Bending Stainless Tube

[smithy]

Is it possible to bend 1" x 1.5mm walled tube on an ordinary floor standing conduit bender? I can source 1"dia for a good price but not sure if it will fit into the common 25mm former. Anyone tried this?

 

[PaulRainbow]

It will, but you'll need a heavy duty hand bender to bend it. I doubt a modern plumber bender would be up to the job.

 

[Peter Morgan]

I've managed it with a conventional floor standing bender. Fairly sure I had 25mm tube with a 1" former although not 100% sure on tube or former size. Bent ok, but in a couple of the bends did see a very slight crease but ok to us. Hard to bend, did need an extension tube on the bender handle to assist.

 

[PaulRainbow]

One of these will bend it:

Hilmor Pipe Bender Type GLA 4 | eBay

 

[smithy]

It will, but you'll need a heavy duty hand bender to bend it. I doubt a modern plumber bender would be up to the job.

The one I'm thinking about is made for steel conduit rather copper

 

[penberth3]

The one I'm thinking about is made for steel conduit rather copper

Apologies if I'm statingt he obvious, conduit is a lot less than 1.5mm WT.

 

[JOHNPEET]

Is it possible to bend 1" x 1.5mm walled tube on an odinary floor standing conduit bender? I can source 1"dia for a good price but not sure if it will fit into the common 25mm former. Anyone tried this?
View attachment 111124

Depending on what you’re looking to make, there is another option open to you too. You could use pre-formed hygienic stainless tube bends and butt weld to the tube you have. I’ve done this with good success on 11/4”, 1” and 3/4” polished tube. I polished the bends prior to welding. Obviously the welding and acid pickle will tarnish the polished finish but can be re-polished afterwards. The pre-formed bends are exactly the same OD as the tube

 

[JOHNPEET]

Depending on what you’re looking to make, there is another option open to you too. You could use pre-formed hygienic stainless tube bends and butt weld to the tube you have. I’ve done this with good success on 11/4”, 1” and 3/4” polished tube. I polished the bends prior to welding. Obviously the welding and acid pickle will tarnish the polished finish but can be re-polished afterwards. The pre-formed bends are exactly the same OD as the tube

Hygienic Fittings - Berkeley Stainless Fittings Limited
This is where I have sourced my fittings from

 

[Seastoke]

The one I'm thinking about is made for steel conduit rather copper

do you want tight bends or a slow bend

 

[ctva]

This one comes with various formers inc 25mm.

I used it successfully to bend stainless 22mm with 2mm wall to various shapes. Well worth the £70 odd quid it cost. Mounted it on a 4’ scaffold board held vertically in a bench vice.

Manual Pipe Tube Bender Handheld Pipe Bending Lever Type Tube Carbon Steel Pipe Bending Hand Tool Pipes Diameter 10-25mm Pipe Tubing Bender Set: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

 

[smithy]

do you want tight bends or a slow bend

Thought it would look better with a larger radius, it's a radar arch I'm building. I have looked at the elbow fittings with grub screws and butt welded bends too. Just considering all the options.
Have used this place before, pretty reasonable for tubing Stainless Steel Products in Cumbernauld : Stainless Steel Stock Holders

 

[captainboo]

I found this video on You Tube which shows a guy using the £70 bender ctva mentions above to bend 25mm x 1.65mm wall thickness 316 tube to make the frame and parts for an electric trike. He encounters some problems but explains how he overcomes them and manages to produce some pretty impressive tube work. It shows that it can be done on the cheap.

 

[chrishscorp]

I've managed it with a conventional floor standing bender. Fairly sure I had 25mm tube with a 1" former although not 100% sure on tube or former size. Bent ok, but in a couple of the bends did see a very slight crease but ok to us. Hard to bend, did need an extension tube on the bender handle to assist.

I understand the way they stop the tube creasing is to fill it with sand prior to bending

 

[Caraway]

I borrowed a hydraulic pipe bender from my local steel fabrication firm, I wanted to hire it but he didn't want paying. I filled it with sand and moved the pipe in the former a few times. Not an easy job.

Why not do it in copper and use that as a template to give to a S/S fabricator to do a proper job.

 

[PaulRainbow]

With proper formers there is no need to fill with sand.

 

[smithy]

I found this video on You Tube which shows a guy using the £70 bender ctva mentions above to bend 25mm x 1.65mm wall thickness 316 tube to make the frame and parts for an electric trike. He encounters some problems but explains how he overcomes them and manages to produce some pretty impressive tube work. It shows that it can be done on the cheap.

For someone so young this guy does really well. I like ctva's idea of bolting it on a board and holding in the vice vertically

 

[Martin_J]

I guess you've seen the BendArc and CrownArc tube benders from the US. I think Bainbridge import and sell them in the UK... I've been tempted...

Example video here showing the two types of bend being made in a sprayhood frame..

Bendarc and Crownarc demonstration

 

[smithy]

I guess you've seen the BendArc and CrownArc tube benders from the US. I think Bainbridge import and sell them in the UK... I've been tempted...

Example video here showing the two types of bend being made in a sprayhood frame..

Bendarc and Crownarc demonstration

Hadn't seen this before, he makes it look so easy. There seems to be a fraction of the leverage involved. I wonder if its either narrower tube or thinner wall

 

[DownWest]

Hadn't seen this before, he makes it look so easy. There seems to be a fraction of the leverage involved. I wonder if its either narrower tube or thinner wall

He is using a fairly large radius. That reduces the effort a lot. Like the 'door' mounting.

Mine is a DIY version of this: JD SQUARED MODEL 3 MANUAL RATCHET TUBE BENDER INC DEGREE RING & HANDLE - Manual Tube Benders - Tube & Pipe Benders
Biggest hassle was machining the dies, a couple of hours on the ancient lathe.. Bends 25 & 20mm with fair curves.

 

[rogerthebodger]

This one comes with various formers inc 25mm.

I used it successfully to bend stainless 22mm with 2mm wall to various shapes. Well worth the £70 odd quid it cost. Mounted it on a 4’ scaffold board held vertically in a bench vice.

Manual Pipe Tube Bender Handheld Pipe Bending Lever Type Tube Carbon Steel Pipe Bending Hand Tool Pipes Diameter 10-25mm Pipe Tubing Bender Set: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

I use the same type of bender and have bent 25 mm ss tube with the additional former

MAC AFRIC Hand Pipe Bender Set | Adendorff Machinery Mart

You need it bolted down to a very strong bench (mine if bolted to my house wall) and a long extension handle to get the leverage needed.

Tight bends I use stainless steel weld bends then grind and polish.

Large radius bends you need to roll the bends. I made a 3 roll roller to make my mast pulpit with weld bends on the ends.