Recommendation? Bending bolsters and spacers

[NickHFSS]

Hello , I need to make a few knives with bent end caps , spacers and bolsters, can you tell me how this is done? I have a few ideas using car bearings to get the needed radius but advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Nick

 

[Daniel Carraher]

What do you mean by bent? Have a photo example?

 

[FunkCoaster]

We need a lot more information to be helpful.
What material are these components made of? Brass, hardened steel...
What tools do you have available? Arbor press, vise, torch...
What does the bend look like? You mention a radius - how big is the radius? Is it a single bend, or 3 dimensional?

As a starting point, if you search for "metal bending jig", would that work for you?

 

[NickHFSS]

I’ll be making something close to this , I’ll be working with nickelsilver and brass to put between mammoth ivory and molar , id also like to make the bolster bent and on the end since I’m working with such material I need an end cap which has to be bent as well like in picture , I’ll thread the tang and either put a pommel nut or hide the screw head under another plate.
Thanks again

 

[AVigil]

I would make a mock up from wood and bend the metal on that.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

You will need to anneal the nickel silver and brass, and bend the multiple pieces together, or they won't match.
What you are planning will require lots of hand fitting!

 

[NickHFSS]

You will need to anneal the nickel silver and brass, and bend the multiple pieces together, or they won't match.
What you are planning will require lots of hand fitting!

The middle ones I can use thinner plates that dont need pre bending and will form when put together , but I still need to find out how to bend the outer end cap and or bolster , I was thinking two bearings with matching diameter put on both sides and formed in the vise , or using the hammer to form it or heat it up and form while hot , all of them are possible but I need to find the best way to do it as I have to make quite a few of them.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Don't work brass or NS while hot. Just anneal.

 

[NickHFSS]

Don't work brass or NS while hot. Just anneal.

May I ask why?

 

[NickHFSS]

Another option would be taking two bars of steel , sand the needed radius on both pieces to go on each side , then put it in a vise or if I can get one a hand press.
None of you make handles with such spacers and bolsters?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

May I ask why?

Because it will crack. Just anneal it and it will work very easily.

 

[NickHFSS]

Because it will crack. Just anneal it and it will work very easily.

I've read many info on internet , some saying heat until orange some say heat before it lights up , what is the propper way?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Heat it to orange. It doesn't matter if you let it air cool or quench it.

 

[NickHFSS]

here’s an example of a bent bolster like I want to do , in this case the bend spacers are thin and will be easy but I want to make spacers with thicker material ,Like the bolster , any advices ?

 

[john april]

i think a hand rolling mill would do that, but they are expensive.

 

[A.McPherson]

Take Two pieces of round stock, weld them to a base plate, further apart than your stock is thick. Clamp the base plate in a vice.

Bam! Bending jig! It'll bend any radius you want, down to the size of the round stock you make it with.

 

[Hengelo_77]

Put the metal on two blocks with space between them. Put some round stock on it in the middle above the space between the blocks and press it down with a C-clamp
Anneal the metal first