Bending Aluminium

[Thrashed]

Hi guys

 

I have managed to aquire some ali u shape. It is 2mm thick ali and i am thinking of bending it to cover the top of the crescent panels.

 

My question is that with just hand power i can hardly flex the bar. Is it easy enough to heat it up with a blow touch and then bend it? I just dont want to put a crease into the sides.

 

Thanks

 

Steve

[Redspec]

It will depend on what grade it is, but I remember some old post that say cover with soap and heat until black then it is the right temp????

never tried it but who knows

[ibrooks]

Ally is tricky to bend with heat as it doesn't give any indication before it melts and the temperature range between soft and liquid is relatively small.

 

The soap trick is a common one and I've seen it done with fairy liquid - as soon as it looks burnt do your bending in one go. Keeping it at that temperature for any length of time is not easy. This sort of means you need a form and a quick easy way to make the section you are using conform to it.

 

Iain

[chris n]

The other tell tail way of heating up Aluminium if you have no soap to hand is to run the end of a hammer shaft over the area till it starts to leave a black mark then it is ready to bend