Casey Posted September 6, 2015 I have made several attempts at bending aluminum tubing to but have been unsuccessful in doing so without getting a flat spot in the bend. Can someone share a method that works or suggest and alternate material/procedure?--Casey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 yh70 Posted September 7, 2015 first of all you need to get you a tubing bender..not like the one micro marts sells ,,Search results for: 'tubeing bender' Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Casey Posted September 7, 2015 Any suggestion on which one I should get? I have bought several over the years but have yet to find one that will bend a small enough radius. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Donavon Posted September 7, 2015 I have heard filling with sand will keep it from kinking don't know not tried it yet just a sugggestion Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 cunuk truckbuilder Posted September 9, 2015 unfortunately you wont get a scale radius without kinking.the inner has to shrink the out has to stretch.the best option is to get plastruct tubing and elbows then foil or alclad them Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Casey Posted September 9, 2015 unfortunately you wont get a scale radius without kinking.the inner has to shrink the out has to stretch.the best option is to get plastruct tubing and elbows then foil or alclad themThat was what I was beginning to think. I bought some Alclad a while back but I have been afraid to try it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Close Tolerance Posted September 20, 2015 Filling it with sand is a technique used in the tube bending industry but it can be hard to do on our scale models.I find a piece of round plastic rod that fits snug inside the tube, it doesn't have to be very tight, but the tighter the better. Let the insert exceed the tubing and you should be able to pull it out after the bend is done. You may need some good pliers to pull the plastic rod out of the aluminium tube, that's why you don't want your insert to be overly tight. Beerz, Felix 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Casey Posted September 21, 2015 Filling it with sand is a technique used in the tube bending industry but it can be hard to do on our scale models.I find a piece of round plastic rod that fits snug inside the tube, it doesn't have to be very tight, but the tighter the better. Let the insert exceed the tubing and you should be able to pull it out after the bend is done. You may need some good pliers to pull the plastic rod out of the aluminium tube, that's why you don't want your insert to be overly tight. Beerz, Felix I will be giving that a try! Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Joris Posted September 23, 2015 For my Pete 388 I did the exhaust tips only; styrene piping, filler and BMF. More like a wing and a prayer, but it worked... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Cornbinder Posted September 24, 2015 Filling it with sand is a technique used in the tube bending industry but it can be hard to do on our scale models.I find a piece of round plastic rod that fits snug inside the tube, it doesn't have to be very tight, but the tighter the better. Let the insert exceed the tubing and you should be able to pull it out after the bend is done. You may need some good pliers to pull the plastic rod out of the aluminium tube, that's why you don't want your insert to be overly tight. Beerz, Felix I've done this with plastic rod instead of tubing, what I do is leave the plastic in the tube. I'll leave a little sticking out past the bend so I have a "mounting pin" for the stack- the plastic tube will either slip into a hollow pipe under the cab, or I'll use a short piece of tube to connect it to a solid kit exhaust pipe. I will say I've had mixed results, but I'm totally willing to admit that might be because I'm doing something wrong. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 bigevil Posted October 5, 2015 Casey i use the big plastic coat hangers , cut them to how ever long I need them ..THen heat up where my elbow needs to be and slowly bend them .. Drill the top out and chrome them . its a very cheap way of making pipes 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-1 Dr. Kerry Posted March 7, 2019 I like to use drinking straws from Culver’s or Arby’s as they are bigger bore and close to a 8 or 10 inch stack. McDonald’s for smaller diameter stacks. Then I use Plastic (Evergreen or Plastetruct) to make the elbows and foil or paint them. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
I have made several attempts at bending aluminum tubing to but have been unsuccessful in doing so without getting a flat spot in the bend. Can someone share a method that works or suggest and alternate material/procedure?
--Casey
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