On Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:16:34 -0800 (PST), Searcher7
wrote:

I have a metal bracket that is rusted and bent. I will need to restore
it by first straightening it out and then sanding and either painting
or powder coating it.

But it's the straightening part that will be difficult. The bracket is
used to secure a 1/4" thick plexiglass marquee, and therefore is
shaped to "cup" the bottom of the marquee and hold it in place.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...eeBracketA.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...eeBracketB.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...eeBracketC.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...eeBracketD.jpg

I'd appreciate any ideas on how to best accomplish straightening it
out. (Would heating it be necessary?).

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

Clamp a nice clean piece of 1/4" steel plate (at least 6" tall or more)
in your strongest best mounted vise..after sand blasting..and gently
beat it back into shape with a hammer. Lead preferably..brass if you
dont have lead..steel as a last resort

Gunner

One could not be a successful Leftwinger without realizing that,
in contrast to the popular conception supported by newspapers
and mothers of Leftwingers, a goodly number of Leftwingers are
not only narrow-minded and dull, but also just stupid.
Gunner Asch