Metal Tube Bender

[nelsonic]

An up-coming project will require bending steel tubing ... 🤘
So I'm considering getting a Hydraulic Tube Bender:
https://eur.vevor.com/pipe-tube-bender-c_10843/manual-hydraulic-pipe-bender-tube-bender-dies-1-4-1-diameter-6-dies-10-ton-p_010625861056

Yes, this might feel like an "expensive" tool for a single project. 🙄
But the effect of bending the tube will be awesome on the project which is not small.
and paying a "serralheiro" (metal shop) to do it will be more than the cost of the tool.
There are many uses for it in future projects.

The "Hydraulic" means that the machine does most of the work for us.
I've used a non-hydraulic one before in DT in high school and it was effort!
So having one for other metalwork projects will be cool.

[nelsonic]

Made the executive decision to just spend the money.

The project is going to be fun and the end result will be sick!

[nelsonic]

Bender Arrived. 👌
Non-existent assembly instructions … 🤷‍♂️

good thing I’m a MasterBuilder and don’t need instructions. 😜

not going to get I distracts by this now …
But really want to try bending something…

[nelsonic]

Tried bending a couple of diameters of tube, results are terrible:

So I’ve submitted a support request to Vevor.
Either they give better instructions for how to use this tool or I’m sending it back. 💭

[nelsonic]

Going to try and follow this example and see if I can bend a pipe without any kinks: https://youtu.be/VH3pe228iYU

[nelsonic]

That method kinda worked:

but still has creases in the inside of the tube …

[nelsonic]

Next going to try filling the pipe/tube with sand… https://youtu.be/93MLpJrZWcA 🏝️💡

[nelsonic]

Gonna head to Leroy tomorrow morning to collect some Silica (fine) sand: https://www.leroymerlin.pt/produtos/pedra-decorativa-areia-silica-relva-0-2-07mm-20kg-14601734.html

[nelsonic]

This morning I made the trip to Leroy to buy the fine silica sand:

loaded up a 25mm tube with sand, topping off each end with duck tape.

Bent it in the bender according to my template:

Sadly there are still visible links on the inside of the tube:

I don’t know if it’s the duct tape allowing the sand not be as compressed or if I didn’t pack it in well enough… I tamped and shook it for a good minute to get it compacted …

In one of the videos I watch yesterday on adding sand to the pipe/tube they welded the ends shut; wonder if that would help. 💭

[nelsonic]

Im considering buying the CerroBend #154
Though it may take a few weeks to arrive which would “pause” progress on the tube bending project. ⏳

[nelsonic]

Faster+clearer video covering the sand technique: https://youtu.be/m43CsF1NULY

[nelsonic]

https://d330lzac5go30h.cloudfront.net/bmp-crm/video_1709098761_1709199910139.mp4

[nelsonic]

Vevor customer support is slooooow: https://m-eur.vevor.com/ticket/detail?ticketId=kpxnnmFrYmaXZ2ltmA%3D%3D&utm_source=email&utm_medium=emailnotice&utm_campaign=en_EU_tripartiteCustomerSolveAlert_2024-03-04_00-36-02