Bending Stock
Bending stock from a variety of sources.
When selecting stock from on online retailer, consider price, range of available stock options, and finish on the end of the bars. Some retailers will grind down the each end of their steel, reducing risk of a bending pad puncture. The best prices can be had by purchasing the stock in volume packages, such as the Ironmind Bag of Nails or the Fat Bastard Barbell Bender’s Bags.
When purchasing stock locally, the decision needs to be made to buy metal and cut it down, or to bend available short steel such as bolts or nails. Stock purchased from a hardware store will not be much cheaper than an online retailer. Metal suppliers will provide much better prices, but usually offer steel in twenty foot lengths, requiring the purchaser to cut it. 24” bolt cutters work quite well for this purpose. Sharp bar ends can be smoothed out with a bastard mill file.
An acceptable range of stock strengths can be acquired by purchasing existing hardware. Most commonly, the following hardware is used, listed in order of increasing difficulty:
Major hardware retailers will have timber ties and graded bolts. In order to find 60 penny nails, it may be necessary to locate a building supply store or tractor supply store. Nails are quite cheap, and can typically be found for under $2 a pound. Graded bolts are more expensive, especially from a local hardware store.
As with grippers, bending stock varies. Difficulty ranges are approximate and will differ even between nails or bolts from the same box. If one type of stock is just a little too hard, try stock from a different location. Be aware that hardware made from certain types of metal will break before it bends. When trying a new stock, take caution to be sure if it breaks, you will not be injured. High grade bolts and pole barn nails are the two types of stock that most often surprise people by breaking.
