Gunnar Bozeman Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 Intro: Good to be here. I have been strength training for about 6 years and posting/lurking at the old GG, Cyberpump, and the P&B for a couple of years. I just started focusing on my grip strength about a month ago. My primary focus is block weights, sledgehammers, and bending. Question: I started on 3/16" round bar. I am crushing 5"x3/16" bars, 5" & 6" grade 2 1/4" bolts and some 6.5"x3/16" square stock. I bought a stick of 1/4" rod and I am having hell "U"ing an 8" piece. This steel is even hell for my bolt cutters, and they slice through 3/16". Is the transition from 3/16" to 1/4" that hard? I am thinking I got my hands on some CRS instead of HRS. There seems to be no consistency at the stores. I bought a piece of 3/16" tagged CRS and it was very easy. I seek input on people’s transition to thicker steel. Thanks, Gunnar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mANVIL Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 Gunnar - a number of people have found difficulty in transitioning from the 3/16 round to the 1/4. If you are having trouble w/ the 8inch 1/4 try working on some shorter square stock. You say you can get 6.5x3/16 square stock, maybe work to 6x3/16 and once you can bend 5.5 or 5 inch pieces of 3/16 square stock you would have a better chance at the 1/4 inch round. It's also possible you got a really hard bar of 1/4 inch in which case you could try another bar from another store or try different materials like 1/4 inch brass 1/4 aluminum or 1/4 inch threaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisof4 Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 Gunnar, I have experienced this exact scenario. I have been bending for about 2 1/2 months now, and I can easily bend 5" x 3/16" square stock, but the 1/4" HRS is still extremely difficult for me. I have also tried a variety of 1/4" stock purchased from several different stores, both HRS and CRS, and they are all very difficult for me. I think the answer to your question is, Yes, the transition is that difficult. So far I have only successfully bent two pieces of 8" x 1/4" HRS and one piece of 7" x 1/4" HRS, and all of these were at least 10 minute battles. Here are some items me and my training partner have been bending to help us conquer the 1/4" round steel. Try bending timber ties (60D nails with a spiral twist). You may have to experiment with boxes bought from different stores because these vary widely in difficulty. I have some that are easier than 1/4" and some that are at least as difficult. Try bending 60D polebarn nails. Again, these vary widely depending on where you buy them, so experiment. Try bending 50D common nails. I have only found these in one store, but they are great. They are much more difficult than the 5" square stock but not as difficult as the 1/4" HRS. Someone else recommended I try 5/16" x 8" fully threaded carriage bolts. These make a good transition. I dropped to 7" last weekend and really struggled with it. I am not sure I could do a 6" or 5" piece, so these are a good way to gradually build up your strength. I also found some 60D galvanized common nails recently that are easier to bend than the 1/4" HRS. I guess the bottom line is, experiment. Try a wide variety of items. You may be surprised at some of the things you can bend. Keep grippin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Black Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 I also found some 60D galvanized common nails recently that are easier to bend than the 1/4" HRS. Oh how I wish I could find some of those. The easist 60D I have found take 275lbs to bend ¼". I recently got another batch that weigh in at 290lbs. To add some perspective, I am bending 6.5" ¼" HRS when at peak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAMMERHEAD Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 My first go at 1/4" was quite a fight! I couldn't believe how tough it was. Find some Timber Ties. They're GGGGGRRRREEEEAAAT! -HH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AP Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 Gunnar, you might have gotten stuck with some extra tough stock, you might look around at other stores for some easier 1/4" also. Flex the steel in the store before you buy it, even in 3' lengths you can often tell about how tough it is... I musta been a natural since i moved right into 1/4 stock, i didn't need 3/16 or tt at all. Then again, you're a Certified CoC HH and its still going to be a while before i'm consistent enough on my #3. Everyones a little bit different. I'm with Adam too on the 60Ds, I've bent 5"1/4 HRS at my best and haven't found a 60d that I could get completely. Maybe my 1/4 HRS was weak? I haven't bent anything in a while now but I'm looking to comeback to the steel this summer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnar Bozeman Posted March 12, 2004 Author Share Posted March 12, 2004 Great responses, thanks for the input. My first milestone is the 6"x1/4". I will work my way down in length on the 3/16" square and play with some timber ties and polebarn nails for a while. Gunnar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bballdad Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 i have a few easy 60d galvanized that are easy. And others that are as hard as shiny brites. Both came from Lowes although different batches. The easy 60ds are a light grey color while the next batch I got are alot harder they are a dark grey color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSW Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 Oh how I wish I could find some of those. The easist 60D I have found take 275lbs to bend ¼". I recently got another batch that weigh in at 290lbs. To add some perspective, I am bending 6.5" ¼" HRS when at peak. I anneal 60D's with a torch to make easy 60D's. Just heat the middle of the nail to a dull red and let it air cool. It cuts the strength of the nail by ~50%. Red nail's become as easy as Blues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Styles Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 I hit on some 1/4" stock at my local ACE that was actually easier than the 3/16" square stock I got from Home Depot. Bought the only two rods they had and bent it all. I still can't bend a 1/4" rod from Home Depot. I think the timber ties or 3/16" square can be used as the next step before bending most 1/4" Given that the square stock is so expensive, I'm favoring the timber ties for my journey. I got a 5lb box of them that I just started to be able to bend. Once it's gone, I expect to be able to bend the 1/4" stock from Home Depot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaibox Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 Hammerhead is right(imagine that). Timber Ties are great for the transition, and introduction to 60d's. They bend easily and relatively predictably compared to common 60's. A 5lb box is pretty cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mANVIL Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 (edited) Someone else recommended I try 5/16" x 8" fully threaded carriage bolts. These make a good transition. I dropped to 7" last weekend and really struggled with it. I am not sure I could do a 6" or 5" piece, so these are a good way to gradually build up your strength. Go figure chris I can bend 6x1/4 inch HRS, 7x1/4 CRS but got a fully threaded 6x5/16inch carriage bolt and can barely kink it. Edited March 12, 2004 by mANVIL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisof4 Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 QUOTE Someone else recommended I try 5/16" x 8" fully threaded carriage bolts. These make a good transition. I dropped to 7" last weekend and really struggled with it. I am not sure I could do a 6" or 5" piece, so these are a good way to gradually build up your strength. Go figure chris I can bend 6x1/4 inch HRS, 7x1/4 CRS but got a fully threaded 6x5/16inch carriage bolt and can barely kink it. Yeah, these get very tough as they get shorter. I have not even tried the 6" yet since the 7" was so difficult last weekend. Also, I am sure there is as much variation among bolts as there is among nails, so it is possible you just have a tough batch of carriage bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AP Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 the threaded bolts seem to vary much more than nails do, for me the 6" 5/16 were much easier than 6" 1/4 hrs probly closer to 7 1/2" 1/4 hrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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