Metal Bending Press

Here are the plans for you to build your own

metal bending press. I have always worked in
my garage and have needed metal bent on different
projects and always had to find a way to get it done.
Well final I decided to build my own and since then
I have found several thing I would like to have and
decided that I could build it myself and save some
money in the process.

I have even built my own motorcycle wheel chalk

which saved me over $100.00. This is a handy
item to have around. I have bent flat plate cold
roll steel 5/16” thick up to 2” wide and ¼” thick
up to 3” wide.

Below is a picture of the wheel chalk I built.

 MATERIAL LIST

Square Tubing
(2) - 2” X 2” X 3/16” X 18” Long Mark “A”
(1) - 1” X 1” X 1/8” X 9-3/4” Long Mark “D”

Flat Bar
(2) - 2” X ¼” X 10” Long Mark “B”
(1) - 2” X ¼” X 10” Long Mark “B-1
(3) - 2” X ¼” X 14” Long Mark “C”
(1) - 2” X ¼” X 8” Long Mark “H”

Angle
(1) - 1-1/4” X 1-1/4” X 3/16” X 9-3/4” Long Mark “E”
(2) - 2” X 2” X ¼” X 10” Long Mark “F”
(2) - 1-1/4” X 1-1/4” X 1/8” X 16” Long Mark “G”

Round
(1) - 5/8” X 5” Long Mark “I”
( The diameter and length of this piece will depend on what radius you are wanting to bend.)

PARTS LIST

(1) - 12 Ton Hydraulic Bottle Jack

(2) - Heavy Duty Springs 1” Diameter X 5” Long

(2) - 5/16” X 4” Long Eye Bolts w/flat washers and nuts

(2) - 5/16” X 1-1/2” Long Eye Bolts w/flat washers and nuts

(2)- 5/16” X 1” Bolts w/Lock washers and nuts

(1) - V - Block
 First we are going to cut all the material needed and then we need to clean all the edges for
safety purposes. Once we have them cut and cleaned we need to be sure we mark them as
per the material list. This will make it easier to work with.
Next we will start by preparing the materials, trimming, measuring and drilling the holes.

First take the two pieces marked “B”.

We are going to trim off the top corners
Measure over and down ½” and mark
Now connect these two marks and this
is the area you trim off.

Now we need to get the piece marked

“B-1” - 2” X ¼” X 10” Long. Lay it
as shown her in the photo and measure
up from the bottom 1” and mark at
each end. Now measure in 2” from
both ends and mark. You now have
your two center marks for your holes.

Drill the two 5/16” holes through.

You may need to clean around the
holes you drill.

Lay this piece aside.

 Now we need the pieces marked
“D” & “E” Lay them out as shown.
“D” will lay cradled inside the angle
as shown and you will weld at the
top on each end and also along the
bottom seam.

Now we need to measure and mark

the piece to get the centers for
drilling the holes. Lay the piece like
it is here in the photo. Measure over
7/8” on each end and mark. Now
measure up 19/32” from the bottom
and mark on each end. This gives
you your center marks. Drill two
5/16” holes through the tubing and
angle.

Now you will need to grind the top edge

of “E” flush with the top of “D”. You
only need to grin in between the two
5/16” holes. This is so your V-Block
will set level when you use the press.

Take the piece marked “H”, we need

to measure and mark it for drilling
also. Lay it flat and measure over
1” on each end and mark. Now
measure up 1”from the bottom and
mark. Now you have your centers for
your holes.
 Drill two 5/16” holes through as
shown here.

Now take the pieces marked “H” & “I”

You need to place “I” in the center of
“H” in both directions. Yours may vary
depending on the size die you want.
On this one you would set it 1” up from
the bottom and 1-1/2” in on each end.

Now that “I” is in place you need to

weld it to “H”. Weld it on both sides
as shown in the photo below.
 Take the two pieces mark “F” and
lay them out as shown, facing each
other. Slide the top one (as shown
in the photo) up onto the bottom
one. Slide them together until they
stop.

Place C-clamps on them to secure

them in place.

This photo shows what the end view

would look like.

Leave the clamps on and turn the

piece so you can weld the outside
seam.

