[VaSteve]

If I want to bend something small, the vice and a pair of pliers.

Can you show this in action? I'm intrigued.

[cmartin]

I think this is where I first saw it. My vise, and hammer and vicegrips are my current plan of attack. I need to make a few brackets and was looking for something to save some time and help keep them consistent. As usual I'm overthinking things but trying to see whats out there and working.

http://www.secondchancegarage.com/pu...l-bender-1.cfm

[VaSteve]

That's cool. You'd have to find enough uses to get your $400 out of it.

[Airbrush1]

Just read the whole thread! Saw some lighting posts, and I’m a “flashlight enthusiast”... I usually buy the expensive stuff, but this little Braun light from HF is killer, has a magnetic base and an articulating light source, is usb rechargeable, and takes a beating! https://www.harborfreight.com/390-Lu...SABEgLn7fD_BwE

One of the mechanics at work showed up with one a few months ago, and now there are probably ten techs with them in the shop.

[87turbolook911]

Originally Posted by Airbrush1

Just read the whole thread! Saw some lighting posts, and I’m a “flashlight enthusiast”... I usually buy the expensive stuff, but this little Braun light from HF is killer, has a magnetic base and an articulating light source, is usb rechargeable, and takes a beating! https://www.harborfreight.com/390-Lu...SABEgLn7fD_BwE

One of the mechanics at work showed up with one a few months ago, and now there are probably ten techs with them in the shop.

Yep, use it almost with every job. Great piece for the price.

[VaSteve]

I just bought two plug in Brain lights from HF so my boy could play basketball after dark. We'll see how well they hold up.

I have mixed feelings on HF. Everything they sell is made in China but it's and American company and the people that work there are always super helpful.

[tomfree]

Originally Posted by 87turbolook911

Yep, use it almost with every job. Great piece for the price.

I've had one for about a year or so - very happy with it, way better battery life than I anticipated.

[Vicegrip]

Iirc Lowe’s also has the same light under the Cobolt name.

I like to use adjustable wrenches for bending metal strips into brackets. Vice grips leave bitemarks and stress risers. A set of smooth jaws in the vice is a big help too. I also radius over one side of one jaw for making bends that are not too tight as to over stress the outside of the bend.

You can find wire and strip metal bending kits for cheap if you don’t want to spend 400 or intend to do along of complex stuff.

[cmartin]

A set of smooth jaws in the vice

Thanks! I have soft but not smooth inserts, that looks promising. I know some/much of this is experience and skill but I'm trying to make say 5 of the same thing. Same thing should actually, you know, look and size the same

[Vicegrip]

Take some one inch square steel tubing and cut a section the width of your vice jaws. Slice the tube on the diagonal making two L shaped sections. Smooth jaw set.
Or. Cut the same kind of tube 2 inches longer slice the same then cut a 1 inch slit on each corner. Clamp in vice then bend and hammer the tabs down onto the jaws. Pro smooth jaw set.