Bending styrene piping

[PierreParticipant @pierre]

Hi

Anyone have any tips for bending thin styrene tubing without distorting the bend?

I’ve tried filling the pipes with salt but this didn’t seem to work very sucessfully.

TIA

Pierre

[PierreParticipant @pierre]

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

depends on the inside diameter, but if it’s not to big..say 3mm or less……i tend to aneel some brass wire on the gas cooker, wait for it to go cold and then slide into the tube, and then bend it………..it doesn’t crease or shatter…. thats even when bent through 180.( that’s only when I don’t need the tube to allow anything to pass through, such as goose neck vents etc.

 

I havent as yet tried it with a diameter of more than that on the inside.

neil

 

http://www.justgiving.com/lochnessscalesail

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 02/02/2011 18:11:40

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

It might be worth warmingt the pipe in boiling water as you bend it although you would still probably need a wire insert as Neil suggests.

 

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Try thick cord?

 

Bob

[PierreParticipant @pierre]

Thanks Neil, Colin and Bob

I like the idea of using annealed brass wire and hot water. Will try as soon as possible. Not sure how one would push string through a small bore styrene pipe though!

Trying to make goosenecks for my SDM tug which is finally close to reaching completion.

Pierre

[TelstarParticipant @telstar]

Hi Pierre

This extract is from Squires Tool catalogue don’t know if these sizes would be helpful

 

MINIATURE TUBE BENDING SPRINGS a set of 5 springs which can be used for brass, copper and aluminium tubing from 1/16″-3/16″ outside diameter. When the spring is placed around the outside of the tube it will support the tube and create a neat kinkless bend. Spring sizes:- 1/16″, 3/32″,1/8″, 5/32″ and 3/16″.

 

CODE TYPE PRICE

MTBS15 Mini Tube Bending Springs Set of 5………………… £4.99

 

Cheers Tom

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

they don’t work on styrene though!,

 

and sadly don’t work too well on brass and alli either……..had some for years, and seldom use them as they tend to crimp the metal!!

 

and by wanting to bend the styrene ( or metal for that matter) in a form of 180 degrees the external spring benders would be absolutely USELESS as ( as stated in the instructions suppled with them, they will only bend to 90 degrees or just over, or the springs will not release from the tubing!

 

 

sorry to contradict you telstar, and for fear of yet another tonguelashing from you….I again speak from my own experience and passing that knowledge on for the help of others!!!.

 

 

http://www.justgiving.com/lochnessscalesail

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 03/02/2011 09:55:08

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Still think thick cord (washing line?) will do the trick……..and it can be pulled out easily

 

If you coat the end with superglue….it can be tapered for easy insertion too

 

Bob

[Peter FitnessParticipant @peterfitness34857]

I managed to bend some 12mm styrene tube for the RIBs on my patrol boat doing as Colin Bishop suggested. I used boiling water to soften the styrene, and carefully bent the tube by hand until the right angle was achieved. A lot would depend on how acute an angle was needed. As can be seen from the photo, I didn’t have to bend the styrene very sharply.

 

Peter.

 

 

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Perhaps, on the hot water front, a former could be filed up in wood, to the radius required, but with a semi-circular channel in it, like the curved formers on a full-size tube bender…this may assist in keeping the tube from creasing ??

 

Ashley

[TelstarParticipant @telstar]

Hi Neil I have NO experiance with this type of tube bender, just passed on the ad.

I use internal springs on larger sizes of plastic (PVC) tube, on electrical installations, they can be difficult to get out after bending but are conveniant to carry onto site.

I think Ashley may be on to a winner suggesting a custom made former to bend the tube round, depends on what ‘workshop’ facilities Pierre has.

 

A friend of mine has a ‘curved former’ pipe bender for small steel Hydraulic pipe (about 3/16″ od like car brake pipe) it has a bending radius about 3/4″ Perhaps something like that is a possability?

 

Hope this helps Tom

 

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