[TheForge] Bending steel

[Mark Novak]

I'm planning on cutting 1/8" sheet into irregular strips, likely 4-5"  
at widest, and then bending them and making them convex enough to  
ultimately come to a 3-4' sphere (though it will not be a complete  
sphere - there will be intentional gaps so that the object suspended  
in the middle of the sphere will be plainly visible).

I'm considering making a jig (like the large bowl of my swage block)  
that I can hammer it into hot, though I know there will be dents and  
distortion without some uniform press die... I'm hoping what ends up  
visible from the outside will either grind out or be attractive. :)

Since I have a tiny shop without any power hammers or presses, I'm  
hoping I can accomplish this with hand power or some jury-rigged press  
(thoughts on that?).  Thanks for your advice! Keep it coming, please.

Mark