[SEL] bending cast iron

[Orrin B Iseminger]

I've bent cast-iron with success.  The pieces were rather thin and appeared
to have been bent at the foundry, probably from breaking them out of the
molds while still red hot.  

I heated the parts to bright red hot--almost yellow hot--before trying to
bend them.  Then, I clamped them straight.  I didn't think that hammering
them straight was a very good idea.

IMHO, cast iron should be taken to yellow hot before attempting to bend it.
I'm not expert, just someone who got the job done to my satisfaction. 

Orrin

Orrin Iseminger
Colton, Washington, USA
http://users.moscow.com/oiseming/lc_ant_p/menu.htm
So many projects.  So little time.   

-----Original Message-----
From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
[mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com] On Behalf Of bill boyce
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 3:59 AM
To: The SEL email discussion list
Subject: [SEL] bending cast iron

i was wondering if anyone has any experience in bending cast iron.... the
mag bracket on my 1 1/2 horse waterloo boy has a slight bend where it bolts
over the ignitor,  causing the mag to lean down just a little and be out of
aligment with the trip bracket,,,, looks like the engine may have tipped
over at one point and fell against the mag,,,,the bend is ever so
slight,,,,,,,,the material is about 1/4 inch thick at the bend, which is on
either side of the oval cut out hole for the ignitor,,,,,, any  thoughts on
straightning it would be appreciated,,,
bill boyce
lost prairie, arkansas