Aluminum can be a handy tool for various projects. If you have a piece of aluminum, and you want to change its shape by bending it, what’s the best way to do so without breaking it?
You can bend aluminum without breaking it by gathering the necessary tools and measuring the thickness and angle of the bend. Set up your vise, soften the aluminum, and bend the aluminum.
Making a clean bend and shape on aluminum can be challenging. However, by following the guide below, you should be able to bend your aluminum without breaking it. Read further to find out how to do it.
1. Gather Your Tools
For any project to be successful, it’s always crucial to have the right tools. In the case of bending aluminum, this principle also applies.
Here are the tools you will need to bend aluminum correctly:
- A heat source to heat the aluminum. You can use a soldering torch in most cases.
- A pair of safety gloves. Gloves are necessary if you want to protect your hands from heat.
- A jig, bending brake, or a simple set of hand tools. These will help you to bend the metal to the shape and angle you want.
- A vise to hold the aluminum in place. This will ensure you can apply the required pressure without breaking the metal.
- A block of wood to distribute the force evenly. When you bend aluminum, it can easily crack or break if you don’t support it.
- A hammer or mallet. This will help you to tap the aluminum into place once it has been bent.
- Coolant to keep the aluminum from overheating and breaking. This can be water, oil, or even dry ice.
If you don’t have any of these tools, you can buy them at any hardware store or online.
2. Determine the Inside Bend Radius
The inside bend radius is the distance from the inside edge of the bend to the centerline of the bend.
The inside bend radius is usually smaller than the outside bend radius. For example, if you’re bending aluminum tubing, the inside bend radius might be 1/2 inch (1.27 cm), while the outer bend radius would be 1 inch (2.54 cm).
The minimum bend radius you use will depend on the thickness of the alloy. For instance, if you’re working with thin aluminum sheeting, you’ll need to use a smaller radius than you would for thicker aluminum.
You might wonder why it’s necessary to calculate the inside bend radius. Well, this measurement is crucial if you want to bend the aluminum without damaging it. This is because the aluminum will be under more stress at the inside end of the bend.
Calculating the inside bend radius helps determine the amount of surface you can safely bend without breaking the aluminum. The inside bend radius also affects the amount of force you will need to apply to bend the material.
To calculate the inside bend radius, you need to know the following:
- The thickness of the aluminum
- The angle of the bend
- The radius of the bend
Here is how to obtain these measurements:
Measure the Thickness of the Aluminum
To measure the thickness of the aluminum, use an anvil micrometer.
If you don’t have one, I recommend considering the Anytime Tools Tube Micrometer. It can measure objects up to 1.5 inches in diameter with an accuracy of 0.0001 inches. It’s also easy to use, with a large and easy-to-read display. Plus, it’s affordable compared to other micrometers in the market.
To use the anvil micrometer, follow these steps:
- Place it on aluminum so that the anvil touches the surface.
- The micrometer’s spindle should be perpendicular to the surface of the aluminum.
- Turn the thimble of the micrometer until it contacts the anvil.
The reading on the thimble will be the thickness of the aluminum.
Measure the Angle of the Bend
To determine the angle of the bend, you’ll need to measure the length and width of the aluminum piece. The length is the measurement from end to end, while the width is the measurement from side to side. So, to calculate the angle of the bend, divide the length by the width.
Divide the Thickness of the Aluminum
Divide the thickness of the metal by the cosine of the angle of the bend. This will give you the inside radius of the aluminum.
For example, if you’re trying to bend aluminum that’s 0.5 inches thick at a 90-degree angle, the calculation would look like this:
0.5 inches/cos (90 degrees) = 2.62 inches
Therefore, 2.62 inches is the minimum radius you’ll need to achieve that 90-degree bend.
This easy-to-understand video illustrates the math behind the bend:
3. Set Up the Vise
A vise is a small, handheld tool used to grip and secure a workpiece while it is being worked on. Vises are an essential part of many metalworking and woodworking operations, and you can find them in various sizes and styles to suit your needs.
You can use a vise to hold a workpiece while being drilled, sawed, bent, filed, or worked on. It is for applying pressure to the aluminum to bend or shape it.
If you are using a bench vise, you’ll need to set up the vise before bending the aluminum. This simple process involves attaching the vise to the workbench and clamping the aluminum.
To set up the vise, follow these steps:
- Loosen the screws on the side of the vice.
- Open the jaws of the vise until they are about twice the width of the aluminum sheet.
- Clamp the aluminum sheet in the vise so it is snug but not too tight.
When setting up the vise, choose the location carefully. You want to make sure you do it right, and you might consider the following:
- Mount the tool so that one side is nearly at the edge of the bench you’re working on.
