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Post Info TOPIC: making tight bends


Keene Ontario member

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making tight bends
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Hello: I have been trying to make tight bends in fuel line for my gas tank breather line.  So far I purchased two different pipe benders but they don't make tight bends.  Long story short - I found a way.  Perhaps a lot of old hands here know of better ways but this works too.  I took a short length of metal fuel line that I had already crimped in previous attempts and tried this on one end:  I filled the short length with BBs.  Then I taped over one end to stop the BBs rolling out.  They wouldn't roll out the other end because of the crimp I had previously made in the tube.  Then I took two wrenches (box end ?) with the open end and closed end and put the closed ends over the tubing opposite each other and used the wrenches as levers with the tubing as the fulcrum.  I bent the tube just a bit and then moved the wrenches slightly along the tubing a few times, repeating the procedure each time until I had a 90 degree bend.  In case any of the BBs became lodged in the tubing, I then laid it on its side on an anvil and gave the tubing a few taps to round out any possible kinking.  Then I removed the tape.  If the BBs rolled out when I removed the tape, I knew I had achieved success and lo and behold, it worked.  No kinking and the bend is tight enough so I think I can weld this to my filler cap as a breather.  I hope this helps anyone attempting to make tight bends in small metal tubing.

 

  IMG_6434.JPGIMG_6435.JPG



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Etobicoke On Rod-side Member

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Looks better that the other end.

Pack it with fine sand and give that a try.

 

Or a pair of pliers designed to bend tight radius

 

p49074.jpg



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58 Chevrolet Delray



Keene Ontario member

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Thank you 58 Chevy. I'll buy the pliers after I finish paying for my new welder. I thought of using sand but wasn't sure but if the principle is the same I guess it would work just as well. Thanks again.

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Hydraulic Service Dundas On

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that looks like 3/8 tube so the tightest  radius is going to be 15/16  Ridgid makes  a 406 bender with a solid sliding block for about 100 bucks and if your picky a 606 with a rolling block for about double that. Just for reference there are other  makes but the price is going to be close to the same



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Keene Ontario member

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Thank you slim. I find that lately I am spending more on tools than parts. I guess it is just part of the territory if I'm going to do the job right.


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Campbellford On Rod-side Member Licence Plate restoration Chris Stapley Kustoms For U

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Dry sand packed tightly is your best bet Jim, you can make a simple buck out of MDF to create the shape to bend against too...

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