Aluminium tube bending

[blackolive (Ste)]

Im having a go at an antenna project that requires some 90 degree bends.

The tubing Ive ordered is good quality 6063T6 1/2” 16swg, and I dont really want to mess it up as I havent ordered enough to practice. Been looking at pipe benders, the options at reasonable cost are the mini copper brake pipe benders that go up to 10mm, or the 15/22mm plumbing type pipe benders.

Would one of these be the best option, or can i bend it successfully by hand round a suitable former, I have various diameters of ally or steel bar that I could stand vertically in a vice to form the bends around, or will I kink it ? Thanks

 

[Seadog]

Fill it with sand.

 

[Barking Mat]

Fill it with sand.

Yep, as above.

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Fill it with sand.

I had thought of that but the cost of s bag of paving sand is close to a pipe bender nowadays and i could see my life ebbing away like an egg timer filling them (2m lengths 4 off)

 

[Barking Mat]

Sand isn't expensive, just need a funnel and some patience.

 

[Gareth0123]

For ½" OD tube I would recommend that you buy a second-hand Ridgid 400 series Instrument bender from eBay, etc.
You will not find better manual benders for tubes up to ¾"OD than those made by ridgid

 

[Agroshield]

It is difficult to give advice if we do not know the radius of the bends you propose (as a proportion of tube diameter). Clearly, if you want to wrap it around a 1" dia. former, the challenges are greater than wrapping it around a 12" former.

If you go looking for the Ridgid bender, I think it is the 408 (36132) you need for 1/2" tube and it does 1 1/2" radius.

 

[Hog-Rider]

Just being curious, What's the frequency that you are making the Aerial for HF/VHF/UHF

 

[cr500dom]

You’ll probably need to anneal it whatever bender you use

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Just being curious, What's the frequency that you are making the Aerial for HF/VHF/UHF

Its a dual band 28/50 moxon

 

[Guzrik]

I have had great succes (to my suprise) bending this kind of tube over a v-belt pulley by hand with assistence of a vise.

 

[piman]

Blackolive,

there is no point buying a bender that is not sized for the tube, e.g. a 15mm plumbing bender is too large and will not support the tube wall when you use it. A proper fitting bender is your best option. Sand filing does work but it's quite fiddly and time consuming for that diameter.

Alec

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Oven dry soft sand. Cap one end, fill through a funnel.
The using a sa der, with on paper on it, place the rubber pad against the tube. Refill as required.
Made an adaptor that will clamp the pipe and fit into a vice.
Using a former bend the tube round the former, in slow gentle movements.

Some steam engines use tubes of similar size, there are hand benders to suit.

 

[Seadog]

Copper and aluminium aren't good friends.

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Picked up a ridgid off ebay

 

[Gareth0123]

Here's a link to the correct instructions for Ridgid Instrument benders; https://cdn2.ridgid.com/resources/m...1a-2b39e4565075&languageCode=en&type=document

 

[pawsnizzy]

Here's a link to the correct instructions for Ridgid Instrument benders; https://cdn2.ridgid.com/resources/m...1a-2b39e4565075&languageCode=en&type=document

I don't fancy having my instrument bent tbh

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Here's a link to the correct instructions for Ridgid Instrument benders; https://cdn2.ridgid.com/resources/m...1a-2b39e4565075&languageCode=en&type=document

Nice one thanks

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I don't fancy having my instrument bent tbh

Your better have said your were bent, or was it kinky.

 

[Gareth0123]

I don't fancy having my instrument bent tbh

I know someone who'd pay for that!