This is where I'm trying to get to,can anyone help a brother out? I'm trying to have a crossmember like this fabricated. Either in 2 1/2 inch o.d. 11 guage dom tube or 2 .375 o.d. .148 pipe size tube, or an equivilant. Anyone have any ideas?
You can make a bend block with the 29 inch diameter less the tube diameter x 2 , if you are only doing this once you could make it from several layers of plywood, and then use a piece of tubing that is 5-6 foot longer on each side then get a BIG rose bub torch two would be better, and heat the tube in the area that you need to bend with a couple of big friends on each end of the tube pull hard. If you think that the tube will collapse fill it with DRY sand and weld end caps on the tube. This will keep it from collapsing. Be sure to drill a small vent hole in the tube. You will set the bend die on fire if you use plywood so have a hose handy. All of this needs to be anchored down pretty good. If you can find a shop with a heavy duty three roll, roll stand and if the have rollers that either have the correct radius to fit your tubing, pretty slim chance, or if they have rollers with fairly large vee grooves they can probably roll the tube for you. Make them a template that fits the inside of the tube and they will roll it till it fits the template. Rex Rex
Take A Steel Plate Weld 1/2 Hex Head Bolts To The Plate Heads On The Plate Space About 1/2 Inch Between Bolts, The Bolts Are Welded To The Inside Radiaus You Want , Make The Tube Longer Than You Really Need Just To Start With. Weld One End Of Tube To The Steel Plate But Stick It Out Past The Beginning Of The Radiaus About 3" The Heat The The Tube With A Torch And Slowlt Bend It Around The Radias . You Will Need To Go Past The End Of The Rad With About 10" Of Pipe To Hang Onto When At The End Weld It To The Steel Plate And Let It Cool Off, Cut The Welds Off, And Trim Pipe To Final Shape. Also You Will Need A Friend To Help
Thanks for the suggestions.Here is where the problem starts.There is only one place I know in Omaha that can roll 2 3/8 outside diameter tube,schedule 40 because thats what the industries want.Now 2 3/8 od pipe size tube is special order.They want you to order 100ft. At a little over $8.00 a foot thats not an option.I can drive 4 hours and buy 20 feet but the first place doesn't want to bend someone elses tube.I understand the wood buck and am considering that but if you search for info the board slams heat bending structural tube.I need a jobber that can roll the tube,I hear UPS will deliver to my door.Anyone?
Here is a technique I learned from a WW2 Navy Machinist when I was but a wee lad. This will keep the pipe from crushing and is not a method or procedure for bending. Take a length of pipe and weld a plate or cap on one end. Next you fill the pipe with sand. Tamp it down and fill it to the top. Try to minimize the air gap then you weld a cap on the 2nd end. The sand is basically non compressable and can take the heat as you bend the pipe. When done cur off the ends and extra pipe and you are done. Hope this works. N B R
Looks like these guys are in their backyard. Necessity is the mother of invention. Are you doing this for yourself or a customer? If for a customer then I see farming it out.
The car being built in the photos is the Salt Shaker roadster.It is in The Rodders Journal #33.It won the compe***ion cl***,unfinished at the 56 GNRS and best constructed the following year at the GNRS. The frame is on the table with the front crossmember tacked in and waiting for me to come up with that rear crossmember. If I can find no other alternative I'll shape it with heat,I have a few tricks up my sleve, but I would rather do it right if possable.This shi! is why I love building cars.
Try one of the tube bender manufacturers - they can probably give you some tips and maybe even offer to "demonstrate" the ability of their equipment to a "prospective customer" (wink, wink). Let 'em know you've got several other "prospective customers" who may be interested in buying as well who would like to see the results. Seriously, you may get lucky - I bet some of the guys that sell that stuff would be interested to know what their equipment may be used on - schmooze 'em a bit with tales of your epic project and they may just be willing to try to bend that tube for you. Or maybe tell them there's no way their equipment can pull it off - not many guys can back down from a challenge like that. Steve
This large steel company in Omaha might be able to help you: http://www.pvsteel.com/Home.asp They do some very large structural and industrial steel fabrication. I toured the place when I was in college - they have all kinds of equipment. If they can't bend the tube you need, they shouldn't be in business. The only problem I see is getting ahold of the right person there to help ya out..... Malcolm
I always use Puritan Mfg., but you probably already talked to them.You may want to try K&G Mfg. in PlattSmouth and ask for Jerry Welch. # is 402-298-8448 he is a hot rodder and will at least understand what you are talking about. If you need any help heating and bending let me know ,it's been weeks since I tried to litgh myself on fire..
I've been to a couple of "Industrial Roll Fabricatiors" and quite honestly they were under whelming in their techniques and equipment, but had outstanding results. This IS a backyard job IF you want it to be. Otherwise check with your local fabricators , maybe even the fence or playground industry might have something big enough you could cut a section from. That's really not that sharp of a bend - with some tweakin' I'm sure you could do it with it not collapseing on itself.
If you would be happy with 2" schedule 40 pipe (2 3/8" O.D. X .154" wall according to my steel book) that could be done easily with one of those cheapo hydraulic pipe benders you see at places like Harbor Freight. Just do a "feed-along" bend where you start with a slight kink, move the pipe an inch or so and another slight kink. Keep doing this 'til it fits your template. I did this axle that way from 2" DOM.
