pipe bending

[seabeagle]

I've got some 1" stainless pipe from West Marine that I want to bend to make a custom railing for my winter project. None of the bends are more than 30-60 degrees from straight. One piece is approx. 7 feet long with 4 bends and the other is approx 10 feet long with 3 bends. I've been working with a test section of the pipe to get the procedure down but, I've found this to be very hard with the tools I have. So far, an ordinary conduit bender kinks the pipe and is extremely difficult to bend by hand. I then used a torch to heat the outside of the bend and had better luck. I can polish out the discoloration from the heat with a little elbow grease. I know I can't do the total professional job but, I want to do the best I can. My next thought was to purchase this bender and use some heat. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38024
Any Ideas?

[C-Hawk]

Cold bending is best.
If I saw someone heating any steel in order to bend it---- well--- that piece would be rejected
Of course--- I'm speaking from a Welding Inspectors point of view.
When you heat the steel, you are changing the molecular structure. Unless the heating is uniform and the appropriate procedure, you are weakening the steel.

For what you are using it for, a little heat would probably not be detrimental.
Use as little heat as possible and bend the tubing in small degrees at a time. But, I repeat- cold bending is best.

[journey on]

I have one of those. Used it to bend some lightweight Al tube, which kinked on me.

First , there was operator error, in that I took too big of a pump, and second didn't check after each small bend. Next, that isn't the best bender in the world, but we can't all afford an aircraft type tube bender, which has an inside mandrel. But we wish we could.

Sorry you're not in So Cal, or you could borrow it. You could buy it, try it (for all your bends,) and return it.

Boris

[Da Nag]

This came up a while ago - here's a thread with some good info.

[forrest]

I or crews that have worked for me have bent literally thousands of feet of stainless pipe with no kinking and bending up to 180 degrees. I suspect that you've bought tubing rather than pipe. Stainless pipe actually bends smoother than mild steel. I have used both water pipe and electrical conduit with equal results. I would buy the correct pipe for your bender or buy the correct bender for your pipe.
Forrest

[marvin4239]

I wouldn't waste my money on the Harbor Freight bender it will kink the tubing. I've bent tons of pipe and tubing and with tubing you have to have bender shoes that have very close tolerances or the tubing will kink. These benders are pretty expensive you'd be better off to take it to a shop and have it bent.

[Captains Cat]

You said you bought it from West Marine. They don't sell Pipe, only Tubing. The only review on their product says

"for rail projects, this is too thin. Wall thickness should be .065 rather than the thinner wall .049."

This is far too thin to bend with a bender. You need pipe or a lot thicker tubing.

Charlie

[marvin4239]

This is an imagine of a real tubing bender. If you notice the shoe on the bottom of the tubing it captivates the tubing and prevents if from kinking. As I said the tolerances are very critical and you have to have shoe's for the exact diameter of your tubing. Pipe on the other hand is pretty easy to bend.

[seabeagle]

[marvin4239]

Seabeagle I've seen that type of bender used to bend SS tubing but have never personally used one exactly like that for tubing. The catalog doesn't say who the manufacturer is. Most of the benders I used were made by "Greenlee" If you are considering purchasing one I'd find out what the return policy is in case it doesn't work. Looking at the specs of the bender it claims it will bend a 4" radi bend in 1" tubing which is a pretty tight radi. It's a long shot but maybe a tool rental place would have one.

[Sea Wolf]

Seabeagle-

Have you checked out what a professional railmaker would charge to supply you with bent tube or pipe, or for that matter, bend yours?

What cost is involved and what can you spend on tools and still save $$$?

Is there a school in your area that offers a course in metal working that would allow you to use their equipment in a class project to fabricate what you want? I used to do this with wood shop courses at the local Adult School classes at the high school where I taught.

For simple projects the rail can be made up by bending and laminating alternate colored strips of wood on a prepared jig, finishing it, then attaching it to the boat with stainless vertical stantions. Very classy looking!

Just a thought or two!

[Papillon]

Way down here in the south I call on my local canvas shop. He bends SS tubing all the time making bimini tops for boats. He makes a jig and bends ss tubing all the time. Check with your local canvas guy.

[seabeagle]

I don't mind buying the tool. This probably won't be the last time I'll use it or even the last boat I'll use it on. As for local canvas shops, they've all closed their doors for the winter. When I priced out my camperback, they were the most expensive here locally. I ended up with the set up from King Marine. Even with shipping they were cheaper. All of the people I know with big benders are set up for exhaust pipes and steel conduit. Also, currently my boat is in storage with 15 other trucks and trailers blocking it. Its at a buliding that my boss owns and I have access to it at any time plus there's heat, power, and good lighting. I only have about $250 in my tubing and fittings and was looking forward to the project anyway. When its completed, there won't be another CD-16 like it.

[C-Hawk]

[seabeagle]