Once you have welded the

outside seam turn it over and weld
the inside seam.

When you have completed the

welding you can remove the clamps.
 Now we need to
Measure for the two
5/16” holes. You
measure from outside
edge to outside edge as
shown in the photo
below. Measure up
from the bottom 1-1/8”
on each end and mark.
Next measure over 1”
from each end and
mark. This give you
the center marks for
drilling your holes

Drill the two 5/16” holes through.

Set this piece aside.

Now that we have all the part prepped and ready we are going to start putting the
base together.
 Take the two pieces marked “A”
you will need to measure and
mark over 2” on both the “A”
pieces. Now take the piece
marked “B-1” and place it as it
shows in this photo. (We used
welding magnets to hold in place).
Spot weld “B-1” to “A” and check
to be sure it is square.
When it is weld it in place on the
top and bottom.

Now insert the two 5/16” X 1” Bolts

through the holes as shown. Place the
nuts and lock washers on the secure
them in place.

Once they are secured spot-weld

around the top of the bolts.
Take the “A”, “B-1” piece and
stand it up with the “B-1” towards
the top. Get the two pieces marked
“B”. You will place the first one
with the notches down toward
“B-1” and set it in 3/8” from the
back. Make sure it is square and
weld it in place.

Weld the front and back of

“B” onto “B-1” and “A”.
This photo shows the back
view where the notches are
placed and the welds.

Take the remaining piece

“B” and place it just as
you did the first one. The
notches down and 3/8” in
and weld in place.
 Get two of the pieces
marked “C” you are
going to need two
C-clamps to hold
them in place. Place
them on the outside
at the top. One in the
back and one in the
front, of “A” as
shown. (like a
sandwich)
They should be flush
with the tops of “A”
and “B” and also
flush with the sides
of “A”.

Weld around as shown here.

On the front and on the back.

You will need to grind the

top welds flush. There is
another plate that will be
placed on the top.
 Take the last piece marked ”C” and place
it on the top as shown in this photo. It
should be flush on the ends and there will
be a ¼” in both the front and back Shown
in the photo below.

Put your clamps on to secure it in place

and weld around the edges.

Now you will need the base and

the piece “F”. This piece goes at
the bottom in between the “A”
columns. There is one side of “F”
that is ¼” longer than the other
it makes no difference if it is in
the back or front. We have it
shown here in the front. You
need to be sure the “F” piece is
level and square. To help with
this we made it flush in the front
with “A”.
 Making it flush in the front
will mean it is not flush in
the back there is about ¼”
overhang shown here in this
photo. Now that it is squared
and level weld it in place.

Now take the two pieces marked

“G” these are the feet. You will
place them on the outsides of
“A” with 7” on either side (as
shown here in the photo).
You can spot-weld them in
place then square them up and
weld in them place.

Weld inside where the feet meet “A”

in the front and back.

Now we have the body assembled we

are almost done. There are just a few
more steps and you will be ready to
use your new press.
Get the two 5/16” X 1-1/2” Eye
bolts with nuts and washers.
insert them down through the
5/16” holes on top of the piece “F”.
Make sure the eye of the bolt is
turned to be parallel with “A” then
place the flat washer on the bolt
and secure the bolt in place with
the nut.

Take the piece “H” & “I” and place

It on the 5/16” bolt on “B-1”, once
on secure it with the lock washers
and nuts.
Take “D” and the 5/16” X 4” Eye
bolts with the flat washers and nuts.
Turn the “D” piece over with the
ground edge towards the bottom.
Insert the eye bolts up through as
shown here in this photo and secure
them in place with the flat washers and
the nuts.

Place the springs onto the eye bolts as

shown here.

Now attach the springs to the

eye bolts on “F”
 Now put your 12 Ton Hydraulic
Bottle Jack in place and you are
finished. You can take the remove
the bottle jack and the springs and
bolts or tape them off and paint
your New Press.

This is just to show you how it bends

this ¼” flat stock. I hope you have
enjoyed making yours as I did. I have
made several different items with mine.
A few things I have saved a great deal
of money on by making my own instead
of paying retail prices. Thank you for
purchasing these plans I hope you have
great success with them.