Bending 48mm OD Stainless Steel Tube

[Orla]

I need to put a 30deg ish bend into a 48mm OD SS tube for mounting my new wind generator.
I dont have access to a pipe bender locally, any ideas....... will heating it be an option or will that damage the finish?
At what point will the tube crease, hopfully not before it gets to 30 deg.
Would gripping it in a vice and sliding a long lever inside the tube do the trick?

Cheers

Dougie

 

[sarabande]

I've tried filling the tube with sand, then watering the sand into a solid inner tube, then bending it; but it was with thinnish-walled tubing.

I rather think you need an internal (flexispring) or external mandrel/former of some sort.

 

[michael_w]

Take it to someone who knows what he's doing with the right equipment. Otherwise you'll cripple the tube and end up throwing it away....

 

[Orla]

I've tried filling the tube with sand, then watering the sand into a solid inner tube, then bending it; but it was with thinnish-walled tubing.

I rather think you need a former of some sort.

I think the wall thickness is about 2.5mm, it is supposed to be arriving tomorrow...

 

[kds]

YOU NEED A SERIOUS COMPANY WITH THE KIT TO BEND SUCH WIDE TUBING. After a lot of searching I found one West of London.
I only wish i could tell you where !
Ken

 

[christhefish]

you need to find a proper work shop with proper bending equipment as you will just ruin the tube...2.5 mm wall would be impossible to bend like you were planning by hand

 

[PeteCooper]

I would ask at Fergusons in Port Glasgow, or I'll bet West Of Scotland Engineering(Glasgow) could do something or point you to somebody who could.

 

[Orla]

I would ask at Fergusons in Port Glasgow, or I'll bet West Of Scotland Engineering(Glasgow) could do something or point you to somebody who could.

Yeh couple of fab shops quite local, i'll pop round and see if any of them have a pipe bender.
Getting a 3m tube in the car could be a bigger challenge.....

Cheers pete

 

[nigel1]

+1 to take it toa proper workshop. I've just had a set of davits made up which required a 75 degree bend in 40mm OD pipe. The welding shop sent the tubing out to another shop to bend it as they did not want to risk using thir own barely adequate pipe bender.

 

[SpottyDog5]

Perhaps cut it, and mitre a joint then weld & polish.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

See if there is anyone in Land Rover making roll cages, can usually bend that material

 

[PetiteFleur]

Perhaps cut it, and mitre a joint then weld & polish.

Yes, that's what I would do if no access to a bender - but would need a good SS welder!

 

[ffiill]

If you check on e bay for stainless exhausts there are several firms which work with a variety of stainless tube and have the madrels and pipe bending gear and they do not seem that expensive.
Cutting and welding might seem a good idea but getting the right cut angles can be tricky.
Also for what its worth square section tube is far easier to weld than round if you are not a pro welder.

 

[Lakesailor]

I agree. I used a hydraulic pipe bender to do my tiller, with all the correct mandrils. The guy who let me use it said to move the pipe in the dies often, as stainless will kink very easily. I just about managed it.

 

[Orla]

Many thanks to all who offered advice; I managed to hire a pipe bender locally.
It meant I could do the work at the boat.

And the finished project

 

[sarabande]

err, Stu.


About two inches above the start to your post.....

 

[stuhaynes]

err, Stu.


About two inches above the start to your post.....

Does it not p*ss one off when that happens! Typical.

And to add insult to injury, I spotted it as soon as I posted and quickly deleted my reply, too bloody late, it was Sarabanded!

 

[sarabande]

but it is so nice to be proved right, anyway