Tube bender....

[deven_science]

I have a tubing roller to get the sexy curves, but the only bending I do is with a few conduit benders that I have in various sizes.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

So NOONE (part from Luke) here bends their own tubing?

In the USA they have Harbour Freight, you can buy a proper tube roller there for cheap, there are quite a few builders who use them.

Being a scratch frame builder puts you in a fairly small section of the members on the site, being one in Australia without the ease of finding the tools cheaply puts you in an even smaller group... I think you are one of only 3 or 4...

I recommend trying the sand method, that is my next stop...

Luke.

 

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

Yes yes yes Harbor Freight.

I wish we had something like that here in the deepest darkest depths of the first world!!!!!!



Grrrr

 

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

Being a scratch frame builder puts you in a fairly small section of the members on the site,

Mmm.

 

[Bicycle808]

Mmm.

It's true; many of us don't build frames. I would like to, but i lack the proper workspace, and i need more tools. Maybe one day....

That being said, a lot of the moto guys i know use sand to prevent kinks. Cheap, plentiful, reusable, works in any diameter tube...

 

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

i lack the proper workspace.

You should see me getting the chopper in and out of my shed.

Like trying to get a drunk giraffe in to a small car.

 

[Bicycle808]

Yeah, I broke down and rented a garage... it's big enough to house all my bikes and tools, but then there's no room for me to work... plus it's got no electric. So, I still do most of my wrenching in the basement.

My buddy Paul has a garage, and he's been getting some stuff together (miter saw) and he's been talking about getting a TIG set-up and whatnot...a couple of us wanna get in on it with him... but it's been all talk so far.

 

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

I'll get some pics up of my shed and the ridiculous amount of stuff I keep in there one day.


Actually.
Is there a "Show your workshop" thread on this forum?
Will start one otherwise.

Always like looking at where people build stuff.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

I'll get some pics up of my shed and the ridiculous amount of stuff I keep in there one day.


Actually.
Is there a "Show your workshop" thread on this forum?
Will start one otherwise.

Always like looking at where people build stuff.

There is a show me your workshop thread...

Luke.

 

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

Where at?

The forum search function doesn"t seem to think so.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Where at?

The forum search function doesn"t seem to think so.

http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/show-me-your-workspace-shop.69839/

Luke.

 

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

 

[october]

I sometimes build from scratch...

Here is one of my tubing benders, it was basically free, as I had most of the materials laying around.
I think I bought the nuts and bolts...







2 disks cut out of 3/4 in. plywood. Then the edge of each disk was beveled using my neighbor's router.
When the 2 disks were bolted together, it formed a V shape around the circumference.
I then took a half round file, and did some filing.
Then I made a little loop out of a scrap piece of strap steel and bolted it on.

The disk can be bolted down.
I bolted mine down on the top of a stump. It was also bolted to the wall of the garage for a while...
You'd be surprised what can be done with simple home made tools, for little to no cost.

I've bent 1" x .065 and 3/4" x .065 on this disk with very little effort.

There's another good resource, that I'll post, if I can find it...

Hope this can help someone...

october

 

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

Yeh that's the way.

Been thinking of turning something up on the wood lathe when I get a chance.
I have lots of big chunks of hardwood laying around which would work.

Suppose ply would be an option too, looking at your contraption there.
I do have a router and everything else required...
Hmmm.


So do you just bend it using your own weight/muscles?

Secure one end and lean on it or something?

 

[october]

The disk was bolted to the top of a stump, or the garage wall.
Slide the end of the tube through the loop. The tube is easier to bend if you start with a long piece, and use the leverage. You have to be careful and it does take practice. It's very easy to collapse the tube, or put a flat spot in it.

 

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

Here's one I made a few years back.





Bent that one piece of aluminium as shown in the video and never used it again

I did use some of the bits for the on I posted on page one in this thread though.
It gets a lot of use when I make my metal art.


(Can't believe that vid has 1.9 mil views haha)

 

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

The disk was bolted to the top of a stump, or the garage wall.
Slide the end of the tube through the loop. The tube is easier to bend if you start with a long piece, and use the leverage. You have to be careful and it does take practice. It's very easy to collapse the tube, or put a flat spot in it.

Yeh see, I was thinking of a setup like yours, but with a bar attached to the middle and a "roller" (don't know the correct lingo) that pushes the tube against the big part as you drag it around....


But I might still get that cheapo bottle jack type and do some mods to it....

 

[deven_science]

Here's one I made a few years back.





Bent that one piece of aluminium as shown in the video and never used it again

I did use some of the bits for the on I posted on page one in this thread though.
It gets a lot of use when I make my metal art.


(Can't believe that vid has 1.9 mil views haha)

That's a cool homemade set up!