This section is from the "Handicraft For Boys" book, by A. Frederick Collins. Amazon: Handicraft for boys.
To bend a metal sheet put it on a wood or metal form and pound it into shape with a wooden mallet.
The edges of a piece of sheet metal can be bent either by pounding it over the sharp corner of an iron bar, or if a very small part is to be bent use a pair of round or flat nose pliers. A thick piece of sheet metal can be bent by putting it in your vise and pounding over the edge with a hammer.
 
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