Help bending styrene rod.

[Cortina79]

I'm trying to bend 1/8th styrene rod around this edge of my jeep body and it keeps snapping when I try to glue it using plumbers pvc priming fluid(mek), would I be better off using quick set CA or is there a way to bend the rod with heat maybe?

[rerebuilder]

Yes use a heat gun but don't heat it to much or it will melt.

[Sneetches]

I'm pretty surprised you've built that much with styrene yet haven't realized that you can heat it to bend it yet. Yes, take a hairdryer/heat gun on a moderate setting and apply to section you want to bend. Like rere said don't get too hot or else it'll deform too much.

[SPLATT]

With the hollow styrene rods I would take a piece of wire rod that fit snugly inside it an slowly bend to shape. It worked great for building roll cages it 1/24 1/25 scale model cars.

[ElChupacabra]

^^^^ This guy knows whats up.

[Mike Flea]

Light a candle, hold your 1/8 rod an inch or so above the flame ( high enough it don't catch fire), and when it starts becoming limp, make your bend, or bend it around where you want it to go, hold it until it cools, and you're done.

[Cortina79]

Originally Posted by Sneetches

I'm pretty surprised you've built that much with styrene yet haven't realized that you can heat it to bend it yet. Yes, take a hairdryer/heat gun on a moderate setting and apply to section you want to bend. Like rere said don't get too hot or else it'll deform too much.

I generally just stick to the flat stuff modifying existing hard bodies, this is where I'm at with my 2Dr Jk.

[PileDriver]

Looking sweet.

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by Sneetches

I'm pretty surprised you've built that much with styrene yet haven't realized that you can heat it to bend it yet. Yes, take a hairdryer/heat gun on a moderate setting and apply to section you want to bend. Like rere said don't get too hot or else it'll deform too much.

Originally Posted by Mike Flea

Light a candle, hold your 1/8 rod an inch or so above the flame ( high enough it don't catch fire), and when it starts becoming limp, make your bend, or bend it around where you want it to go, hold it until it cools, and you're done.

Either of the above two works for me, just don't get it too hot.

Originally Posted by SPLATT

With the hollow styrene rods I would take a piece of wire rod that fit snugly inside it an slowly bend to shape. It worked great for building roll cages it 1/24 1/25 scale model cars.

And then how do you get the wire out?

Originally Posted by PileDriver

Looking sweet.

X2

[SPLATT]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Either of the above two works for me, just don't get it too hot.



And then how do you get the wire out?



X2

You don't

[Cortina79]

Thanks guys, gonna try the heat gun method.

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by SPLATT

You don't

OK, thanks. Seemed a little self defeating to leave the metal rod inside the plastic tubing since it adds weight that is not necessarily down low. I'd just do the heat gun or a candle without the metal inside the styrene tube.

[DavidH]

Originally Posted by Cortina79

Thanks guys, gonna try the heat gun method.

I know with larger plastic pipe you can pack it with sand so that it keeps its shape when heated (and then the sand is easy to get out).

I dunno if that would scale down to 1/8" - you might need some very fine sand.

[mikemcE]

I've built many styrene roll cages and found heat is more trouble than help . I use warm water and let my rods sit.with 1/8 dia solid I just bend on a flat surface.


Hang up and Drive

[Hoosierdady]

I've heard of guys using water in them, freezing it and then using heat to bend. Ive never tried that one, but I do know that you can cap both ends of the tube before heating and bending. It'll help keep air in the tube and help in keeping it from collapsing completely when you bend it.

[stevem50]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Either of the above two works for me, just don't get it too hot.







And then how do you get the wire out?







X2

I would recommend using guitar strings, they come in many thicknesses and can be pulled free easily. This is how I "mandrel " bend my brake line for chassis/rollcage projects. I don't see it being any different using plastic tubes/rods


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[rustneversleeps]

I'm no sytrene expert but maybe 3 or 4 relief cut where you tend to bend and the apply some glazing spot putty..

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by DavidH

I know with larger plastic pipe you can pack it with sand so that it keeps its shape when heated (and then the sand is easy to get out).

I dunno if that would scale down to 1/8" - you might need some very fine sand.

Originally Posted by mikemcE

I've built many styrene roll cages and found heat is more trouble than help . I use warm water and let my rods sit.with 1/8 dia solid I just bend on a flat surface.

Hang up and Drive

Hot water should be much more controllable and don't have to worry about making it brittle when it kinda starts to accidentally melt the outer surface.

Originally Posted by stevem50

I would recommend using guitar strings, they come in many thicknesses and can be pulled free easily. This is how I "mandrel " bend my brake line for chassis/rollcage projects. I don't see it being any different using plastic tubes/rods

Interesting, thanks.

[Hobbezco]

The guitar string/piano wire trick is an oldie but is, IMO, the best way to bend plastic tube. Slide it in, heat VERY gently, bend, and pull it right out once its cool.

Another great tool is outside spring benders. I have a set of these and have used them in the same way. Gentle heat and bend. https://www.amazon.com/Small-Parts-5...=bender+spring