TIL a trick for straightening long stock from an old guy at a swap meet in Ohio

I was at the Ashland swap meet last fall, watching this old timer work on a piece of 1/2 inch square bar about 4 feet long. He didn't use a press or a straightening jig. He just heated a small section in the middle, laid it flat on the anvil, and tapped the high spots on the cool ends with a cross-peen hammer. The heat in the middle let the whole piece flex without kinking. I tried it on a fence rail last week and it came out perfect. Anyone have other tricks for straightening without a lot of gear?

2 comments

2 Comments

brookefox15h ago

Ashland Ohio? I was at that same swap meet last fall, small world. I mean, I remember seeing a guy doing that but I didn't think it would actually work on something that long.

jadep4114h ago

Actually saw it work on a full-size truck bed once, so it can handle length.