Hi Everyone,

If there is anyone in Central Illinois (I'm in Champaign), I have a job for you. I need a gentle bend (about a 6 inch radius) put into a piece of 3/4" square 1018 steel. I don't have a forge yet and don't have a torch big enough to heat a piece that thick. Come to think of it, I don't have anything to bend it around either. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Stuart

Stuart Look at the blueprint BP0121 Vise Bending Forks - Dick Sargent for an idea then enlarge it to your fit your size problem. Bending 3/4 inch square cold can be a chore, but if you just put the metal in a campfire, you can get it hot and make it work much easier. It is ready to bend when it is red on toward orange in colour. Practice on smaller steel first.

Hornluv, I know some folks from over your way but exactly where, I'm not sure. I'm gonna post a link. http://www.illinoisblacksmith.org/ I suspect that these folks can help you find what you are wanting but there may also be a connection for you to make here on Glenns site. Either way you should be able to get fixed up. I'm in southeast Iowa myself
( Bloomfield ) but that is pretty good ways off from you.