Tubing Bender Technique

[TigerCreek]

When you need to bend tubing and don't have a tube bender, this method works very well.
This is more of a technique than a "tool" and has been around forever.
I threw a quick video together for those who were unaware.

[DIYer]

Thanks TigerCreek! We've added your Tubing Bending Method to our Metalworking category,
as well as to your builder page: TigerCreek's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Tubing Bending Method by TigerCreek

tags: bending, tube

[Fluffle-Valve]

A vise would help. It'll sure make life a bit easier.

[TigerCreek]

A vise would help. It'll sure make life a bit easier.

You are correct. That was mentioned in the video.

[Frank S]

I used to have to use this method when bending 1" sch 40 pipe for hand rails on caterpillar equipment What I would do was weld a cap on one end then fill and pack blast media inside then weld a cap on the other end. The problem then was the hand rails had to be formed to an odd radius size to match those of the factory bends finding something with the correct curve to bend the pipe around was sometimes challenging without a lathe. Then the only way to bend the pipe was to heat it, if you took yo9ur time you could very nearly perfectly match a factory mandrel bent railing.

[TigerCreek]

Just goes to show that this simple technique can be applied to many types of pipe/tubing.

[Frank S]

Just goes to show that this simple technique can be applied to many types of pipe/tubing.

Yes and the technique has been around for many years. A lot of musical instruments are made by filling the tubes with water then freezing them then they are precision formed to the shapes desired the ice inside prevents the very thin tubes from collapsing

[Murph1090]

Done that with Wood's metal for years, melts at 158 degrees F, makes tubing bend like a solid metal bar. Used the same alloy for lathe turning thin tubing, fixturing parts you can't clamp, and drilling tubing to eliminate breakthrough burrs.