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How to bend metal yourself ?

A few days ago, we were contacted by Jacques. In his life, Jacques is studying design and wanted to make "for real" his low metal table project. The challenge being the bending... Discover our trick for successfully bending metal easily.

Creating a low table in metal:

Jacques's project was a lovely low metal table in the shape of a turbine, where the tabletop rested on overlapping blades. To help him with his project, he sent us a photo of his model made of cardboard. This led to a cutting plan in DXF format that he was able to easily create using the right software. You can also find in this article, our tips for creating your custom metal part.

After discussion, we quickly decided to cut his project using galvanized steel of 1mm thickness. This choice was made for its shiny appearance and the relative flexibility that this material possesses at such a thickness. But time was pressing for Jacques because it was Friday evening and his project presentation to a jury was on Thursday. That's without counting on the speed and efficiency of John, as we cut, packaged, and then shipped his part towards Paris on Monday morning. Jacques was thus able to receive his package quickly thanks to our J+3 production time. All that was left was for him to bend and shape the object as he wished.

If, with his agreement, we are highlighting Jacques's creation, it's because he provided an elegant answer to a question we are regularly asked.

– [Client] Hello, I wanted to know, do you do bending?

– [Us] No, we only do super-precise laser cutting. Bent sheet metal, especially thin gauge, travels poorly by express shipping... Have you tried making a saw cut?

– [Client] Uh... What is a saw cut?!?

How to bend your metal plate yourself with ease?

A saw cut is an incision made in the sheet metal, like a sort of dotted line, that will weaken it and allow for hand-bending of the metal along that same line.
Example of "saw cuts" in Jacques's table:

Thanks to the saw cut, if your sheet metal isn't too thick (1 – 1.5 mm for steel, 2-3 mm for aluminum), you can bend it on the corner of a workbench or table, by hand, using a pair of pliers or a hammer depending on its configuration:

The saw cut must imperatively have a width at least greater than the thickness of the sheet metal for the bend to form properly.
Metal (and especially steel in Jacques's case) being a very strong material, you can vary the length of your saw cuts for creations that are not subjected to significant stresses.

I cut my custom metal part

The project of our Steelster Jacques:

For his project, Jacques made a first "light" bend to raise the blades of his turbine from the plane of the tabletop. Subsequently, he deepened this bend by rolling them into each other to shape them and give form to this magnificent creation full of Steel!
Look at the work, it's really impressive...

Once the rolling was complete, all that was left was to arrange everything correctly... and there you have it... A unique, custom low table in metal!

If he doesn't get a good grade with that, my name isn't John!!

Don't forget to send me photos of your creations to makers@john-steel.com, I'm curious to see what you're cooking up once you've received your cut parts!

Posted in: Metal advice

Author: John Steel

John Steel is the expert voice of the workshop, specializing in custom-cut metal and DIY projects. With extensive expertise in machining and laser cutting stainless steel, aluminium, mild steel, Corten, and brass sheet metal, he provides makers, tradespeople, and DIY enthusiasts with practical tutorials, technical comparisons, and custom design advice. Whether designing a stainless steel kitchen splashback, an aluminium privacy screen, or a specific mechanical part, John shares his technical knowledge to ensure metalworking is accessible, precise, and durable for the Steelsters community.

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By: Deguest On 2024-10-12

Bonjour, merci pour toutes ces info!
Je suis plasticienne et j’aimerais insérer des pièces métalliques dans mes toiles, il me faudrait des plaques de métal très fines que je pourrais découper et perforer pour venir les fixer.Quel métal pourriez vous me conseiller? Merci. Aurélie

Replied by: John Steel On 2024-10-16 Bonjour Aurélie,

Merci pour votre message ! Si vous recherchez un métal fin, facile à découper et à perforer pour intégrer dans vos œuvres, je vous conseille l'aluminium. C'est un matériau léger, résistant à la corrosion, et particulièrement adapté pour des travaux artistiques. Il se découpe facilement avec les outils appropriés et permet une grande flexibilité pour la création.

N'hésitez pas à nous contacter pour plus de détails !

Cordialement,