How would you make this bent piece of angle?

This part (a steering chain guide for the traction engine I'm building) is 1/2 x 1/2 x 3/32 mild steel, with a 4.5" inner radius. It's about 5" long and I need two.

I tried bending a piece of angle - but it rapidly became un-flat and un-square. Machining from solid seems like a lot of work.

How would you make this?

Thanks

Martin

Find a bit of 9" diameter bar or tube, tack weld one end to the former and get it glowing red and it will bend round with no problems.

John S.

The original might have been cast but more likely a smithing job working the metal to shape hot. If you have the means to get the job hot enough you could try the same route, otherwise silver solder a curved piece of flat bat for the upright leg to a piece cut from flat plate for the horizontal.

Keith

I have done the same on my 2" Fowler. The original would have been rolled not cast or smithed.

Bend the upright from a bit of flat bar or strip cut from sheet, rough out the horizontal part then silversolder the two together and finally trim the horz bit to run parallel to the vertical. Its only to keep the chains in place so does not have to be massively structural.

Edited By JasonB on 18/03/2012 07:25:29

Hi, such things are normally done on rolls with a groove in them to accommodate the upright section of the angle, however John S idea should work OK as long as you don't get too impatient. Start with a piece longer than needed as you will most likely find you will get a straight bit at each end, and make sure you weld it on square to the tube, and then heat it progressively from the end that has been welded to the tube and bend as you go, but then hold the other end down while it cools.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 18/03/2012 08:05:44

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Edited By Nicholas Farr on 18/03/2012 08:03:42

Hi Martin

I did what Jason suggested on my Fowler A7 and it worked well (See Pic.)

Regards Fred

Hi Martin,

I would tend to cast them,probably in brass. If you need steel you could cut bend and weld,

Good luck (you'll probably need it).

Peter.