You can buy steel bars in the optimal length for hand-bending from some online retailers or buy longer bars either online or from your local hardware store and cut off a piece of the desired length. To cut the steel bar, use a pair of bolt cutters, preferably about 24 inches (60 cm) long. Wear safety goggles when cutting, as short pieces can travel at high speed when cut from the larger bar stock. Grind or file off the cut end to smooth it. [2] X Research source

Leather. Leather is the toughest material you can use to wrap the steel with and is the best material for adding leverage to your grip. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/5/5f/Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/5/5f/Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet1. jpg/aid1771335-v4-728px-Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:322,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:510,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Cordura. Cordura, a synthetic canvas-like fabric, is used in professionally created bending wraps. It’s as puncture resistant and durable as leather, but not as good in adding leverage to your grip. Cordura is initially stiff, but becomes more supple over time as it absorbs the oils from your skin. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/b/b1/Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/b/b1/Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet2. jpg/aid1771335-v4-728px-Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:322,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:510,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Heavy cloth. A heavy cloth, such as a shop cloth or rag, is the cheapest suitable wrapping material, and has been traditionally used for nail bending feats. However, it is nowhere near as durable or puncture-proof as either leather or Cordura. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/96/Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/96/Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet3. jpg/aid1771335-v4-728px-Bend-Steel-Step-5Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:322,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:510,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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In the double overhand grip, you hold the bar close to your body, preferably just under the chin, with your hands gripping the steel from above. This method transfers the greatest force from your arm muscles into the bend and is the best grip to use on thicker bars. [4] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/c/ca/Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/c/ca/Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet1. jpg/aid1771335-v4-728px-Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:322,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:510,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} In the double underhand grip, you also hold the bar close to your body, although at about the center of the breastbone. You will bend the bar upward, using your pinkies as fulcrums, and your driving muscle strength comes from your triceps and upper back. [5] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/6/68/Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/6/68/Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet2. jpg/aid1771335-v4-728px-Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:322,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:510,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} In the palms down grip, you grip the bar with your hands the same as in the double overhand grip, but you hold the bar away from your body, either at arm’s length or with your arms bent. Because you’re holding the bar further from your body, your thumbs serve as fulcrums more when bending the steel than in the double overhand grip, requiring stronger thumb muscles. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/8/82/Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/8/82/Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet3. jpg/aid1771335-v4-728px-Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:322,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:510,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} In the reverse grip, you also hold the bar away from your body, but perpendicular to your chest instead of parallel to it as in the palms down grip. The hand further from your body grips the bar in an overhand grip, while the closer hand grips the bar underhanded. The further hand provides more of the bending force, while the thumb and forefinger of the near hand serve as a fulcrum. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/c/c1/Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet4. jpg/v4-460px-Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet4. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/c/c1/Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet4. jpg/aid1771335-v4-728px-Bend-Steel-Step-9Bullet4. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:322,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:510,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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If you’re bending from the double overhand position, you can go from making the initial bend to continuing the bend in a single motion without changing your hand grip. If you’re bending from the palms down or reverse position, you may have to change to the double overhand position to continue bending the steel. Ideally, you want to make this part of the bend in a single, smooth motion. If you’re not strong enough to do that, you can make multiple attempts in rapid succession, using as much force as you can muster. Don’t rest too long between attempts, or the steel will cool, making it harder to bend.

You may have to remove some of the wrapping around the steel if it gets in the way. You may also have to grasp the bent steel in one hand and clasp that hand with your other hand, squeezing both the steel and your hand. As with the sweep, crush the bar’s ends together should follow quickly after making the 90-degree bend so that the steel doesn’t have time to cool.