DIY No-Weld Metal Bending Jig | Modern Builds

Is it a Metal Press? Brake? Bender?... who knows. In this video I'll show you how I made a simple jig that allows me to easily bend plate steel and sheet metal around the shop for DIY projects, of course this thing isn't perfect.. it's a prototype of an idea and I'd love to hear if you've got good ideas on how to improve it. Leave me a comment and I may include it on version 2 :)
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Watch The Desk Video: • How to Build a Wood & ...
What I used:
Angle Grinder
3/4" Plywood
1.5x1.5" angle steel - 1/8"
Wood Glue: (Amazon) geni.us/QdL18
Clamps: makerbrandco.c...
Written Article:
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Thanks for watching! -Mike Montgomery
MODERN BUILDS
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[@dhanvanmunsami5826]

Great video for a starter person. You demonstrated thick and thin metals. That's what people want to see. Thumbs up

[@FarmerFpv]

Quit acting like you're not a beginner to metal fab, you know damn well you are, you're just too proud to admit it or too weak to admit you're green when it comes to working with metal. Grow some balls mate!

[@stevepurcell7266]

Best one I've seen on KZbin. Great job.

[@MikkosFree]

2:52 and 4:55 is proof that Mike really listens to his subscribers. It was few videos ago that we were discussing how dangerous grinding with a cut off wheel is. And now we see him make that loud and clear to change into a grinding wheel, so people new to grinders can stay safe. Great job Mike.

[@Deontjie]

Please explain why? What is the difference between the two? What can happen?

[@MikkosFree]

@@Deontjie Which part? Why its dangerous?

[@joshcosta423]

Just a thought for Maker Brand, it'd be cool to have a "what's next" section where let all of us makers know what tools/products we can expect next from you guys? Love the content you bring.

[@jcrofts92]

Instead of having the angle iron sitting with the flat edge down I would try to place it so it is a triangle shape with the point facing upwards. This would mean you would need to drill your holes through the corner of your angle iron and bolts would be at the top point of the angle iron. This has two advantages. 1. You now have two points of contact on your piece where each bolt is situated. 2. You are bending against a surface thar allows you to bend to around 45 degrees to your work piece instead of 90. This is good if you want 90 degree bends as metals are slightly elastic and have memory meaning that if you bend them to 90 degrees they will bounce back away from that a little e.g. to 85 degrees. This way you can bend past 90 degrees and allow it to bounce back to the 90 degrees. You can also bend a lot sharper angles if needed

[@ruinunes8251]

Your idea is brilliant.

[@Deontjie]

So you can bend a bit past 90 degrees?

[@weldmama]

josh do you mean then that this will be a 2 step process - where you bend up to 45 degrees first and then switch it around like is in the video to then finish bending to the 90???....got me thinking!

[@r-forbz2956]

I dont know about anyone else but I'm loving all of the Office references 😂 keep doing what you do man

[@JTWoodworks]

This is a super simple way to add metal to a project. Thanks for sharing Mike!!

[@ifixeditmyself1926]

Very simple and that makes it nice.

[@Zimbob2424]

What I think ? Well I think this is what I need, plus cutting the grooves I didn't know since I'm kinda new to working with metal. Thanks much appreciated

[@DL-lf2vd]

Awsome!!! Will build a smaller version for what I need.

[@missionDan]

A good tip: when drilling metal, drill slowly to allow the bit to bite the material and lower the chances of the bit getting too hot. You’ll drill the hole faster, and your bits wont need sharpening as often

[@GarageKnight]

Wow so simple, never thought about that. Thank you very much!

[@paulyanez5198]

Gonna give it a whirl. Thanks for the diy ingenuity

[@tonybparalegal]

I had the same idea but thought it made more sense to orient it downward rather than up. But then, there is not nearly as much support on the rest of the piece being bent. Nice! Thank you!

[@whatworkedforme]

Great video.. the grinding of the groove first (at an angle) alone, was worth watching it for. you just made my current job a lot easier

[@spencerbuzza4163]

Same 🍻

[@omnizen]

I notice the angle iron lifting off the double-thickness plywood base as you go to make the first bend. The only thing holding the angle iron to the base are the two nuts that have to act against all that force. It would be a little more time consuming, but you could reposition the clamps that hold the base to the table to a position over the bolted angle iron to hold both the angle iron and base to the table. There would be less give, and a slightly more accurate bend with less distortion could be achieved on thinner gauges of metal.

