"artistic" bending of rebar?

[julianf]

I've got an idea for a project, where I want objects held (firmly) at various points in the air.

If I could bend rebar like plasticine and then get it hard again, it would work, but obviously that's wishful thinking.

What's my best plan as to approximating it?

My plan is to bend it and then weld it to the mounts, so the bending doesn't need to be exact, as the position of the weld will take the minor adjustment.

One rebar will be too springy, so I'm considering using a few, but they need being in an "organic" manor, rather than a set radius.

I'll do a sketch on paper if you like.

Thank you.

 

[mike os]

depends on the gauge i would think... how tight and how repeatable

 

[Screwdriver]

Up to say 10mm, rebar bends really easily cold, by hand. Just stick a pipe over it for leverage and clamp it to an immovable object.

Very large constant radius is more difficult only due to size constraints but a buck made from sheets of plywood will help bend virtually any form. Bizarrely, today is the day I'm just about to bend some rebar myself to act as garden/tree props.

 

[julianf]

Thank you.

Doesn't actually need to be even slightly repeatable. You know... "Art"

10mm will be too slim i think. I'm up for it being difficult. Doesn't have to be a no effort thing.

 

[ChrisBailey]

I dont think rebar welds very well. Ive no experience of it, only reading up on it.

 

[mike os]

bending fork ?

 

[dobbslc]

Surely if you heat it red hot it'll bend pretty easily any way you want.

 

[julianf]

I know nothing about that kind of work at all, but that was what I expected the advice to be.

I'm guessing I'll be there forever with my MAPP torch or it will simply be impossible to get enough hot due to losses.

I can think up some way or other though, I'm sure, if that's the solution?

 

[stuvy]

Clamp it in a vice, scaffold pole and bend it just make sure the vice is on a. Table of sufficient strength

it does weld but I wouldn’t want to do anything more than a coffee table etc from it

it was Mig that I welded it with btw

 

[Bobupndown]

I was having a similar thought with 12mm steel bar, will a small gas torch get it hot enough to bend easily?
Managed to get 2 done with vice and a lot of persuading but a bit of a faff and need 12.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

My oxy-propane [mapp] torch will get things red hot - depending on radius required it might need a bit longer by 'playing' the flame back and forth along the bar, but it will work.

 

[cocker]

Bending forks will do up to 16mm .
Mma will be fine . As will anything else .

 

[Screwdriver]

clamped in my "portable" blacksmith vice.

Bend it (I may need to redefine the word "easy" to include bloody awkward).

I decided against a single bend to form a hook and just cut/weld.

I thought it welded up really nicely tbh. Here's what it's for.

It is propping up some overhanging branches which disguise all the myriad of bins.

There's a good half dozen of them in there but they are pretty much invisible except for this group I tied together.

 

[cocker]

Well done .
Easy init !
Just for a bit of a giggle , you can wind 12mm round in a lathe .
If your trying that with 16mm , get someone else to do it while you go get the beer !

 

[Screwdriver]

Tricky part is manoeuvring a 4 metre length of rebar in a 2 metre shed. Plus having sufficient "swing" to be able to bend the thing and insert a length of pipe over the end once it's clamped up. I must get around to constructing an immovable object somewhere there's enough room to swing a cat.

One of these days I'll sacrifice a large circle of steel big enough to stand on. Weld a central post to it and bolt a post leg vice to that. If you're standing on the plate, the vice can't move because all the forces balance out iyswim. Great for bending and still portable...

 

[many_methods]

Can you use a bit of the smaller radius stuff to get the shape you want but then intertwine it with more of the same and add a few welds to hold the whole thing together? Sounds like it might give you the organic look you're aiming for.

 

[MattF]

the vice can't move because all the forces balance out iyswim. Great for bending and still portable...

See if you still say that once you've tried it.

 

[Screwdriver]

I know nothing about that kind of work at all, but that was what I expected the advice to be.

I'm guessing I'll be there forever with my MAPP torch or it will simply be impossible to get enough hot due to losses.

I can think up some way or other though, I'm sure, if that's the solution?

Forever and a day in free space but if you can enclose it in a firebrick tunnel or ideally ceramic fibre wool (I use kaowool) then you have a makeshift forge and it will heat up quickly and easily even with a small torch.

I should have enough spare to send a sheet if you like. It is nasty stuff mind.

 

[Screwdriver]

See if you still say that once you've tried it.

That is how my current portable vice works. I stand on the base legs and I can pull for all I like, the thing can't move because I am standing on its foot!

 

[dobbslc]

Surely it'll just spin around faster the harder you pull