[4130biker]

I am trying to create a small, 12-14" diameter "fire pit" out of 1/8" x 6" x 38ish" peice of steel. I am starting with a flat plate, and need an easy/cheap way to bend this thing into a circle so I can weld the seam together. I have shopped around for slip rolls, and the capacity on anything I can afford is much too small (like 20ga). My price range for a tool to do this is probably around $2000. Any ideas? I am trying to avoid using heat for this.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[kazlx]

How many do you need to do? If it's just one, then it's not worth even trying, just pay to have it done. There is no way you are going to bend 1/8" in a circle without heat or a big ass slip roller.

Edit: Looking at it again....a 12" circle is really tight for 1/8". You would probably have to heat. If you are handy, you could maybe make a narrow slip roll with a large wheel to do it. Would have to be pretty stout to hold shape, almost like this idea, but for narrow sheet instead of pipe. Come to think of it, you may be able to modify the harbor freight roller for your need. Put flat rollers in there instead of dies for tubing and possibly widen the frame to accommodate your width.

http://www.harborfreight.com/tubing-roller-99736.html

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

Coolest thing I've ever seen was 4" steel plate being rolled into a ~6' diameter circle.

 

[jonKranked]

Coolest thing I've ever seen was 4" steel plate being rolled into a ~6' diameter circle.

you must not have seen a lot of cool stuff in your life if that's whats on top of your "cool stuff i've seen" list

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

you must not have seen a lot of cool stuff in your life if that's whats on top of your "cool stuff i've seen" list

In terms of metalworking/machining in person, ya jackass.

 

[I Are Baboon]

you must not have seen a lot of cool stuff in your life if that's whats on top of your "cool stuff i've seen" list

 

[jimmydean]

you must not have seen a lot of cool stuff in your life if that's whats on top of your "cool stuff i've seen" list

I once watched 2 coats of latex paint dry in 60 degree weather. It was crazy.

 

[jonKranked]

In terms of metalworking/machining in person, ya jackass.

I've used a plasma cutter, which is about a thousand times cooler.

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

I've used a plasma cutter, which is about a thousand times cooler.

As have I. Meh. Water jets are much more amazing to me.


As I'm an engineer, the idea of rolling 4" steel plate as if it were butter blows my mind.

 

[jonKranked]

As I'm an engineer, the idea of rolling 4" steel plate as if it were butter blows my mind.

then your head would explode if you've seen the stuff i've seen.

my old man designs cooling circuits for nuclear reactors. 4 inch plate steel ain't sh*t compared to what he works with.

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

then your head would explode if you've seen the stuff i've seen.

my old man designs cooling circuits for nuclear reactors. 4 inch plate steel ain't sh*t compared to what he works with.

You're dad sounds like the man.



How'd you end up designing cardboard boxes?

 

[I Are Baboon]

You're dad sounds like the man.



How'd you end up designing cardboard boxes?

 

[jonKranked]

You're dad sounds like the man.



How'd you end up designing cardboard boxes?

Bigger industry, better pay.

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

Bigger industry, better pay.

Sell out

 

[IH8Rice]

My price range for a tool to do this is probably around $2000.

thats a helluva lot of money for making one fire pit.

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

Anyone else see the irony of a guy not knowing how to roll steel, get 4130 is in his username?

 

[jonKranked]

Sell out

you're right, i should have gone with crabcore. those guys would NEVER sell out.

 

[WestCoastHucker]

...Your dad sounds like the man...

his dad could probably even beat up your dad...

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

his dad could probably even beat up your dad...

I don't know about that one.....my old man is a burly dude.

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

you're right, i should have gone with crabcore. those guys would NEVER sell out.

Don't you have to be underground/all about the music to begin with to sell out?

 

[ridiculous]

Just cut a 14" diameter pipe.

 

[jonKranked]

his dad could probably even beat up your dad...

crab's dad would be scared off by the green glow

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Options:

- Go dig around in the local scrap yard for something that will work.

- Buy a pre-fabed fire pit from BigLots and use some or all of the parts

- Pay a local blacksmith to make the ring for you.

 

[Ciaran]

Just cut a 14" diameter pipe.

As ridiculous as it sounds, this is going to be the easiest route. Steel is cheap.

So what are you trying to make anyway? You say fire pit in quotes. Is it a fire pit? A bong? Something else?

And why are you trying to avoid heat? 2000 dollars? But you can't just buy it preformed? What the hell are you making?

 

[Polandspring88]

I've used a plasma cutter, which is about a thousand times cooler.

I remember being a young freshman in the machine shop when my boss handed me a plasma cutter and TIG welding mask and told me to cut a circle. Didn't work out so well.

 

[WestCoastHucker]

I don't know about that one.....my old man is a burly dude.

but can he bend 4" steel?

that's the new benchmark of badassness for '11....

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

but can he bend 4" steel?

that's the new benchmark of badassness for '11....

If you allow him to wrap his head in a towel first, then yes.

 

[DirtMcGirk]

He's working on the beginnings of the "soccer ball" formation for a dirty bomb. Fvcking terrorists always going for the win!

 

[jimmydean]

BFH.

/thread

 

[kazlx]

I guess I'm the only one that didn't that the "easy/cheap" way had to be under $2K. When I tell someone I'm going to bend something the easy/cheap way, it involves a BFH.

 

[jonKranked]

just steal a 55 gal barrel like the hobos

 

[kazlx]

just steal a 55 gal barrel like the hobos

The plastic ones work the best.

 

[4130biker]

thats a helluva lot of money for making one fire pit.

I will make circles for other stuff too. Plus I'll be making more than one.

 

[4130biker]

I guess I'm the only one that didn't that the "easy/cheap" way had to be under $2K. When I tell someone I'm going to bend something the easy/cheap way, it involves a BFH.

I was talking easy/cheap relative to more industrial use slip rolls that cost upwards of $10k.

I'm creating a few of these as gifts, but I like to use that as an excuse to buy more tools.

The idea is to plasma cut a design or two in the flat plate, then roll it. I'm sure it won't roll perfectly, but something to get me close would be nice.

I have access to a cnc plasma cutter, so I would like to be able to use it, but it has to be flat sheet, so that rules out the cutting a 14" tube idea.

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

Does it have to be round? Why not a square pit?

 

[4130biker]

Does it have to be round? Why not a square pit?

I saw a round one that I liked, thought it seemed like a cool gift/project, but yeah that could work too...

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

Would certainly solve your issue and be a ton easier to make. CNC plates out, weld together. Plus, I happen to think they look cooler personally.

 

[4130biker]

Like this-

not this design, but this is the concept. I have a unique one that I'd like to make for gifts, but I want to be lazy and use the cnc.

Maybe I can't have it both ways.

 

[Ciaran]

So you're making firepits with fancy schmancy designs in them. So why not just go with a lighter gauge metal? Something you can bend without a roller or heat. Though I am still unsure why you don't want to use heat. Heat + metal = buttah!

 

[4130biker]

Like I said, diamter and thickness can be variable, the measurements I provided are just what I had in mind- not that they really matter. I just thought that 20ga at .037" thick might be a little thin for this (since that's the capacity of most "cheap" slip rolls)