How do you repair a bent fence locking handle?

[Vince Fricke]

Pete - yes this is the picture I sent you. I thought that if I tried to straighten it that it might break off. What are your thoughts on the repair?

[crzypete]

here's Vince's handle.

I have had a number of requests on how to post photos. Simple directions on how to use a free web hosting service like photobucket.com are on the way.

[crzypete]

Vince I would start out with a vise see what you can do to straighten it. it doesn't look that bent, I would say it would straighten right up. Some folks might advise heat, I think it is a light enough straighten to do it cold.

Worst case scenario, you break it or cannot get it acceptably straight, you can cut it off flush and tap a new piece of threaded rod into the head. It would be a seamless repair that would go absolutely unnoticed.

As for cleaning it, my preference is a crimped wire wheel mounted on a bent grinder, this will give a nice patina and remove all that crud.

I am not a fan of bead or sand blasting for non painted parts- it leaves an icky texture that is unappealing.

Pete

[thouser]

bent grinder, was that a play on words for this thread.

[crzypete]

that was supposed to say bench grinder, my bad typing skills are at it again.

pete

[thouser]

I thought that was the case it just struck me funny the topic was bent handle. I really miss spell check

[crzypete]

Hey Thom, not to gloat, but....... I just discovered that my mac's browser actually does have a spell check which works as I type when turned on.

Unfortunately, it isn't able to proofread and tell me when I type bent instead of bench. Still, it works really well and is a welcome addition to all my forum posting.

Mac's rule

Pete

[crzypete]

Vince, you might try bending and straightening a test bolt for practice. Just to get the feel of it. The ideal tool here is a smooth jawed machinist vise.

Pete