Bending 3/16" brakeline

[TwistedCreations]

Is there a basic rule to bending the tubing? I'm using 3/16" brakeline on a current tube rig.I have a basic hand bender that has the degree marks on it, but i needed a smaller diameter of a bend. The bender i have is like a 1" radius..So i decided to try and make a jig last night to give me a tighter radius. the jig looked somewhat like this

l* the l is a straight piece of metal to hold the brakeline against and the * is a piece of 5/16" solid rod. The jig seemed to work pretty good, but it kinked the tubing. Do i need to apply heat to it when make this tight of a radius? Or did i just use to small of a solid rod?

Is there a rule of thumb- like do i need to at least have a piece that is doubled the size of the tubing im using?( cause the 5/16" rod is not double the size :mrgreen: )

 

[jeep4x4]

tubing

Hey
Twisted


Try putting sand inside the brake line it will keep it from kinking
pack the sand in it tight

kids play sand works fine

thats what i use on my race car when i need to make a tight turn in the brake line

hope thats helps

jeep4x4

 

[Ace]

I've bent small tubing by packing it with sand. It was aluminum tube not steel brake line.

Worth a shot.

I have one of these: The groves help support the walls of the tube.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL781&P=7

Maybe something like this would work?

 

[TwistedCreations]

ok, yeah i forgot about the sand trick.. thanks ;-)

I'll try it, i may end up just trying a bigger radius if that dont work :?

 

[roktoy]

You're probably going too tight a radius.

I have one bender with a 1" radius and a Ridgid bender with 1/2" radius.
The 1/2" is pretty close to a real scale radius if you figure about 1.5" on 4.5".

Jay

 

[TwistedCreations]

Thanks Jay..The bender i have is like the top one in your pic. That radius is just too big for the section i'm working on. I went ahead and made up pieces using the bigger bender, but just not happy with it. I will re-make a jig using a bigger radius( at least 1/2", maybe a bit bigger) and see if that helps..if not, i'll try the sand..

As Ace mentioned, the sides may help give it more support also..so maybe i can add sides somehow into the jig :?

Thanks for the replies guys ;-)

 

[Grizzly4x4]

When I was building the rollcage for our Formula SAE car I was told that a good rule of thumb is that the centerline bend radius should be 2 1/2 times the tubing diameter in order to avoid kinking.

For 3/16" tube, use a .469" (~.500") centerline radius

or replace your 5/16" rod with .375" rod.

 

[TwistedCreations]

ahh ok Chris ;-) so basically if i was using 1" tubing, i wouldn't want nothing smaller than a 3.5" radius die :mrgreen:

i was just at the store and picked up a smaller bender..$10 dollars for a cheapo bender, i feel violated :mrgreen: looks like this one only has a 1/2" radius as Jay mentioned.. we shall see

 

[BENDER]

i was just at the store and picked up a smaller bender..$10 dollars for a cheapo bender

Who you calling small and cheap, sucka!! :lol:

 

[TwistedCreations]

Who you calling small and cheap, sucka!! :lol:

Fine! you may not be small, but ya damn sure are cheap :lol: :lol:

 

[Reflection]

Hey Jeremy,I just had a brain fart of an idea. That little thing that ACE posted up,build something simular to accept your 3/16" tube.

If you want a 1/2" radius,get a piece of 1/2" solid round or tube and weld 2 1/2" washers excatly 3/16" apart. Then weld a piece of small angle or channel on top of the 1/2" washers at 90* to the 1/2" solidround or tube to hold the tube stright. Lock it down in the vise and bend away.

I've not tried this but I swear,I believe it would work. The washers would keep the tube from eggin out and you'd get a tiny bend. Heres a picture,not to scale at all,just drew it up in paint real quick but I think you could get the idea.