[eric302]

I have some old sheet metal laying around that I have been trying to bend into a pan, 66 inches long about 18 inches wide. I tried to use my mig tank as a form but not much luck. This is about 22 ga. to 24 ga. I'm not sure if this is cold rolled steel. Is cold rolled steel easier to bend? Thanks!

[Randy Ferguson]

Cold rolled sheet 22-24 ga. should bend easily. Hot rolled should bend pretty easy too, but not as easy as cold rolled. You sure it isn't stainless??

[eric302]

This sheet metal is from a side panel of an old commercial shelving unit. It is painted gray. the problem I had was it would want to kink a little right in the center when I tried to bend it. I'm just trying to bend a curve in it, but it is 66 in long and the bend is in the long direction. Maybe I need another set of hands. I did find a place in town that sells sheets of 20 ga colled rolled steel. I'm going to buy some. Any other ideas. Thanks.

[astroracer]

20ga. is going in the wrong direction if you want to bend it by hand.... Try wrapping a couple of ratchet type tiedown straps around the sheet and your form. Tighten them symetrically and you should be able to pull a bend into it... Just work down the length of the sheet.
You might talk to a sheetmetal shop that builds heat and A/C ducts. They should have the equipment to put a roll into your sheet for you if you can't do it.
Mark

[willys36@aol.com]

A little terminology primer; "Cold Rolled" steel is not an exotic product. This is how most sheet, tubing and other common smooth finished goods are produced. It is plain old low carbon steel but the finish is nicer than available in hot rolled. Examples of commonly available hot rolled steel are angle iron, I-beams and other structural shapes where surface finish is of secondary importance to structural strength.

[eric302]

I know 20 ga is thicker but i'm not sureif my supplier has any 22 ga. I will check. About a month or 2 ago on one of the hot rod shows on Spike they shaved the door handle on a car that was going to have pop ups. I thought he said he used 20 ga and he held a small patch panel on the door and formed it with his hand. It looked fairlly simple. The problem I am having is when I try to bed my sheet around the tank it tends to kink. Not sure if it is me or the type of sheet steel, since I don't know what kind it is except for the gauge since I mic'd it. I think I will ask the guys at the steel place if they know of someone that would bend my piece. I would hate to mess up something I had to pay for. Thanks for all your help.

[jwart]

try formig ur pce. over a pipe the length u need it will bend evenly across the whole face. i spot weld across bottom edge to steel pipe & roll across clean work bench. u could try screwing to pvc pipe for cheap form. start wth cardboard template matching shape at corners of fenders u are matching up to to. if bolting on allow for returns on all sides for edge to mount, bend returns after u have rolled to desired shape. go easy little at a time, matching to your template. welding on -just cut to length + 1-2" for final trim & fit on truck, i scribe panels for exact fit for welding.
jw

[eric302]

Thanks for the ideas. I will definately try.