Braced Bending Survey Of Sorts

[Tim71]

Question for anybody that does any braced bending. I asked David Horne this one and after sending the message I thought why not pose the general question.

If you tested average Joe what could they bend? I mean the average person CAN bend a steel bar since steel in available in some very small sizes but where would average non steel benders fall? Not talking about testing guys at the local powerlifting hangout either but not complete invalids either just average guys. Maybe using David's lists if you want to as a reference with his rules and guidlines. Or if anybody has let anybody try a specific bend or spike or whatever how did that turn out or just opinion is fine too. I'd like to know where in people's minds, does the ordinary stop and the extroidinary start.

No expert advice just giving them the general idea, the rules and providing padding or gloves if they want to wrap the bar or whatever what do you guys think the average results would be like?

Thoughts?

Tim

[Scott Styles]

12" x 1/4 Round

[antarath]

2' (yes, feet) x 1/2" maybe. Or am I insane? That's what I started out with. 2' x 1/2" rebars.

Good question tho!

Mats

[David Horne]

Tim,

I'll answer here.

A couple of guys had a go at the bars Elizabeth was using on the Paul O'Grady television Show. It was off camera and they were having a real go, and they couldn't do anything. Now these were presenter types, so not some builder or whatever. The bars in question were 24" long x 1/2" HRS bars.

I think the answer to your question would be about a 20-24" x 3/8" HRS bar.

David

[Tim71]

Keep the opinions coming.

So does everybody pretty well think the average person couldn't do anything on the 5/8 inch? I think the 3/4 is pretty well a given.

Tim

[vikingsrule92]

Keep the opinions coming.

So does everybody pretty well think the average person couldn't do anything on the 5/8 inch? I think the 3/4 is pretty well a given.

Tim

Almost definitely not. Unless they are very naturally strong. I think 1/2" at best but probably more like 3/8" x 2' or somewhere around there.

[Tim71]

Tim,

I'll answer here.

A couple of guys had a go at the bars Elizabeth was using on the Paul O'Grady television Show. It was off camera and they were having a real go, and they couldn't do anything. Now these were presenter types, so not some builder or whatever. The bars in question were 24" long x 1/2" HRS bars.

I think the answer to your question would be about a 20-24" x 3/8" HRS bar.

David

Now that's what I call an expert opinion! I bet that was very gratifying to experience that. That is one heck of a bend for a woman or man for that matter. Send my congrats!

BTW, I like the photo of Geoff Capes on your site. I've always wondered it he was still involved. I bet he doesn't buy his clothes off the rack because in the 80 competition I have one vid I think it said he was 6 foot 6 or something like that. Very tall guy and I will never forget the 82 competition where he had obviously been perfecting his bar bending and he tore that 11/16 up!

So it seems everybody thinks that the 5/8 by 4 foot wouldn't be moved by Joe public as is the 23 inch by 1/2 inch. I think we all can just say upfront that 3/4 by 4 foot is safe. I would assume then that general perception would be that a 12 inch spike of even the griprite variety would be immovable.

I've also wondered about 1/2 inch by 3 foot or even 4 foot. I scrolled a 4 foot bar at my last show and I kinda worried about somebody picking it up and just assuming I was going to bend a "U" over my knee and if they tried it I wondered if it would get bent.

Isn't a loaded question or anything I'd just like to know what ranks where.

Thanks for all the replies.

Tim

[Tim71]

2' (yes, feet) x 1/2" maybe. Or am I insane? That's what I started out with. 2' x 1/2" rebars.

Good question tho!

Mats

Mats, even your starter bends are impressive.

Tim

[David Horne]

Yes Tim, Geoff is still a BIG bloke, check his forearms in that pic. He had watched Elizabeth on that tv show and was chatting about it.

In his time he was a very good strongman who put a lot of thought into each event, and yes he was super fast on bending steel.

David

[Tim71]

David,

No kidding there. I noticed that right off. Plus I noticed that his watch probably has 2 bands end to end. That guy's wrists are bigger than my ankles!

