Made myself a little metal folder today.

[Morrisman]

I’m building a hot rod and plan to make a steel pickup bed for it, so to make life easier I decided to make a sheet metal bender.

Didn’t take many pics, but you can get the general idea of it here.

I’ve welded it to a length of 2 x 1 steel tube so I can simply clamp it solidly between the two vices on my work bench, rather than make a whole table or legs for it to sit on.

I’ve only tested it on some 1/16” alloy sheet, but it seems to work well enough. The real test will be bending the same thickness of steel, full width......

 

[Morrisman]

Here’s the car, a 1985 Jago T bucket. It is getting a makeover and a few changes.

 

[Wallace]

Nice, thought it was an Opus at first glance.

 

[130]

Essex V6?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Nice, thought it was an Opus at first glance.

I've got a brass Opus windscreen (and glass) that will be going to the tip as nobody seems to want it for free !

 

[frank horton]

NICE, can almost remember a workshop that tidy........hahaha......
let us know how u get on .......

 

[Wightsparks]

Love the "retro from a distance - modern close up" workshop.
The bender looks good - something I want to make for myself too. I have seen a few plans on here, did you use any one in particular or design it yourself?

Interesting car - is it already registered or are you going for IVA ?

 

[Morrisman]

Yes, it is an Essex motor, should provide ‘adequate power’.

The car is already registered as a Jago T bucket, from 1985, so no IVA or any of that required.

I put the bender idea together from seeing various versions for sale and on the interweb.

 

[Morrisman]

Love the "retro from a distance - modern close up" workshop.

I built it myself, about 12 years ago. We then rented the house out for years and I only moved back in 18 months ago, hence why the place is still pretty clean so far......

 

[Morrisman]

Just bent some 16 gauge steel 22” wide.

No real effort rquired, nothing broke or flexed. The bend radius is a bit loose, because I never paid any attention to the edge of the top angle iron, it has an oddball flat edge.

I could grind it sharper, or weld some flat bar on it. It is all okay for what I need right now though.

 

[Morrisman]

Pickup bed for my hot rod, came out okay. Couldn’t have done it without Mr Bender.

 

[winchman]

Nice any more pics of the hot rod?

 

[gaz_moose]

I had to double take, on the first pic of 'the rod' I thought you had used a pair of crutches for the rear suspension link arms.

 

[Morrisman]

Nice any more pics of the hot rod?

 

[Morrisman]

I had to double take, on the first pic of 'the rod' I thought you had used a pair of crutches for the rear suspension link arms.

To be honest, much of the car looks a little flimsy to me, but I have been told by several people that I tend to ‘over build’ when I put things together than are somewhat important. (I didn’t build this car however, but I am inspecting it inch by inch)

Doing 70mph on the motorway, in one piece, with 46 ton trucks behind me, is important.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Great build!

I will make one at some point

 

[Wallace]

Great build!

I will make one at some point