Do Bending

[Mike HDKC]

I pretty much suck at it. While I can bend a 1/4"x5.5" DU, I can't even move an IM yellow DO. I often try to do some easy stock from a local hardware store (6mmx160mm), which most of the time won't budge, but every now and then it goes down really easily. So I'm thinking that if I can get my technique down, I'll be able to progress rather fast using DO. The problem of course is that I can't seem to get the technique down, even though I've read the Diesel crew article over and over. Which is why I started this thread. Does anyone have any tips on how to improve my form on DO bends? Thanks!

[tja]

Here's Fox's DO bending tutorial video. Good stuff to start with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riJJ1nhwjvA

I'd also suggest to video your bend and show it, it would be easier to spot the possible problems.

[Mike HDKC]

Thanks for the vid, hadn't seen that one yet. I'll try and get a video of myself trying to do a do bend later this week.

[bencrush]

Improve your form by doing a lot of DO bends. Easy bends, moderate bends, and some hard bends every now and then. Watch yourself in a mirror if possible. Film every bend if you've got the resources and time to do that. If you want to get very good, very fast, you'll do what you need to do to get there.

[cberg]

Ive been there man. It took me a while before I could get that yellow . Definitely read up on as much info as you can, especially stuff here on the gripboard. Watch videos, ask questions, and practice practice practice. Definitely put up a video, that way we can help you out. And if you dont have them already, I would get some leather wraps. They made all the difference in the world for me.

[Mike HDKC]

Thanks for the input. I'll get a video when i get the chance. Another thing I have is that I get a terrible pain in the tendons in my index fingers everytime I try to do DO bends. This pain usually lasts multiple days and is emitted throughout my entire forearm. Anybody else get this?

[mattvod]

Thanks for the input. I'll get a video when i get the chance. Another thing I have is that I get a terrible pain in the tendons in my index fingers everytime I try to do DO bends. This pain usually lasts multiple days and is emitted throughout my entire forearm. Anybody else get this?

Are you warming up properly? You can really stress out the tendons if you bend anything even remotely heavy without a good warmup.

[Mike HDKC]

Thanks a lot for the input everyone. Something just kinda clicked today and I bent an IM blue quite easily DO style.

And Matthew, you're right on point. My warm up sucks. I need to find some cheap easy stock to warm up with.

[easyWeight]

Thanks a lot for the input everyone. Something just kinda clicked today and I bent an IM blue quite easily DO style.

And Matthew, you're right on point. My warm up sucks. I need to find some cheap easy stock to warm up with.

For what it's worth, I can bend a Shiny, but I still, every time, start with two separate 6" 60d Spiral Timber Spikes which are probably next to the easiest thing you can find to bend. Then I progress from there for warm up. I also wear elbow sleeves during warm up (sometimes during max bends also) to heat up the joints real well. Wearing those almost completely eliminated my post bending joint pains. But note that sleeves aren't allowed for Gripboard certification.

[matthcarl]

I wouldn't tell someone not to warm up for bending, but it doesn't seem to help me. I used to do it, and I think it took too much effort. My best bends are always fresh and cold.

[diesel]

Improve your form by doing a lot of DO bends. Easy bends, moderate bends, and some hard bends every now and then. Watch yourself in a mirror if possible. Film every bend if you've got the resources and time to do that. If you want to get very good, very fast, you'll do what you need to do to get there.

the man speaks wise words. let me emphasize: film every bend until you can your form dialed in.

[gazza]

2 get good at bending BEND? why do hammers and other stuff to get good at something practise it till the technique becomes 2nd nature in this case bending.

Bend in as many styles as you can and bend everything you can afford and lay your hands on thin stock,thick stock,long,medium and short stock,nails,bolts,hrs,crs,brass,drillrod,stainless,square,round and hex etc etc.

There are only 2 ways to become an allround decent bender thats 2 bend as much and as often as you can and when not bending perform isos with steel and springs.

ANYONE let me repeat ANYONE can bend a piece of steel even a decent piece of steel all it takes is a big benchpress/strongman type of person slap on some thick wraps and assume the DO/folding style and boom bar bent.

But to be a real bender takes abit more than that it means being able to bend decent steel in atleast 3 styles of bending preferably more.

Which of the above you decide to become a part of is upto you