shorter grained than rolled steel and will not bend much before it fails on you. I would be tempted to cut it and weld it into the proper position.

Richard G. · Apr 22, 2016

Thanks for all the replies. Going to the shop now to give it a try.
Will posts photos of the results.
Richard

jon f mn · Apr 22, 2016

If you get cast steel that hot it can turn brittle.

Michael Soldan · Apr 22, 2016

I agree with you! In my experience cast would break like a piece of glass

Mogster · Apr 22, 2016

If it bent then it is not cast iron. Heat to sunset red reform it then harden it then draw a temper on it.

Bending cast steel.

Richard G.

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teddy52food

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