Bending Metal: "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?!" - Kevin Caron

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From - Artist Kevin Caron shares some of the things that can go wrong when bending metal - and what to do about them ....

When you're bending metal, what could possibly go wrong? One things that can go wrong is when you're trying to bend metal and you don't have the right tool for it.

Like trying to bend this piece of pipe, whether you want a 90 degree curve or even just a 45 degree angle in it. Even using heat on it and keeping the flame moving and using a little gentle pressure as you're bending, you deform the metal. Kevin Caron shows what happens when you try to bend something without the right tool: the pipe has buckled. What you need is a bender hydraulic bender.

What could possibly go wrong with a hydraulic bender? Its job is to bend pipe. Kevin Caron uses the bender to bend some pipe, but it gets flattened on the bend because he didn't have the right size die, or shoe, to fit the diameter of the pipe he's bending. The shoe needs to fit the pipe for it to work right. So that's another thing that can go wrong: You have the right machine but the wrong tools.

Next Kevin Caron shows the stock bender - sometimes called a Chinese bender - he got Harbor Freight for about $69 many years ago. What could go wrong with a stock bender? He shows the line he drew on the metal to show where he wants his bend, but when he tries to bend it, he discovers he marked it wrong. So measure carefully - measure twice, or even three times, then mark it.

Here's another problem you can have with a stock bender: the roller is in the wrong position. It's too far out. It didn't let Kevin Caron come all the way back around where he wanted to make a 180 degree turn.

What else can go wrong when you're trying to bend metal? Kevin Caron uses his air shaper to get a curve in some 1/8" aluminum. It doesn't take long for the metal to get deformed and thin. This can happen when you're not paying attention to what you're doing. You lose your shape. All of that hammering also raises the temperature, getting the metal hot, which makes it brittle.

When you're bending metal, know your equipment, know your metal, know what you're trying to do. Have the right tools, the right machines, and the right headspace.

Probably the most important thing you should have is safety equipment: safety glasses, hearing protection, and gloves - as long as you're not around rotating machinery.

Kevin Caron thanks everyone for watching, and reminds them to hit "like" if they like this free how to video.

Now you have time to visit to see his amazing sculpture, although you might want to hang around for another moment to see him getting down ...


"Inspired sculpture for public & private places."

Artist Kevin Caron has been sculpting full time since 2006. See - and hear - his amazing metal and large format 3D-printed sculptures, which are found in public and private places coast-to-coast and online at

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