I noticed years ago that Geoff had figured out that the more you can keep the steel moving the better and I had never bent anything at that time. In 82 I REALLY wished Kaz had bent the 11/16 like he did in 80 so they could've squared off at the next size up (3/4 presumably?) because to me Geoff looked like he had more to offer. I've tried that style several times and I've completed 9/16 and gave 5/8 by 4 foot a good fight but I couldn't complete it. Just amazing the way he did it in 2 quick steps.

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm very interested in anybody and everybody's opinion on the average guy question.

Tim

[Tim71]

Thanks for all the input guys! I'll give me view of it now because I wanted to wait to see how everybody else felt.

When I tested some guys at work who I'd say were slightly above average nobody fully bent a 3/8 inch by 12 inch bar. Maybe a 20 degree bend in it. I do think my 3/8 inch HRS is a little milder than what the Euro guys are using. I've also let a big guy at work try a 9/16 by 3 foot bar. He got an initial bend pretty quick but he couldn't finish it. I would definately say he's be above average though as he's a big farm guy.

My son who's 7 has bent a 3 foot piece of my 3/8 inch hot rolled so like I said I think mine may be pretty mild. Plus I do think the little guy is pretty stout.

I think David is probably right on with his opinion of the 3/8 if it's pretty decent stock.

I don't think the average person could bend a 5/8 at 4 foot or under. 1/2 inch I don't know. I definately think 2 foot is safe but 3 foot and over I'm not real sure.

I think spikes are definately safe, even the easiest 12 inchers. Wrenches are definately safe unless they are just total garbage. I think even that smallest wrench in the craftsman set would steimy most people with that springiness.

I kinda hate to test guys because I don't want them to think I'm trying to humiliate them but it's very interesting.

Anybody else have any experience with this?

Tim

[bencrush]

Tim, I still don't do any braced bending. But yesterday I went to visit my brother John in MO and he had a ton of 5/16" Stainless that he wasn't able to use in his welding project. So he gave it to me. Which is cool but I can't bend it yet DU. No matter. Anyway, a few above average strength guys at the party asked him what I was going to do with that steel. He told them. They scoffed at that idea. And wanted to see proof that it could be done. I didn't take the bait, although it was incredibly tempting to wipe the smirks off their face. What I did do is have John cut some down to 12" and see who wanted a shot at it. I did not bring my leather wraps, so he gave me an old welder's apron and I tore up some of that on the seams and wrapped it kind of sloppily around the bar.

Let them have a go at that and 2 of them got it to nearly 90 degrees within a few minutes. 1 got it only about 45 degrees but he kept fighting it and I could appreciate the effort he was putting into it.

My brother melted the 12" piece like butter. He's never seen a braced bend either. But he's definitely not normal by any stretch. I think he'd do a 12" spike first try with ease.

I put a few of the wadded up pieces of welder's apron on my head and then braced the middle of a piece of 5/16"X12" Stainless on it and pulled down to start the kink. That was tough for me because I'm weak. Then finished it in a very sloppy braced on the leg way. That's most definitely not a bend to brag about. But it might be the start of a braced bending flirtation. Who knows.

[Tim71]

Ben,

Now I'll have to buy a 12 inch piece of stainless from fastenal and try it. I've really only done a few braced bends in stainless. The slickness of stainless doesn't do braced benders any favors. Wants to flip around on you.

Neat story. I've let people try a few things over the last year or so and all but one or 2 have has less than stellar results. And I say one of 2 but those didn't really finish the bend. That 12 incher is a really short bend to do on top the head like that. Nice job!

Tim

[gazza]

Tim

I work for a refuse company so there are some big strong manual labour guys there.

None have bent an fbbc shiny equivalent despite me teaching them the correct technique and the few who tried also failed to braced bend a piece of 15inch x 1/2inch rebar altho 2 of them kinked a piece with the pulling aroung the knee technique i had to finish them for them noone touched the 20inch piece of stainless .

[Tim71]

Gazza,

You didn't start them out easy did you? Must be pretty stout guys because that rebar is no slouch bend.

Tim