Bede, The Grizzly bender is a nice tool, but not what you really need for what you are doing. What you need to do is to make a simple three roller thingie, otherwise you will have a problem getting a smooth curve. I have one out in my back shop that I made to bend a bunch of 1/2" square tubing for track to operate my little Falk #1. I will venture out into the cold weather in the morning and take a photo of it and send it to you at your bede@xxxxxxx addy. The bender is fully adjustable and makes perfectly smooth curves of any radius. Jesse, the REDNECK machinist in Troy, TN ----- Original Message ----- From: <bede@xxxxxxx> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 4:33 PM Subject: [modeleng] Flat bar bender? > I'm planning a simple end-to-end line here in NY and am planning to use > the "groovy track" method - flat bar (3/8" x 1.5") in slotted > ties/sleepers sort of like this: > > http://www.discoverlivesteam.com/magazine/128/ > > We've made up a few sections of straight which is easy enough, but I'd > really like to try to pre-curve flat bar for the curves. Does anyone > have any experience using a flat bar bender to make curves? One model > I've seen is a Grizzly: > > http://grizzly.com/products/Compact-Bender-System-Floor-Model/H3184 > > It seems simple and affordable, if anyone has any comparable > alternatives, suggestions, or experience using one of these benders to > make curves, I'd be grateful for any advice. > > Thanks, > Bede in drizzly Brooklyn. > MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, > modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject > line. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.31/2029 - Release Date: 03/29/09 16:56:00 MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.