[@anastasios3006]

Great jig, simple and does the job.

[@Steelcrafted]

I mean the point of forming sheet metal is that you retain the strength, vs cutting half way through and bending you are losing strength....I don't think it much matters in the things you'll be making with this method, but you also could go back and do some stitch welds on the inside

[@ModernBuilds]

Good tip! Thanks

[@42Fab]

Yeah, for anything needing strength the inside would get a weld

[@PeteGoode]

if he ran a weld down that fold after the bend, he'd then make it stronger.... except... 1. he'd negate the title of the video (i.e. "no weld") 2. at that point, why not just weld a second piece to the end vs cut, bend, & re-weld.

[@Steelcrafted]

@@PeteGoode because if you did a welded outside corner joint instead of a bend, there would be a lot more grinding and blending to achieve the same look....a few stitches inside a bend would increase strength a lot and the finished look on the outside would be perfect....

[@PeteGoode]

@@Steelcrafted well, my dad always said, there are welders and there are grinders. ;-) however, I agree. to get that finished uniform look, you'd need to grind flat. still, he could have welded the internal cut and achieve the same strength of an uncut piece. If he walked the weld in the fold, he could get a good bead of pearls look that most people wouldn't notice.

[@TheLittleBlackShadeTree]

That's impressive! I love all the woodworking you teach and hope to try one of these projects!

[@MaryOKC]

I think this is pretty cool!

[@jimmytrue1181]

excellence Idea DIY , thank you for shareing .

[@hurdbuilds]

Clever my man, clever. Nice work 👍🏼

[@ZacJones]

Awesome video! Metal work is a bit intimidating to get into, but this jig seems like it would be really useful and super easy to build in an afternoon. Thanks for the upload.

[@TV-gy1nf]

Great video

[@shawnbassplayer]

Only thing I dont like is the grinding part. Its fine if it’s for a look. But grinding a 1/8” plate down to a 1/16” so you can bend it leaves a bend thats only as strong as a 1/16”. Unless you come back and back weld it.

[@EricRoy85]

Thanks for sharing Mike. I would definitely like to see more jigs and such. Even complex jigs that help make even more awesomeness would be great. 👍

[@stefankarakashian4442]

If you cut back your plywood top 6”, butted the two pieces together and installed two recessed door hinges. It’ll result in sharper bends, you’ll be using a backing anvil, the 5” top and hinges as a fulcrum to make sharper bends. 👍

[@xredman002]

I am trying to picture this.....

[@legend_8969]

Sir you have my respect....salute

[@BruceAUlrich]

I could see that being very handy. Good tips, Mike!

[@jefferycherrysr6568]

Great idea thanks for this video

[@stormman8393]

Ingenious!!!

[@javierdiaz17]

Excellent tool👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Mr4thetruth]

Superb video, thank you. :)

[@edgarshoe]

great idead! ✌

[@Piolin768]

Thank you! Those are great ideas!

[@sierraecho884]

Instead of creating grooves you can simply drill along the bend line , there are even patented patterns for the cutouts to easier bend the parts.

[@RustyZarate]

great video dude, keep the great work and thanks!

[@danmccurry3810]

Great job, thanks for sharing the knowledge!

[@MarshBryan]

turn the metal around and use the natural length as leverage instead of clamping on "arms" whenever possible! a simple and effective break!

[@shannonvaughan4385]

Marsh Bryan man I’m watching this and thinking the same thing. I’m like why mess with the clamp on handles when you can just turn it around. LoL. Anyway, nice idea.

[@roderickconstantino5354]

@@shannonvaughan4385 I think because it will add an unwanted bow to the longer section; considering that you will be handling the farthest part possible for maximum leverage/torque.

[@kountryedge]

@@shannonvaughan4385 this way is less cumbersome

[@pingu99991]

You can get angle iron that is twice as wide on one side. That'll be a tad more expensive but it'd give the break more leverage on the side that gets clamped to the board which will probably prevent the bolts from tearing out over time.

[@XDIY]

Awesome work as usual! This channel was definitely inspired me to create my own DIY channel...

[@danrozen3726]

Cool, I would take a look.

[@jameswolf8574]

Nice start.. I subscribed.

[@frosi_no]

Muchas gracias. Muy útil. Thanks a lot. Very usuful.

