Bending Tubing

[louisb]

I need to bend some 1" tubing to make a bumper for my Manx. I don't want to buy a bender just for this little project. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

--louis

[Bryan67]

I`ve never done it myself but I`ve read that if you fill it with sand it won`t kink and you can heat it and bend it around another piece of pipe or something similair for a jig.

[louisb]

Yeah I have been searching the inet and short of buying an expensive bender that seems to be the way to go. I was thinking of maybe using a wooden buck to bend it around. Wonder if you can get it hot enough with map gas. (I really need to invest in an acetylene setup.)

--louis

[Rocket Ron]

I made a balcony to go in front of my first floor double doors than had some 1" bent tube for rails, I heated the ends of the bar up and used a plumbers pipe bender that I hired for the day from the local hire shop, worked a treat

Regards Ron   

[yvre]

A cheap bender will work fine if your fill your tube with sand (and close both ends of course).
Otherwise it will just crush.

[Black Sheep]

Rocket's hit the nail on the head , Heat is the key 

[Balocco]

What they said. Fill the pipe with sand, plug it and heat it. If you can get it to start turning red with map gas it should work.

[Lee.C]

when i worked restoring Ferarri's/jag/porsches we used to hand make the exhausts/headers using the "Sand Method"

Basiclly you need to do is hammer a piece of 2x2 into the end of the length of pipe/tubing then poor in sand from the other end making sure its well packed in then hammer in another piece of 2x2 into the other end sealing the pipe/tubing

now you need a very very strong heat sourse - then apply to the area needing to be bent and get it REALLY HOT then start to bend it whilst still applying heat - Patients is the key, do it slowly  

[louisb]

Thanks for the replies. I am still debating if I want to take this project on.

Thanks,

--louis

[danny gabbard]

Just what lee said or if you want to by a bender try JD square co.  PS. Use damp wet sand and heat with rosebud and heat inside bend dull red first then while it cools heat outer side of tube, The thicker the wall thickness the smoother the bends. And dont forget to shake tube with a wooden paddle and air hammer to compress sand before corking the second end.

[SlingShot]

Use damp wet sand and heat with rosebud and heat inside bend dull red first then while it cools heat outer side of tube, The thicker the wall thickness the smoother the bends. And dont forget to shake tube with a wooden paddle and air hammer to compress sand before corking the second end.

Or just buy a bender.