Sounds like you want your hack blade to do something it wasn't made to do ...
I've been able to use tempered steel for tension wrenches. I use fishtape which networking folks use to string computer cable through false ceilings.
There is no way to bend this stuff 90 deg. without torching it and it is easy and fun to do:
Step one- heat steel to orange red/ quench in water. By heating the steel to this color/temperature you have just rearranged the molecules and temporarily removed temper which means you can now bend it in any shape you want.
Step two- heat the steel to cherry red again and let it air dry. This step restores tensile quality the steel had before step one.
Step three- (optional) This type of steel will blue and to do that just hold it about an inch or so above the dark blue cone of the flame. At this phase you are using lower temp. heat. Once you see the color change you have to move your torch along the length of the wire, bluing all the way, because you want a uniform heat treat.
So fire up your propane torch and give it a go!