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How to Bend Stainless Steel Bolts

Steel is a hardy metal and at certain thicknesses, requires heating to significant temperatures to get it to comply with your wishes. Thin steel can be worked cold in a vise, according to the American Society for Metals, but for thicker material over about 1/2 inch in diameter, you have to use a press brake or bending machine. A more accessible solution for most people, because of the availability of blacksmithing classes is to use a forge.

Things You'll Need

Forge
Tongs
Anvil
Blacksmith's hammer
Bucket of water

Instructions

- 1
  Place the bolts in the forge with your tongs until they glow the familiar orange-red color.
- 2
  Remove one bolt from the forge with the tongs and place the screw-threaded end into the pritchel hole of the anvil, so only the non-threaded part of the bolt is exposed. Note that striking the threaded part of the bolt will damage the thread.
- 3
  Hit the exposed end of the bolt with your hammer so it starts to bend over the face of the anvil. Continue hitting the bolt until it bends to the angle to want it to be at.
- 4
  Plunge the bolt in cold water to cool it, then move it out of the way.
- 5
  Remove another bolt from the forge and proceed in the same way.

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