Folding Alloy

[vic008 17]

Wanting to fold 2mm 5052 alloy plate in the back yard. All suggestions welcome please.

[erice 732]

what have you got in your backyard?

 

a vice would help bend small parts..

 

but fold usually means longer, can you clamp 2 bits of steel sheet, or thicker alloy, (even the same alloy), on 1 half of the alloy and use that to hold the part you will fold vertically while levering off the bottom half on the flat?

[vic008 17]

She be about 800 long (anchor bin) Have some scrap steel beams spare in back yard as you do (4'' pfc etc, welder,)

[wheels 543]

You won't just fold it, as you have probably found out.
If you have an actelyne Gas axe, then follow this.
First of all, mark where you want to fold it and with the torch burning BUT NO Oxy TURNED ON, run the torch over the bend area and allow the black soot to coat the plate. Now turn on the Oxy to a hot Neutral flame and play the flame along the bend line. Keep heating it and as it finally gets hot enough, suddenly the Black soot will vanish. Keep playing the flame along the line till all the soot is gone. Then allow the Alloy to slowly air cool. DO NOT qunch in water. Once it is cold enough to handle, you will be able to bend it.
If you want to make that bent area hard again, you need to go back through the process, but instead pf letting the alloy to slowly cool, quench it by emmersing fully in cold water. I usually do not bother.