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Old 05-01-2012, 05:38 PM   #1
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Default A tube bender on the cheap

My next scale build will involve some tube work so I had a spark of creativity to make a cheap and simple tube bender.

My time is very limited with runnning the shop and working on other rigs so I needed this project to be quick and easy. While been harrassed at the local ace hardware I found a few odds and ends for this little project.

Saw this guy and though "perfect" No need to drill or tap.


Found these bolts with the washer "built in" to the head. I would kinda call them Modified truss bolts, but they had another name on the bin they came out of which I can't remember. Got 2 bolts at 1" and 2 at 1 1/2"


Grabbed some flat washers, split washers and nuts and got to work.


Start with a flat washer and 1 nut. followed by a lock washer and another nut.


Use a piece of rod or tube to spin up the flat washer and nut to the proper height.


Bolt up the assembly to the drain plate with the lock washer and other nut and babing!, Position the bolts where ever on the plate depending on how tight of bend you want.


You can use the nuts on the bottom to clamp the plate into a vise and you're good to go



The washer should keep tube from kinking and you can adjust the height for larger stock with just an open end box wrench.

Does a pretty tight bend as far as I can see


Total cost of materials was about $10 time to slap it together about 5 mins. not too bad for a first attempt at a tube bender
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Old 05-01-2012, 05:44 PM   #2
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

Nice!
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Old 05-01-2012, 06:11 PM   #3
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

Very nice. I love wandering the hardware store and brain storming

Last edited by Cordwood; 05-01-2012 at 06:39 PM.
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Old 05-01-2012, 06:20 PM   #4
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

Very cool idea!
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Old 05-01-2012, 06:28 PM   #5
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

sweet idea man!
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Old 05-01-2012, 06:36 PM   #6
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Wow cool idea big times.
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Old 05-01-2012, 07:18 PM   #7
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

Well I'm off to the depot in the mornin. Thanks man awesome setup!
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Old 05-01-2012, 07:26 PM   #8
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

If you eliminate the flat washer and nut on top side of your drain plate and lower your shoulder bolts to the thickness of your tubing.

Then double nut your shoulder bolt in place from the underside at the thickness of the tubing being worked with.

This would allow you to rest your tubing flat on your drain plate surface and catch it under the shoulder bolt lip allowing a flat work surface instead of being up in the air.

Your double nut bolt would be loose in the drain plate until you lifted bolt and slid your tube under lip on bolt.

Either way.... Nice score and great thinking

Makes the $75 bender I just bought in the classifieds hurt that much more...

Last edited by THX_138; 05-01-2012 at 07:34 PM.
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Old 05-01-2012, 08:47 PM   #9
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

kool idea .........bob

....
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Old 05-01-2012, 09:04 PM   #10
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

Excellent idea!!! Sorry to miss you guys tonight, but that "running the business" thing gets in the way sometimes
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Old 05-01-2012, 10:54 PM   #11
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cordwood View Post
Very nice. I love wandering the hardware store and brain storming
Lucky butthead. I go to the hardware store and forget what I want to get there. Very cool idea, I need to try this.
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Old 05-01-2012, 11:54 PM   #12
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

Very creative, I just made mine from some scrap metal and followed the plans in the pucture below
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Old 05-02-2012, 05:05 AM   #13
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

For you OP, that's some high level injunuity. Great work!


Last edited by CAIRN; 05-02-2012 at 10:51 AM.
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Old 05-02-2012, 11:33 AM   #14
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

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Originally Posted by CAIRN View Post
For you OP, that's some high level injunuity. Great work!

LOL thats awesome! I have to go with a different logo though, this is some Da kine Hawaiian akamai tinkin' (my local brothas will get it )

Thanks for all the positive comments guys, much appreciated hopefully this helps the guys on a tight budget get some work done

@THX_138 Good idea, I did try the double nut on the underside but the bolts just move around. The holes in the plate are "conical" cut so it leaves room for slop if you will, hence the nut on the top and bottom
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Old 05-03-2012, 09:24 AM   #15
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

Ikaika...take your bolts out...get the right sized tap and put threads in all of the holes or a select few...then thread new bolts right into the drain plate and nut them on the bottom....just a thought.

Quick and easy piece of kona engineering brah!
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Old 05-03-2012, 10:45 AM   #16
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Heading to the depot to check this out. Awesome idea!
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Old 05-07-2012, 09:18 PM   #17
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

You, sir, are a genius.
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Old 05-07-2012, 10:49 PM   #18
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

Thanks for posting this.

Closer to my skill level, and budget! I will need it very soon...


.

Last edited by Pointman; 05-07-2012 at 10:51 PM.
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Old 05-16-2012, 10:20 PM   #19
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Has anyone tried just tapping then threading the bolts. I meant to get this done last week and I didn't get to it yet.
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Old 05-16-2012, 10:42 PM   #20
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Default Re: A tube bender on the cheap

Thanks for all the kind words guys, I work with what I got ya know

@gottwins? My experience with cast iron is that it likes to shatter or crack if its ever drilled but you can give it a shot, just be careful and wear eye protection like this guy right here >>>
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