Straightening Bars of Steel

[Carson Falk]

I just got 3 bars of 1/8" 1095 bar stock 2" wide and they have a nice bend in it. What's the best way to go about straightening it? Would it be better to cut it to size then straighten it, or straighten the whole bar? What's the best way to go about straightening it?

 

[Natlek]

For me it is much easier to straightening after I cut to size of blade .

 

[danbot]

What I would try to straighten it, since it's so thin is to pop the drill chuck out of your drill press, put a couple of blocks on the table to sit the bar on and use it as an arbour press to bend it back straight.

Hope that helps!

 

[NJBillK]

If you cut them to size, you can try to heat them and let them cool in a jig in a vice. Easy to assemble two posts on the ends, one in the middle, pushing the opposite direction of the warp.

You just have to keep in mind that there may be some "memory" and watch for a warp in the same direction post HT/quench.

Some folks say that "memory" is a falsehood, and some swear that it is an occurrence, how likely, I don't know... All I know is that, if it is a thing, you should be aware of it and keep an eye for it.