Harbor Freight / Grizzly Metal Bender Upgrade #1 - Angle Block
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- Опубліковано 3 лис 2024
- Update:
Thanks to Daniel for pointing out the proper way to do this is by using the stop-block and a circular die. I found the best information on this in the manual for the Clarke Strong-Arm version of this bender which indicates that the center pin alone can be used for round stock 3/8" diameter and smaller. My new angle block produces much tighter bends, but I had to make it, which was a pain. Using the stop-block with just the center pin produces pretty small radius bends which also work great.
Clark Strong-Arm manual link: dccf75d8gej24....
Original:
The angle block on my Grizzly (same as Harbor Freight) metal bender started breaking down very quickly when bending round stock. So I tried making a new one out of A2 tool steel.
Steps were roughly this:
1 - order piece of A2 tool steel off eBay.
2 - drill pin hole (links to bits used below).
3 - cut to rough size using bandsaw (link to video and blade used below).
4 - machine surfaces to final sizes (link to end mill used below).
5 - test
Will post update if the new block doesn't hold up.
Video of cutting to size with the bandsaw: • Harbor Freight Bandsaw...
3/16" M35 Cobalt bit - www.travers.co...
5/8" 118 Degree Carbide Tipped Jobbers Drill - www.travers.co...
1/2" 4 Flute Solid Carbide Finishing End Mill - www.travers.co...
Starrett - 99188-05-04-1/2 Intenss Pro-Die Band Saw Blade - www.amazon.com...
Thank you for the link to the Clarke-Strong Arm manual. I bought mine from Grizzly and I found the instructions rather lame......for me anyway. Looks like this manual covers a lot.
Thanks for watching, and glad I could help! The C-S manual was pretty comprehensive - covered way more than I needed...
Why use tool steel if you aren't going to harden it?
That peice you broke is only for flat stock.
Operator Error !!! That die is only for flat bar !!! Those round dies hanging on the column are for round stock,when in doubt read the directions !!!
Evening, Steve. Very true. You can review the other comments, but I found that, for sharp 90 degree bends, you can use just the center pin and no die with up to 3/8" round stock. So that's what I've been doing for my 90 degree bends, and it's working out great. However, there are still times when I need to bend round stock on a very acute angle, and for that I'm using my custom tool steel angle block. So far, it's holding up fine and working great.
Case hardening that part, if planning to keep using as-is?
Any ideas where to get replacement dies?
Hello, sir. I was able to find replacements from Grizzly: www.grizzly.com/parts/grizzly-sharp-angle-bending-attachment/ph3183019
So far it has held up pretty well, albeit use has been limited.
@@rckclmbr85 Hi and thank you sir! Awesome! Really appreciate the link. Realized there was a parts list and then from the part numbers listed on the link, I found all the parts. Nice!
Little background since I haven't made a video yet regarding, I found two stands with the bending bracket and a few other parts online for sale... both missing the Yoke arm, dies and angle bending attachment.
Figured I'd fabricate for the first better quality one, since they're not exactly the same specs, a Yoke arm from the second one similar part of the bending bracket by cutting out twice the thickness of the metal and then welding on like a bung for the tube arm when welding that seem.
I was also wondering once I measure the holes for the left over bending bracket radius ring piece, if I can use for a DIY tube notcher. At least at the time, that's what I was thinking. I might be able to use the inner or out edge for finer adjustments also and I have enough metal stock around to fabricate.
Thanks again for sharing!
Sounds like an interesting build - I hope you do post a video. Harbor Freight doesn't seem to have good parts support, but at least many of these items are more or less the same foreign imports under different brand names, so other manufactures are covering the parts market.
Hola amigo me podrías regalar todas las medidas de la pieza original yo compré una dobladora de esas pero no traía esa pieza ..gracias 👌
Hola, Benjamin.
Largura: 5-1/4" / 134 mm
Altura: 1-1/8" / 29 mm
La pieza de repuesto está disponible en Grizzly: www.grizzly.com/parts/grizzly-sharp-angle-bending-attachment/ph3183019
@@rckclmbr85 muy amable gracias amigo👌👌 muy fino
you are using the wrong die. Use the square clock with a round die . It will make all the difference.
Good luck.
too bad the instructions are so inadequate.
Thanks so much for this, Daniel (and for going easy on my ignorance!). After your comment I did some more research. The Grizzly manual is pathetic - four pages long. The Central Machinery manual is much more in-depth (24 pages). But I found a company out of the UK selling this under the name Clarke Strong-Arm. Their manual is fantastic (36 pages) and contains information not in the other manuals. They have a very useful warning on Page 2:
"NEVER bend round stock when using the sharp-angle-bend attachment. Use only flat, hot-rolled, mild steel up to 3/16 x 2” or 1/4 x 1-1/4” with this attachment."
No doubt that is due to the exact issue I discovered. They also have this comment under the U-bolt bending instructions:
"Eight bend radiuses are possible-by selecting from the seven forming dies, or by using centre pin without a die. However to avoid bending the centre pin, always use a forming die with round stock larger than 3/8” diameter."
By using just the center pin with no die and the stop-block as you suggest, I was able to get decently-short radius bends. Not the zero-radius I was going for, but close enough for my needs.
Thanks, again!
will this bend Angle Iron?
@@rckclmbr85 thanks for mentioning the Clarke instruction manual. I’ve had one of these benders for years and have never had enough time to devote to it to find out it’s operation. You would think the other brands would produce a decent manual as it would sell more benders for them in the long run. Thanks very much again.
@@37yearsofanythingisenough39 thanks for watching and for the comment - glad it helped! Honestly, I use this infrequently enough I feel like I'm relearning it each time lol
that was block sorry