- If you’re working on a long piece of aluminum, it should comfortably run through the edge of the bench.
Here is a useful video with an in-depth explanation of how to set up a vise:
4. Soften the Aluminum
Now that you have the inside bend radius you’ll be working with, it’s time to soften the aluminum for bending.
Here is how to soften the metal:
Heat the Aluminum Along the Bend Line
One way to soften the metal is by heating it. Heating the aluminum will make it easier to work with. However, you need to heat it along the bend line. This will help to soften the metal and make it more pliable. Make sure that you don’t overheat the metal, as this can cause it to break.
There are various ways to heat aluminum for bending, including the following:
- Use a propane torch. This is a quick and effective way to heat the metal, but it can be challenging to control the temperature. Pay careful attention so that the aluminum doesn’t get too hot, brittle, and break before you get the chance to bend it.
- Use an oven. This is a slower process, but it’s easier to control the temperature. The downside is that it can take a long time to heat the aluminum evenly, and it’s easy to overheat it.
- Use an induction heater. This is the most expensive option but also the most precise. An induction heater can heat the aluminum quickly and evenly without damaging it.
Given these options, the best one will depend on your needs. A propane torch is best if you want to heat the metal quickly, but an oven is better if you need more control over the temperature. If you want absolutely no damage to your aluminum, then an induction heater is the way to go.
Most importantly, how you go about the heating process will depend on the thickness of the metal you want to bend.
If you want to bend a thin aluminum sheet, you can use a propane torch to heat the metal until it’s soft enough to bend. For thicker aluminum pieces, consider using a furnace to heat the metal evenly. Once the aluminum is heated, you can use various methods to bend it to your desired shape, including a chemical treatment:
Use a Chemical Treatment
You can use a chemical treatment to soften the aluminum, which will make it easier to bend without breaking.
There are a number of chemical treatments that can soften aluminum for bending, and one option is to use a chemical polishing bath. The bath includes sodium nitrates, nitric and phosphoric acids, and water.
To treat the aluminum:
- Immerse the workpiece in the bath for roughly 1 to 3 minutes at about 80-90°C (176-194°F).
- Rinse it in water. This will make the aluminum more pliable and less likely to crack during bending.
5. Determine the Correct Die Angle
The die angle you choose can make all the difference in bending aluminum.
A die angle is an angle at which the top and bottom die meet, and is the angle between the die and the workpiece. The die angle is critical because it determines how the metal will flow when it’s being bent.
The die angle determines how much force you need to bend the aluminum. A smaller die angle requires less force, while a larger die angle requires more force:
- The die angle should be equal to the metal’s bending angle. If the die angle is too small, the metal will flow outwards, and the bend will be too sharp.
- If the die angle is too large, the metal will flow inwards, and the curve will be too shallow.
- A die angle that’s too shallow will cause the aluminum to buckle and break. Likewise, a die angle that’s too steep will make the bend too sharp and could also cause breakage.
The key here is to find that sweet spot in between. This is where the aluminum will bend smoothly and evenly without any risk of breaking. However, if you need help deciding which angle to choose, you can always ask a professional for help.
6. Bend the Aluminum
Once the aluminum is in place and you’re sure of the bend angle, you can bend it to the desired shape.
Aluminum is most commonly bent in the “o” condition, which is when the metal is soft. This makes it easy to work with and allows you to mold it into various shapes.
You can also bend the aluminum in the “t” condition when the metal is heat-treated. This makes the aluminum more durable and less likely to warp.
There are various ways you can bend your aluminum:
- Use a sheet metal brake. This tool allows you to bend the metal by clamping it down and then using a lever to bend it to the desired angle.
- Use a jig. This tool helps to hold the metal in place while you use pliers or other devices to bend it.
- Use a vise to hold the aluminum in place while you heat it. Once the aluminum is hot, you can use a pair of pliers to bend it. This is a more advanced method and should only be done by someone with experience.
- Use a hammer and an anvil to shape the metal. This method is less precise but can let you create more complex shapes.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when bending the aluminum sheet to avoid breakage:
- Make sure that you do not bend the sheet too sharply.
- Avoid creasing the sheet.
- Avoid over-bending the alloy or making a tighter bend beyond the minimum bend radius.
- A smaller bend may crack or break along the bend line.
Final Thoughts
Bending aluminum can be tricky. You don’t want to break it, but you also don’t want to leave unsightly dents. With a bit of know-how, you can achieve excellent results. If you have the right tools and learn the proper techniques, you’ll have a clean bend.
The guide in this article should help you create interesting shapes and objects from your aluminum. Go slowly and carefully, and you can achieve the perfect bend in no time.