Edge bending brass strip?

[alde]

Can anyone recommend a method of making a large radius edge bend of brass strip? I'm making a sheet metal guard to go on top of the railings at the bow, around the anchors on my Glad Tidings.

[Dr PR]

" ... large radius edge bend ..."

 

Are you talking about bending the edges of a strip to create a "U" or "L" cross section so it fits over the top and side(s) of the railing?

 

Or are you talking about bending a flat strip by curving it across the wide dimension, as it would be if it was only on top of a curved railing?

 

What is the thickness of the brass? What is the radius of the desired bend?

Edited Friday at 05:21 AM by Dr PR

[wefalck]

Indeed the ration between thickness and width and radius of the curve are the key parameters.

 

It is probably unavoidable to make some sort of jig. This jig would consist of a former for the inner radius of the finished piece, attached to a flat board. The forming would proceed with gentle hammering the strip to the former, interrupted by heating the part with a torch to red-hot to take out the work-hardening. Otherwise the strip will start breaking on the outside curve. The hammering and resulting stretching will make the strip narrower, so you need to start with a strip wider than the finished rail.

 

Depending on the actual dimension of the part, it may be actually better to saw it from a piece of sheet brass.

[CPDDET]

Cutting the piece from a sheet of brass would probably produce the best result.

[alde]

Thanks for the help. The brass strip supplied in the kit is 3/32" x 1/64" and would be bent on the larger dimension. I think you guys are right about cutting it from a brass sheet. The radius would probably be around 10" give or take.

[wefalck]

Could you show a picture of the situation ?

 

I suppose the material will be painted afterwards, so it doesn't matter what is underneath? In this case, you could consider cutting the piece from cheaper and easier to work material, such a styrene, or use styrene strip that can be formed with gentle heat from a hair-dryer around a former as mentioned above.

[alde]

9 minutes ago, wefalck said:

Could you show a picture of the situation ?

 

I suppose the material will be painted afterwards, so it doesn't matter what is underneath? In this case, you could consider cutting the piece from cheaper and easier to work material, such a styrene, or use styrene strip that can be formed with gentle heat from a hair-dryer around a former as mentioned above. It supposed to be a protective piece for the top of the rail for the anchor handling. 

Yes, it will be painted. I didn't think of using plastic. That would sure be easier.

[wefalck]

Are you sure that this should be a part bent into a U and not two parts that meet over the bowsprit in a seam that runs parallel to the bowsprit? I don't think I have ever seen the U-shaped solution on a real ship.

 

[alde]

8 minutes ago, wefalck said:

Are you sure that this should be a part bent into a U and not two parts that meet over the bowsprit in a seam that runs parallel to the bowsprit? I don't think I have ever seen the U-shaped solution on a real ship.

 

Not U shaped. It would be 2 separate pieces about the length of 2 stations. About 2" long.

[wefalck]

To me it appears than that very little bending is actually required.

[alde]

35 minutes ago, wefalck said:

To me it appears than that very little bending is actually required.

It's not much. I'm going to the local hobby shop to get some sheet brass and plastic and try both. I'll try bending the brass strip to.

[CPDDET]

9 minutes ago, alde said:

It's not much. I'm going to the local hobby shop to get some sheet brass and plastic and try both. I'll try bending the brass strip to.

Please keep us posted.

[paul ron]

why bend... how about just cutting the shape you need from a brass sheet? 

 

 

Edited Friday at 09:15 PM by paul ron

[alde]

44 minutes ago, paul ron said:

why bend... how about just cutting the shape you need from a brass sheet? 

 

 

I picked up some sheet stock a little while ago to try cutting it out. I think it's the best way to go.