I needed a deck-board bending tool for a recent project, but decided that I could build my own for a lot less than I would spend to purchase one online or at the local box store. I started by buying a 3-foot section of 1-inch-by-1-inch by 14-gauge square steel perforated tubing, which I then cut into three sections measuring 28 inches, 5 inches, and 3 inches. I also purchased a pair of 3/8-inch-by-3-inch hex-head bolts and a pair of 3/8-inch-by-2 1/2-inch hex-head bolts, a 3/8-inch-by-3-inch carriage bolt, and three 3/8-inch nylon lock nuts.
I used the 3-inch hex bolts for the joist grabber part of the tool, tack-welding the heads of the bolts to the tubing. For those without access to a welder, you could also slide steel sleeves over the bolts and use nylon lock nuts to secure the sleeves. The 2 1/2-inch hex-head bolts form the pivot points of the 3-inch- and 5-inch-long sections of tubing. I secured them to the longer tubing section with nylon lock nuts, as shown. Finally, I used the 3-inch carriage bolt to attach the handle to the assembly, securing it to the end of the 2-foot 4-inch section of tubing using the remaining lock nut. To form the actual handle, I cut off the end of an old shovel, drilled a 3/8-inch-diameter hole through the center, and squirted some epoxy in the hole to secure it to the carriage bolt. A 1 ¼-inch-diameter-by-4-inch-long dowel would work fine too. In all, I invested less than $30 in materials in the project, and the tool works great and has proven to be very sturdy.
