I've Noticed recently that cracks have been forming in the radius area of shoulders I've formed using either the anvil edge or a spring fuller. The cracks are small and form a sort of spider web pattern. These cracks also seem to seriously degrade the metal as they break easily at this point. I'm not sure what is causing this I never burn this area and am at a loss of what to do to prevent this. Any thoughts?

On what type of steel?

I'm sorry I should have included that! I'm just using hot rolled mild steel.

That shouldn't happen normally. Is it A-36? Every now and then, that stuff can be pretty junky.

im not certain...next time I am at the local steel yard I will ask.

You bending hot metal or cold metal? What diameter? What Radius?

1. Working the metal to cold.
2. poor technique, folding wrinkles into the radius instead of stretching the metal outward.
3. bad batch of metal.

My guess is working it to cold and not keeping the smaller shoulder'd piece square to the anvil/fuller when its getting cooler.