[@djbanger]

Thank you just what I needed

[@Daltond204]

Appreciate all the content, your videos are the great as you explain each process. Would love to see some more platform bed builds and dining table builds but not all the live edge and epoxy as that topic seems to be beat to death. Keep up the good work!

[@EthanCarterDesigns]

Such a cool idea and jig, Mike! I gotta make one of these! Thanks for the knowledge

[@crrassh69]

I’m not sure what drill bits your using, but most good quality bits work best around 1200 RPM and even with cutting fluid you can pooch a bit short order by going to fast. I use a Wurth Triumph thunderbit set and with a little oil 1200 RPM it’s through very quick and my bits last a long time. Just an FYI and thanks for the video.

[@idallover303]

You could run a bit of metal putty or JB Weld along the inside seam for some extra strength! Wouldn't be considered welding really haha.

[@syedhasan6548]

Excellent

[@mohammedali808]

Very innovative. The curve on the bends are very small. All you need to do to strengthen the bends is to weld them.

[@kke]

Yes, nice, but how about making a short lip bend, like 10mm 90 degree lip that you can use as an edge to put rivets through for building a roof for a box or such?

[@lisamichelle8499]

I love it!

[@slightlycrookedworkshop]

If I were going to make one, I would try to add a flat bar on the bottom and have an opposing angle iron on the top...positioned so both angle irons form a T, then slide your stock in between.

[@SecretStashBrosBuilds]

In the future I want to incorporate metal bending into my videos. Great day man!

[@MadeByMarylou]

I've really been loving your jigs as of late, thank you!!

[@Deontjie]

Great.

[@LuxusHomeCreations]

Cool! Thanks for sharing. This is helpful and yet so simple ;)

[@SirGabealot]

a fixed fence on one side might be a nice addition, just to make it easier to line up the bend

[@minsoo8327]

Just curious making those grooves doesn't affect to strength much? Can you bend same way without groove?

[@poston33]

make your wooden clamp on "handles" longer for easier bending

[@walterdiaz2003]

physics ~torque~

[@MarcusWolschon]

What about using that edge as a straight guide to MILL a grove of consistent and adjusable depth and shape using a surface grinder with a V-shaped metal cutting tool?

[@ericandrachaelgardiner4144]

Love the videos man!! I would love to see some wood working tool tutorial videos. Gotta learn how to use my new xmas gifts my dood!!!

[@jonasbravo7642]

make the wood handles longr, this way you will make more torque and it will be much easer to bend, good videos m8

[@midfutballr]

Thanks

[@dandelionpenrose4013]

Is anyone else 50% herr for tge good content and 50% here cuz hes so gourgous?

[@fadetounforgiven]

First, if it's going to be about making some effort, I'd do it so you push it downwards, not upwards. I prefer gravity helping rather than working against me. Now, this would complicate things a little bit, but I would try and use some other piece of angle iron with some kind of hinges that would rotate with the help of a couple handles (kind of the gear lever in a car). Those handles/levers would be adjustable so you can set them further or closer depending on the width of the material. The only tricky part, so to speak, is placing the hinges in the right spot, since materials with different thicknesses would need some slightly different positions, but that is something I could live with. And it this is the system, then bending upwards wouldn't be that much of a problem as those levers would help a lot.

[@42Fab]

I use a similar method, but I prefer to make the cut then bend the opposite direction (so as to open the cut rather than close it) then come behind and weld the joint. Pros: your measurements are a bit tighter, but realistically we're talking 1/16", easier to bend, the weld means full strength Cons: you have to weld it, welding means cleanup/grinding or carefully welding, more work. Either way, having a bending process around is much easier than cutting and welding plates to make angles. Lastly, If you torch heat a joint before bending the way you did, you'll get a really smooth radius (making up for any error in cutting depth) and you'll keep the millscale which sometimes will chip off bending as you did here. Again though, more work with more tools, which I know your brand is to avoid when possible

[@somoss0117]

What is the purpose of using 1/4 in steel if your cut 90% into it? You’ve weakened the material. Looks good but just use thinner steel

[@darkflux]

that's a good start, but rather than clamping wood to the piece, you COULD just attach another equal width slab of wood to the end of that jig with a few hinges, and it would bend more naturally.

