Braced Bending Stock

[gazza]

Nothing looks cooler than a bent Wrench or Horseshoe or a big bar forget unbraced bending the WOW factor is much higher with unbraced stuff.

I have recently been having a go at unbraced bending of various things and since Tim,Chris and Mats to name a few have been showing us all how to do unbraced bending in style i have noticed that alot of people on the bending forum are now getting into it or wanting to try it this can be quite costly for the beginner so i thought why not like braced bending do alot of the work in the form of isos as it helps alot and can be a good cheap start for those beginning there journey so i thought why not ask Tim if he would maybe put a list up here for the bars to use as isos for braced bending in both long,medium braced bending this i think will help alot of people out and Tim is very knowledgeable on the subject and stock.

How about it matey we have a progression in braced bending stock how about one in unbraced bending as well as one for isos.

[Tim71]

For isos on the braced stuff. I've experimented with alot of stuff and I think anything you can't bend but try to bend is a good one.

But for me personally starting with long bar. I've got a 3/4 inch by 4 foot piece of CRS is use to pull around my knee for isos. I've also got a 7/8 inch by 4 foot and a 4.5 footer that I also use for that. The knee pull is my biggest issue so that's the biggest thing I use. I've also got a 5/8 by 4 foot CRS bar that I bent to maybe a 60 or 70 degree angle that I use to post on one leg and pull down with both hands on the other. Obviously it flexes alot so it's a different kind of iso. I've also got a 7/8 by 4 footer that's bent some that I use the same way. The 7/8 inchers by the way are HRS.

For mid-length really the biggest part of my isos are trying like crazy to bend a piece of steel I can't yet bend. To be honest Gazza, that seems to do tons for me. However, I do have some mid-length iso bars that I will gladly share with you.

My main ones are 3/8 inch by 1 inch flat steel. I bent an 8 incher to about the degree of starting the sweep on a wrench and I practice crushing that some between my legs and on my thigh. I've got a flat one I push down on my thigh with too. I've also got 10 and 12 incher that I thigh press with. I will say though I hope to one day bend the 12 incher.

When I first started my iso tool was a 10 inch crescent wrench but eventually that bent ha ha! For people wanting to bend over their thigh I think it helps to have a flat piece of steel to push against your leg, not only to build strength but to toughen that area up. I've gotten I don't know how many PMs from people saying that it hurts or bruises too bad. I will say I thought I'd never be able to use that technique without padding but over time it just doesn't hurt anymore unless it's a killer bend.

So in short my vote would be for flat steel at least 3/8 inch thick by 1 inch wide cut to 8 inches and maybe even some 12s since that length can pose problems. Of course bent so a few varying degrees and these make great iso tools. Those are my favorites right now.

I've also got a 5/8 round that's about 10 or 12 inches, and a couple 9/16 bars too. I feel where I need to work right now is the initial thigh push so most of mine are straight to work on that. Seems like if I get it moving I finish it.

And lastly, I've got a few 10 inch wrenches that I don't think are possible to bend that I use to press against my thigh. Part of it for me is to incorporate stuff that's fun to keep in interesting. Best iso bars in the world are no good if the person thinks about it, considers it too dull, and just doesn't work out.

I've also got a harder thicker 12 inch crescent that I got a good thigh push months ago but could never get it moving again so I'll hit it too. One day when it breaks free and moves then I'll know I've went another step up. Let wrenches set and they really get hard to get moving again. If I had a new one like that I could probably bend it now.

If I had to chose one spike length iso tool it would be the flat steel. 1 inch wide by 3/8 or maybe even 1/2 inch thick if you want to go 12 inches, and bend it in a vise or however and keep a flat one for the thigh push.

Hope this helps. Isos are good because like you kinda mentioned, volume work with wrenches would get $$$$$$ really fast.

Tim

[gazza]

Tim

I hope alot of people find your posts as informative as i do as usually you have to pay for a dvd or the like for this kind of knowledge.

I have been useing rebar for my braced iso tools i have a couple of 3/4inch lengths and an 1inch length its really springy and i think if you can use your body at certain angled when useing this you can absorb alot of the flex which then builds power for the easier hrs stuff i am experimenting with this stuff and have worked out a routine in my power rack were i push and pull against the rebar with both 2 hands and single hands trying to use the body isometrically to absorb the whip of the bar im feeling aches in muscles i never knew i had and it takes alot more outa the body than unbraced DO bending ever did.

