RE: How to make Z bends?
Before I bought my z-pliers (which I recommend you to buy) I used to clamp the wire in a wise and use a hammer to shape a Z bend, works pretty good actually!
-First you clamp the wire and make a 90degree angle on the end of it, leaving 1/2 inch.
-Then you release it and clamp the short (1/2 inch wire) and make another 90 degree on that one, done!
(English is not my mother tongue, I wonder if anyone understood my "instructions"? )