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10-18-2011, 06:27 PM
| #1 |
| Pebble Pounder Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Indian Land/ Fort Mill
Posts: 149
|  Home made metal bumpers
Hey, wante dto get some input on what material to use to make tube style bumpers for my rig. What gauge rod would work best as far as easy to use, brase, etc. Also, what tools would I need? Rodbender, torch, cutter? Looking to get some advice from those of you who have actually made your own. Thanks!
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10-18-2011, 06:49 PM
| #2 |
| RCC Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Outdoors
Posts: 1,137
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Hey Interceptor- *size of rod depends on what look you are going for, I mostly use 1/4" and 3"16 solid rod for bumpers. I have a homemade rod bender but usually clamp it in the vise and whack it w/ a hammer to bend it  Sounds crude but works great! Brakeline is easier to cut, braze and bend but takes some finesse to not crimp it. I always bend brakeline in a bender. I usually stick w/ the solid rod for bumpers since they take so much abuse and wieght that low is a good thing.*Tools-I use a Benzomatic torch and Harris Safetysilv 45/55 solder and flux. I usually just cut it w/ a hacksaw (clamped in a bench vise) and use files to fine tune it. Sandpaper to clean up the joints prior to brazing is critical as well. The tricky part for me has been keeping eveything in place to braze it. Still "fine tuning" that one! Hope this helps, have fun  ...If I forgot anything I will edit the reply
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10-18-2011, 07:49 PM
| #3 |
| RCC Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Salmon Arm BC
Posts: 1,777
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i use 1/4" solid rod and a MIG welder to make bumpers and stuff. i made a rod bender and thats it.. i made this bumper with just some rod, a hammer and a bench vise.. might attempt to build a nicer one next year but for right it seems to work... just gotta get it mounted up.  |
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10-18-2011, 08:07 PM
| #4 |
| Newbie Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: suffok county
Posts: 14
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for those guys that are brazing the rod. what is the tube material made out of ? solid brass rod ?? stratton? |
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10-18-2011, 08:26 PM
| #5 | |
| RCC Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Outdoors
Posts: 1,137
| Quote:
Both the tubing (automotive brakeline ) and the solid rod are STEEL Last edited by Mr.Joshua; 10-18-2011 at 08:29 PM. | |
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10-19-2011, 02:54 PM
| #6 |
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wayne county. PA
Posts: 2,507
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check out my tubed bumper i made for my clod build towards the end of thread....i use 3/8" auto brake line and chamfered the ends and brazed 3/8" steel ball bearings in the end to round them out....then brazed tabs to mount to the frame .........bobmy TT build thread........ .... |
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10-19-2011, 04:55 PM
| #7 |
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose
Posts: 5,207
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In most scale rigs 3/16" diameter is almost perfect for 1.5" tub in my opinion. You can use solid rod but I prefer Cromoly or DOM tubing and MIG or TIG welder. The MIG welder works very well when dialed in due to it's fast work. Just hold and tack. The Cromoly tubing is really strong stuff and welds nicely. I've also used 1/4" x .035 DOM tubing until the price sky rocketed, though it's come down in price since then. Watch this video for an idea of how strong this material and a MIG weld can be. click here |
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