Stainless Steel advice please

[Iota]

anybody got any tips on how to cut and bend thinish SS plate? This is totally non boating related!!! I have an old saucepan and want to make some hooks to hang utensils from, the bar supplied with the new cooker is an odd shape and nobody can sell me anything that will fit. I have made a hook in copper and now want to try and convert the old saucepan or at least the handle!!!

ta

Courtesy is an iota but makes the world go round

 

[Avocet]

Its horrid stuff to work with because it "work hardens". This means it gets stronger the more you bend it. You will have to do all your bends 1st time. You won't be able to straighten it out and have another go! Cut it with a jigsaw on a slow speed. Alternatively a hacksaw will work.

 

[stuartw]

The best way to cut thin plate is with some Aviation Tin Shears, which have a compound action, ie they are cross billed, which allow you to cut round curves. They will cut st/stl up to 0.8mm thick. Draper do a very nice pair @ around £10 -well worth it.
To bend, you will have to use a mandrel - a metal rod, tube or dowelling, with a diameter somewhat less than the one you want, as there is significant spring-back.

There will be some trial an error to get the correct radius.

good luck
Stuart

 

[scorch]

Tell me, do you like hard work? Coz S/S is awful stuff to work with if you dont have w/shop facilities!! I had a local engineering firm make me a liner from S/S for my new cooker going in on my D.I.Y galley re-fit. They used 2m sq of 1.00mm S/S all cut and folded to my requirements all for the modest sum of £55.00. Im sure there must be some-one local to you who would bend you some hooks from off-cuts for a small fee. Scorch.

 

[c4pt]

There are devices called 'niblers' these are can be powered by an ordinary drill or a more sophisticated one by air. Bosch do a dedicated mains operated 'nibler' but unless you do a lot of sheet work they are to expensive, at around £200.
The drill atachment one is about £35 from machine mart. There is also a hand nibler from the same place, which cuts a 3mm strip out. The advantage over tin snips or aviation snips is there is no distortion of the metal and long cuts can be made. This cost around a tenner plus a fiver for spare blades. But you will be struggling with stainless over 1mm. Also if you've not done it before wear leather gardening glove, the cuts hurt.