[@hrrh]

Great stuff. Really enjoyed your work your video...thinking maybe it'd be better though to go down and use gravity instead of your big muscles in your shoulders... Also might not have to anchor the workbench as much if you go down.... How about making another piece of angle iron into the side of your work bench.... Cheers thanks again for the great ideas!!!

[@diyanaliyanahamsawi9930]

hope you'd wear a mask at least next time 🥺 you safety's gotta be your priority. But thank you for the very helpful videooo 😍🤩

[@adolforuiz3114]

Awesone

[@rtv_torlock2152]

Try and add door hinges and attach those wood pieces that you used as leverage you wouldn’t have to clamp it down every time

[@benamisai-kham5892]

Using polystyrene as a cutting board... genius.

[@c8lynwilson]

neat!

[@pedrolopes3542]

0:40 "gorilla glue" the best hairstyle product.

[@GoutamDAS-ls1wb]

Did you ever have fracture along the groove you cut in the metal sheet you were bending? Was this bending done prior to hardening? What variety of SS would bend without fracturing? Thanks in advance

[@Do_not_assume]

What's the thickness of the sheet metals in mm? I need to bend a 1.2 mm stainless steel sheet metal.

[@DavidM2002]

Constructive criticism : don't aim for such a small radius. Push the angle iron about 1/4 - 1/2" away from the edge of the plywood. It'll be a bit easier to bend and be a stronger corner. I like the prior comment about flipping your angle iron over so that you can bend past 90 degrees.

[@tunckuyel]

i think if you place the angle iron backwards you can bend more

[@kakashykun]

For narrower pieces wouldn't a bench vise also work for bending?

[@emiliogreenwood8190]

Cool

[@Aviator168]

Doesn't the groove reduce the strength of the metal sheet?

[@nyguy4u]

How thick was this? 3/16?

[@bsjm1958]

Great work, thank you

[@pangjian8255]

Hi, can i know what is the thickness of that aluminium sheet u bended?

[@thesaucysassy]

Can you build an ' end of bed' bench, please?

[@TJSWOODWORKINGSHOP]

Awesome Gadget my brother I like it good idea to later :)

[@ليثالوائلي-غ4د]

عمل رائع

[@jachymwiaczka4271]

Awesome work man!! Just one thing from me though: I would make the bolts a little bit shorter so, when taking the metal out, you dont have to unscrew them so much. You're never gonna bend anything thicker than 1/2 anyway I presume. Again, Awesome work! Keep on making!!!!

[@kalbotero9232]

Nice keep going 🔥

[@msk3905]

Not crazy over the grooves that you cut, yes makes it easier to bend but just weakened metal.

[@pmodd]

This is a really ghetto way to make bends, which isn't bad in a pinch, but isn't worth making. 1. You can't make any 90 degree bends smaller than the height of the rail and mating surface of the clamps. With a simple metal brake on thin steel you can make 1cm folds, but not so with this contraption. 2. Cutting 70% of the plate steel defeats the purpose of the fold. Sure, you get the folded look when compared to a cut and weld, plus it can save you some grinding, however you still have to weld the back of the fold to provide it with any amount of strength. The second issue is that when bending the steel using this method, the steel deforms and is no longer flat; just look at the top at 5:32. If you have to cut and weld it anyway, you might as well just cut and weld it properly.

[@macguyo]

Nice, but some how I feel like it's within you Mike to weld a jig that will this process easy in the future

[@miloudbouchefra200]

With all the pressure placed on the screws each time you use this tool, they'll eventually eat through the wood making the holes bigger. It's a good solution, yet it's only a matter of time before you'll have to make another wooden base.

[@wynhall8168]

Miloud Bouchefra you could put a strip of flat stock on the bottom edge and run the bolts through both metal and the wood. If you’re worried about it raising the wood off the table, you could cut a rabbet so the strip can sit flush.

[@roderickconstantino5354]

Subbed

[@neilf4128]

That was awesome. Thank you Mike. Keep on being creative. What happened to Jessup?

[@fredmercury1314]

If you cut all the way through the stock, you can just weld it at 90 degrees without bending it.

[@RossRawlins]

I would try some hydraulic/pneumatics to help with the bending more.

[@bobdown8043]

No way!! All this plate bending will turn this guy into a tank.

[@raynoladominguez4730]

Nice job.

[@nickforster2496]

dang I can tell you're using some of the good old home depot radiata pine by how warped it is, I feel your pain man