Wow, that looks good, Johnny. What radius did you have on that bend die? I've always thought that if I tried that approach with the tight radii of my dies (my 2" die has a radius of 4") you would still be able to see the individual bends. But maybe not... Hank
Depending on the mfg, a 2" die could have a radius upwards of 8"-10". I have a Mitler Bros bender and though I do not have a 2" die, their catalog lists the radius of their 2" die as 8". With an 8" radius it wouldn't be too terribly difficult to hop-scotch bend a radius that big. Might take several scotches to make it look as smooth as possible, but it could certainly be done. Baileigh makes a three wheel ring roller that will do exactly what you're wanting to do, but it's a high dollar mother, so you're not going to find a lot of places that have one. You might call Baileigh and make like you want to buy one, then ask for a shop or show room close by that can do a demo for you. Might get your cross member rolled for the small expense of having to endure a sales pitch or three.
I didn't use the Hossfeld. I borrowed one of those pipe benders and did the "feed-along" or "hop-scotch" (thanks, CoolHand ) method that I described in my previous post. Here's one similar to what I used. You can buy these things for under $100. Be aware....they are NOT tubing benders !!
The question remains the same and has not been answered yet.Where can I get 2 1/2 inch x 11guage tube rolled,Yes I can make a buck,yes I can bend it with heat,If you search the board you will see that heating structural tube is looked down upon.Any one here from Tulsa?From my google searches it seems that is where the jobbers are but I was quoted a $250.00 minimum from American Pipe Bending and Bendco said no.Bend Master said they can, and would get back to me.....................................................................If I bend with a rosebud and post it in my build will I be hearing from the boo birds for doing it wrong?
"Johnnyfast" go back and read it again.There are more than one way to skin a cat. 2 1/2 od 11guage has an A rating of 500.good structural steel.I can't get this size rolled locally. 2 inch id,which is 2 3/8 od schedule 40(pipe) has an A rating of 50.Not good as structural steel.There is however another option which is what I originally posted.There exitsts Pipe size tube which is (tube) but comes in pipe demension and has an A rating of 500.Good for structural steel,and I would be able to have this rolled locally.I can't seem to get the material to do it right without driving four hours and buying 100 feet at $8.00 a foot.I could of had it done three weeks ago in schedule 40,no one would of known but me.
I recently used the wooden buck method for some outer rails to replace the stamped rails on my dunebuggy that I'm building (I know...not hamb friendly). It worked great. I used my friends forge to heat a larger area for the bend - it made for pretty quick work and created a large area for "tweaking" it into shape. I would recommend a forge if you have access to one.. my friends is pretty simple and easy to set up. It colapsed a little bit, but I kinda expected that and I was fine with a small bit of distortion the to square tube I used. The sand packing method would have fixed that. For the money you'll save doing it yourself, I would send it out and have it heat tempered if you're concerned with it losing it's strength.
Just did....I'm sorry I missed the "pipe size tube" reference. Now I better understand what you mean. If all that rolled tube is going to be is that crossmember, I wouldn't hesitate to use schedule 40 pipe. It will be easier to work with than tubing and should be plenty strong. Do a "feed-along" bend with that ram pipe bender.
Chicago Metal Rolled Products http://www.cmrp.com/ can do the tube roll. 416ford sent me a PM and the people there we're easy to deal with.Tube with drops,rolled and shipped next Monday.Thanks 416ford,and to every one else thanks,all the info was good.I'm just stubborn about what I'm trying to accomplish.Later........................
After studying your picture for a minute or two - it seems to me that what is shown there is NOT a constant radius. It appears flattened out somewhat towards the ends. IMHO that gives it a certain "pizazz". A perfectly rolled crossmember won't look as good - at least not to me. Your car - your call - good luck with it.
It's closser to 90 degress with straigt legs.It does have that(look).I'm not building a clone,I've thought this thru and like the constant curve. the way it looks with the spring in place compliment each other,The pictured frame ran torsion bars and the crossmember is the first thing you see.
Find a ornamental iron works,they are every where Ive worked in two.They will have an angle roll it a thing that has three rollers 2.500" being a common size,they can roll that piece no problem.for steel go to www.mcmaster.com they have three of every thing.
Try this shop......<TABLE cl***=cbParent id=searchResultsTbl cellSpacing=0 summary="Results from your search"><TBODY cl***="resultBody last ALPHA" id=t9000000002567588-60543-1857-1-1><TR cl***=firstRow id=res1><TD cl***="datarow busName" id=results9000000002567588-60543-1857-1-1 colSpan=2>Hjorth Bros</TD><TD cl***=ypAd rowSpan=2> </TD><TD cl***=ratings rowSpan=2> </TD></TR><TR><TD cl***=contactRow><DL cl***=addrBlock><DD cl***=phone>(801) 489-5646 <DD>1375 W 800 N Mapleton, UT 84664-3222</DD></DL></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> I fabricate custom s/s for a living and any time we ever want tubing(square or round) or angle rolled we drive 2 hours and have Hjorth Bros. roll it. They can roll just about anything we send them. Their business is just rolling metal, they charge by the foot and stock some tube. they roll things to the exact I.D. or O.D. radius that we have asked. give'm a call it can't hurt? there hours are 10 am to 3 pm Mountain time zone.
The Jalopy Journal
