Folding thin steel sheet

[ms08]

Need to fold up some thin sheet with a ninety degree bend about 10mm wide. Should I score across where I am bending on the inside to help the fold?
Thanks

 

[GrahamGKD]

Did you mean 10mm? I'm no expert with sheet metalwork but if it's narrower than the vice I would put in there with some aluminum jaw protectors and knock it around with a block of wood along the length of the bend.... or tap it around with a soft faced hammer. If it's wider than the vice jaws clip it between two pieces of angle and do the same as if in the vice. I wouldn't score it.

Hope that helps.

 

[steviec_lj]

Depends what you call thin.

Sheet is up to 3mm.

 

[ms08]

Sorry...1mm thick.. Will try and post a picture of what I am fabricating.

 

[Fintray]

1mm will bend no problem.

 

[ms08]

Thank you...sorry used to making 7mm etched brass locomotive kits with serious sharp creases.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Thank you...sorry used to making 7mm etched brass locomotive kits with serious sharp creases.

Perhaps just me but I am finding your questions a little baffling, not sure what you are actually doing and what metal is the sheet, what's the 10mm and what's the 7mm referring to?

 

[optima21]

think 7mm could be the train model scale (O gauge I think), something like 7mm to a ft.from memory

 

[Kent]

1mm, yes score it then weld it together again Nope deffo Nope a big no to that

 

[ms08]

Sorry yes 7mm to the ft - O gauge.
I need to fold a strip of 1mm mild steel across a width of 10mm and wondered if a light score but will just put it in vice and fold.
I will post a picture later so all will become apparent.

 

[marlinspike]

You could do it in a vice, but if you have a few bits to do you might want to make a simple metal folder. We made one a couple of weeks ago to make a panel for our car resto. The angle iron cost about £20 and it's very easily constructed. There are several threads on here about them.

 

[ms08]

Here is the finished article - hope it make sense now...rusty original part and new fabricated piece....curves formed around a bit of rebar.....

 

[cumbriasteve]

The picture makes it clearer:

For 1mm it would have been an easy bend without scoring or heating etc.

Simply get a couple of bits of angle (heavy flat or similar would also do) and clamp your sheet between them with the fold line flush with the top of the angles and work the edge over with a hammer.

Don't try and batter it over with one hit, work along the length a bit at a time knocking it over a few degrees each time until you have the angle you require.

 

[Onoff]

Tbh with steel so thin you could even knock it around some timber WITHOUT the need to heat it. I did similar recently for a new top for my oil boiler:

Saying that I've now got to bend some 2mm and that will be bent between some sandwiched thick channels.

 

[ms08]

Thanks Chaps.....also picked up a new band saw today