jeromio Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 Well, I had a very frustrating Sunday. I have many hundreds of dollars worth of DOM tubing and my cheapo 12ton "bender". Well, I tried twice to bend the bare tubing with consistent results - big ol' kinks. Actually, the second time, I tried moving the rollers in much farther - this resulted in a bent bottom on the bender followed by a dramatically popped weld. I hammered and welded it back in place, moved the rollers back and got my kinked piece of expensive tubing.... SO, then I tried filling one of the 12 foot lengths with sand. I capped off the ends with welded on washers and 3/4 nuts. I figured that threading in 6 inch bolts (longest I could find) would compress the sand and eliminate any air pockets. Well, apparently this was not enough. I managed one good bend, but it took forever - had to constantly move the piece and vary the roller positions. It looked pretty good though. But, on the second bend, the one that would've actually resulted in a rollbar, I got a kink. Very discouraging. I'm going to call around to muffler shops tomorrow and see if I can get one to bend this stuff for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 this is completely off subject, but I was looking at your website...what size are your wheels? the new ones...and what size spacer did ya use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted July 9, 2001 Author Share Posted July 9, 2001 Oh - I guess I forgot to put the specs on that page. It's there now. They are Konig Monsoons from Discount Tire. They are 17X8 with a 20mm offset, dual pattern 4 on 4.5 and 4 on 4.25. Tires are 235/45 Dunlop SP5000. No spacer or adapter required, but I do have coilovers at all 4 corners. They wouldn't fit otherwise... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Jeromio, Sounds disheartening... I have yet to bend anything to 90 degrees, but I have seen two other guys do it, and it is time consuming and requires much patience... My rear cage was already prefabricated form an auto power bolt in unit that has since been seriously modified. However, I have bent 45 degree angles without a problem, and rather quickly. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 I had the same problem. I am looking at a "manaul - mandrel" to add inside to the bending scheme. Like your packed sand idea, but a steel support that would keep it round. One thing that helps with tight bends is to spray the outside of the pipe with WD-40. Saw a guy do this at the muffler shop. It seems to help it to slide through the shoes and rollers.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted July 10, 2001 Author Share Posted July 10, 2001 There is that lead alloy that you can use - supposed to have a low melting point. Problem with that is, I have looong sections of tubing that I'm bending. Plus, even if I could afford that much of this metal, I fear that my 12ton bender would not be up for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 11, 2001 Share Posted July 11, 2001 I have seen a couple of roll bars bent with these benders and none of them looked presentable. Having bent 1.5 inch titanium tube in the Air Force I think I would find someone with a Mandrell bender and have it bent. With Mandrell bends, you keepthe strength theat you lose when the pipe kinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.