Flat bar progression for wrenches

[Max248]

Hey, I'm new to Gripboard 

Wanted to know if flat bars are a good way to progress towards wrenches, been training for over a year. I hear allot about bending Spikes first, but my country doesn't sell those nor does my country provide online sources. I'm able to bend 11.5 inch 3/8 thick round hrs braced, but only kink the 10 inch, my crush is weak.  

 

Images are the 10 1/2 inch 1/4in thick bar and 3/8 round 

[John Knowlton]

Crazy bends 

[climber511]

You're probably already strong enough to try a wrench.  But your first wrench might be a 6" one - your round or flat bar bends should mimic the size wrench you are planning.  The other thing is finding wrenches that "bend" instead of "snap".  All wrenches will not bend no matter how strong you are - choose carefully.

[David_wigren]

Depending on your location the most important step is to find a wrench that is actually possible to bend. For example in Sweden 80% of wrenches are impossible to bend, even for elite steel benders. The other 20% are possible but often still really really hard. 

[Max248]

 Would the ones snapping be harder? or risky. Thanks 

 

 

[Max248]

7 minutes ago, David_wigren said:

Depending on your location the most important step is to find a wrench that is actually possible to bend. For example in Sweden 80% of wrenches are impossible to bend, even for elite steel benders. The other 20% are possible but often still really really hard. 

dam that's intense.

I live in South America so it's a bit easier to get cheaper steel here.would love to go there some day though 

[Buccos1]

11 hours ago, Max248 said:

Hey, I'm new to Gripboard 

Wanted to know if flat bars are a good way to progress towards wrenches, been training for over a year. I hear allot about bending Spikes first, but my country doesn't sell those nor does my country provide online sources. I'm able to bend 11.5 inch 3/8 thick round hrs braced, but only kink the 10 inch, my crush is weak.  

Bending a 6" wrench isn't very difficult, unless ... as mentioned above, you encounter a mutant one, or if the wrenches are just not possible to bend, regardless of strength/ability.  I don't normally bend flat and won't discuss that but think that if you're already bending short, round stock, it couldn't hurt to just transition to wrenches.  Most wrenches aren't that hard to kink.  The crush is tough, especially with the bigger wrenches.  (You can always use more padding until your hands/legs acclimate to the crush pressure.)  With bending a wrench, just like bending a tougher horseshoe, you need to flip a switch and just blast into it.  After enough time and attempts, eventually, you will bend one.

[Max248]

16 hours ago, climber511 said:

You're probably already strong enough to try a wrench.  But your first wrench might be a 6" one - your round or flat bar bends should mimic the size wrench you are planning.  The other thing is finding wrenches that "bend" instead of "snap".  All wrenches will not bend no matter how strong you are - choose carefully.

Would the ones snapping be harder? I had a flimsy 6inch adjustable. It was thin, but I was only able to move it a bit.

I then braced it onto a rack cause my hands and wrists had more movement there and it snapped in half.

Edited February 14, 2023 by Max248

[Blacksmith513]

40 minutes ago, Max248 said:

Would the ones snapping be harder? I had a flimsy 6inch adjustable. It was thin, but I was only able to move it a bit.

I then braced it onto a rack cause my hands and wrists had more movement there and it snapped in half.

I can't answer whether its harder or not to snap on, that probably depends on the wrench, steel its made out of and how much carbon it has.. But its probably way more dangerous. 

Ive never bent wrenches but if i did i'd buy a few and test them out in a vise first.

[climber511]

In my limited experience there are 2 "kinds".  There are wrenches that are bendable with enough strength - these vary from not too terribly hard to very hard but still bend and don't snap.  Then there are wrenches that can not be bent no matter the strength but will snap when enough pressure is applied.  As an example here in the US I buy Pittsburgh brand adjustable wrenches - but only the ones made in India.  The same wrench made in China will not bend but break.

[Max248]

1 hour ago, climber511 said:

In my limited experience there are 2 "kinds".  There are wrenches that are bendable with enough strength - these vary from not too terribly hard to very hard but still bend and don't snap.  Then there are wrenches that can not be bent no matter the strength but will snap when enough pressure is applied.  As an example here in the US I buy Pittsburgh brand adjustable wrenches - but only the ones made in India.  The same wrench made in China will not bend but break.

Interesting, Ill keep practicing . I do have some combination Spanners . I might put it next to an 8inch adjustable for comparison soon

[Irish Grip]

This is interesting, think ill give it ago, my father has many different wrenches from all types of brands, ill start on maybe 10s and see, hopefully progress to the adjustables.