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Bending tube cheaply
prawnabie - 5/12/09 at 08:50 PM

Hi Guys

I have some 1" 1.2mm wall mild steel pipe I need to bend. Its not for anything car related or mission critical lol, just for a frame for a seat to attach to

I can cut a weld at angles I suppose but bending it would be easier - does anybody have any locost ideas.

None of the bends are more than 60 degrees

Thanks

Shaun

Staple balls - 5/12/09 at 08:59 PM

use 22mm tube and a plumber's pipe bender?

gazza285 - 5/12/09 at 09:06 PM

I'm afraid that the tube is so thin that without the correct formers you are going to kink it. Try hard packing it full of dry sand and heating it up first.

Gary 7 - 5/12/09 at 09:06 PM

Came across this may be worth a look.

http://www.rorty-design.com/content/sand_bending.htm

Tatey - 5/12/09 at 09:26 PM

Do you have any electrician or plumber mates? I managed to get my mate to lend a conduit bender from work yesterday and it works a treat for bending 19mm 16swg tube.

Volvorsport - 5/12/09 at 09:31 PM

gas axe , without the axe bit .

Bluemoon - 5/12/09 at 11:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Gary 7
Came across this may be worth a look.

http://www.rorty-design.com/content/sand_bending.htm


I do miss Rorty he used to post on here, he as some really good practical tips.

Dan

clairetoo - 6/12/09 at 08:24 AM

I've got a plumbers pipe bender - and a 1" former (somewhere...............)

MakeEverything - 6/12/09 at 08:40 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Bluemoon
quote:
Originally posted by Gary 7
Came across this may be worth a look.

http://www.rorty-design.com/content/sand_bending.htm


I do miss Rorty he used to post on here, he as some really good practical tips.

Dan


"Sand bending is not a practicable method of bending chassis tubes"



Rorty helped me out a load when he was around as well. Very nice guy, and produced shed loads of drawings etc FOC for general consumption.

liam.mccaffrey - 8/12/09 at 08:38 PM

i have a 1" die for my Pro-tool if i can help

prawnabie - 8/12/09 at 08:40 PM

Thanks for the replies, I think I have worked out a design that will work without bends, just need to work on my fishmouths!

gazza285 - 8/12/09 at 08:55 PM

Can't beat a bit of filing.