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I tried finding a local machine shop to do the bend in the hockey stick, but no one local will bend aluminium, only steel.

So, i tried following the example in this video: http://www.eaavideo.org/detail/video/40 ... Start=true

Cut a v into a block, taped a 1" bolt to the part, along the line specified in the plans. Start cranking down on the arbor press. Nothing. doesn't budge. No matter how hard I crank down on it.

So, maybe this isn't the correct method? I'm looking for some ideas on how to get this bent. I don't have a break to get the bend started.

Welcome to the forums! Check out page 1 of my thread:
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=578

Also a later version of that setup on page 25:
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=578&start=240

The later version is good. Two pieces of oak screwed down to plywood, spaced apart 1" to match the bolt shank. To get this to bend I had to put a long lever arm over a pipe wrench which grabbed onto the arbor press. Thick stuff. Mine is a classic A model but the tails are the same.

I used Kerry's method on the EAA video with success. I had to add a piece of pipe to the handle of my HF arbor press to get enough leverage. The harder part was to get the bends to nth degree the plans called out for. Just don't go too far on the first bend. Better to sneak up on it. Remember the spring back effect as well.

Adding a length of pipe for leverage did the trick. Thanks all.