Stainless tubes bending radius.

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

A 6m length of super mirror polished 25x2mm 316 would probably be near on £100, expensive learning curve...

That's expensive. For 6m of 22x1,5mm 316 I was quoted €28 + VAT (if I insist on it and paying by cheque instead of cash).

 

[JOHNPEET]

Hi,
Just to echo the feeling from most of the other posts - to bend stainless to a high standard you need high quality tooling. The type of bender you need can be obtained from Stakesys - just do a Google search and you'll find them. This equipment isn't cheap! I'm just coming to the end of the bright work on my project which has involved a mixture of 3/4", 1", and mostly 11/4" mirror polished 316 tube all of which is 1.5mm wall thickness. A total of something like 150m in all. The former alone for the 11/4" tube which is on a 61/2" centre line radius was £280 on its own. I fabricated the bending machine to go with it.

There is an alternative however that may work for you! Where I needed quite tight bends, I used imperial sized hygienic 316 stainless pipe fittings. They are exactly the same OD as the imperial sized tube and can be butt welded using TIG without a filler rod. Use an acid pickle on the welds then polish with a series of coarse, medium, then fine polishes and mops to achieve a mirror finish. These fittings are available from Berkley Stainless.

 

[GrahamM376]

See if your local hire shop has one of these electric benders, they work a treat on 22 x 1.5mm tube - http://www.broughtonplanthire.co.uk/rems-curvo-110v-bender-15-28mm-i266.html

 

[William_H]

These people will sell you a complete bimini in 2 different makes and various sizes. ($1A=50pUK)
https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?item=14272&search123=14272&intAbsolutePage=1

or I know in UK people seel SS tubing bends. might be far easier than bending tube. good luck olewill

 

[bigwow]

Hi,
Just to echo the feeling from most of the other posts - to bend stainless to a high standard you need high quality tooling. The type of bender you need can be obtained from Stakesys - just do a Google search and you'll find them. This equipment isn't cheap! I'm just coming to the end of the bright work on my project which has involved a mixture of 3/4", 1", and mostly 11/4" mirror polished 316 tube all of which is 1.5mm wall thickness. A total of something like 150m in all. The former alone for the 11/4" tube which is on a 61/2" centre line radius was £280 on its own. I fabricated the bending machine to go with it.

There is an alternative however that may work for you! Where I needed quite tight bends, I used imperial sized hygienic 316 stainless pipe fittings. They are exactly the same OD as the imperial sized tube and can be butt welded using TIG without a filler rod. Use an acid pickle on the welds then polish with a series of coarse, medium, then fine polishes and mops to achieve a mirror finish. These fittings are available from Berkley Stainless.

Bends also available here
http://www.aalco.co.uk/products/stainless-steel.aspx

 

[nimbusgb]

No chance. You will waste expensive tubing.

I also purchased food grade fittings and had them welded in place. The overall cost came to a similar price to having it all bent up to spec.

 

[vic008]

I googled bending S/S tube when doing my dodger.So amazed at how successfull using sand poured inside was. Just use duct tape to keep it all inside (thought would need to weld ends on but no) And need a long bar for leverage. Didn,t use any former. Try it. Absolutely amazing

 

[Seajet]

vic,

I wouldn't get too carried away; I've tried the filling with sand method, let's just say have a few spare pipes handy then go and buy a proper bender !