I am gonna get myself some big square and big flat hrs as well to use for medium and long bar isos also gonna see if i can get a snap on or sears wrench off of one of the fitters for an iso wrench.

Once again thanks for the info i find it very helpfull.

[gazza]

Tim

another question bro have you ever tried any of those wrenches i dont know what there called but are shaped in a letter F and are adjustable also crowbars do you think its possible to bend any of these i have been eyeing some up but i wont bother if you really think they are impossible but i do like to think for the future as i aim to really push my "LIMITS" with the braced bending.

[wscorpion]

Tim

another question bro have you ever tried any of those wrenches i dont know what there called but are shaped in a letter F and are adjustable also crowbars do you think its possible to bend any of these i have been eyeing some up but i wont bother if you really think they are impossible but i do like to think for the future as i aim to really push my "LIMITS" with the braced bending.

I've bought a crowbar for this purpose (for now I'm using it for iso's), but I'm pretty worried about it actually breaking instead of bending.

The crowbar is approx. 1" hex X 20".

I believe one could bend (or break) it, but it will take quite some training and strength to do so

[dimmers]

Tim

another question bro have you ever tried any of those wrenches i dont know what there called but are shaped in a letter F and are adjustable also crowbars do you think its possible to bend any of these i have been eyeing some up but i wont bother if you really think they are impossible but i do like to think for the future as i aim to really push my "LIMITS" with the braced bending.

I've bought a crowbar for this purpose (for now I'm using it for iso's), but I'm pretty worried about it actually breaking instead of bending.

The crowbar is approx. 1" hex X 20".

I believe one could bend (or break) it, but it will take quite some training and strength to do so

Breaking a crowbar would just freak people out in a big way!!!

[Tim71]

Gazza,

I highly doubt the snap-on or crescent brand or the new craftsman wrenches will ever be bent. Too much metal and high ridge to boot.

I personally don't think the hex crowbars are bendable and some knowledgeable people tell me they will break. That much steel breaking could probably splinter your bones BUT, I don't think anybody will get it too that point. Even to get a partial bend in something like that would be impressive. If there wasn't stuff that's unbendable then there would be no iso tools.

If you're talking about a pipe wrench I haven't tried one. Some are doable and some are not. Some have a handle that's cast way too thick and even though I suspect it's not real great metal, I think it would break from the odd shape. Really just haven't got around to that one.

I have done one of the flat pry-bars and that gets a good response. Some of those are tempered to the point that I don't think they'd bend either though.

Tim

[gazza]

Tim

Just got myself some metal with my birthday money

Got 5/8",3/4" and 7/8" in round CRS

3/8",1/2" and 5/8" in flat all x 1inch wide CRS

and some 1/2" square CRS i thought it was stainless at first when he showed me it its either EN8 or EN24 he was not shure they got it in for a job and the order fell through and the label fell off so they are not shure which one it is its been ground so there are no sharp edges a good quality engineering steel very shiny like stainless i said it will probably snap but he got a piece cut for me and bent it in a vice in the machine shop so i could see for myself it looks really nice when bent and shiny i was thinking of the 1/2inch square stainless for medium bending but i think it will be tough i will try some and see.

So this should keep me busy in the braced bending for a while

What do you think is possible in the 1/2inch square CRS i might have a crack at that first

[Tim71]

Boy Gazza I don't know on the CRS. I did some 9/16 inch 1018 round CRS one time when I first started and it was brutal at 3 feet so I suspect 1/2 inch square would be similiar. That was a long time ago but I'd still say anyting under a 30 inch bend would be extremely impressive if it's the right kind of CRS. I'll leave the CRS up to you because that springiness is just crazy at that length. I will try some 1/2 inch square but it will be HRS.

I could be wrong though since I've never had any 1/2 inch CRS square stock.

I'll be real suprised if anybody can do anything with that 7/8 inch you got. Strictly an ISO piece for me. I'd even pit Mats or Big Steve against that one.

Good luck!

Tim