After trying the tube bender method and finding it very awkward to use I decided to buy a bar bender and modify it to suit my needs. At first I thought it would require custom dies to make it work but I was surprised how easily I could produce the shapes I needed.
The only modification I did was cut a slot in the die to accept the tangs which both locates and keeps the edge square during bending.
The other thing that is working really well for me is taping 2 edges together and bending them at the same time, when you have fit one side simply cut the tape and your other edge is done and perfectly symmetrical. A better job in half the time.
gozaimaas wrote:
The other thing that is working really well for me is taping 2 edges together and bending them at the same time, when you have fit one side simply cut the tape and your other edge is done and perfectly symmetrical. A better job in half the time.
Thanks for this!!!!
Not sure why nobody thought of this earlier.
sam
You don't even have a legit signature, nothing to reveal who you are and what you do...
@sammer: i can tell you why nobody has thought of this earlier i assume only very few people on this forum have acces to this piece of equipment and buying one sets you back at least 300 bucks. a pair of tile nippers or some washers and a vise are much cheaper.
It cost me about AU$220 but it is so easy to use.
I just did the edges for 5 boards in an hour and I have some irregular shapes too. I think the first edge I ever did took me all day with the hand held tube bender lmao
I will try and take a vid next time I do some edges, Ive got 5 boards to build first though
Basically you put the edge in the groove, tighten up the vice and put a small bend in the edge, release the vice and move the edge along one tine and repeat.