Bending blue band (unsuccessfully)?

[seabo]

Currently trying to build back hoop for cage using 48.3mmOD blue band (3.5mm wall) using a hydraulic pipe bender

Closest die is 50mm  but causes too much deformation

Have tried lining with thin plate  - less deformaion but get small amount of rippling on inner radius.

Have tried grinding out a smaller die - worst bend yet!

Cannnot seem to source a die in the right size - closest being 50mm or 2"

Any suggestions?

[Range Rover Blues]

Yes, anneal the pipe.  Heat it 'till it's red hot, then allow it to cool.  Of course it won't be hardended anymore like CDS.

[Guardian.]

YOU HAVE TO GET THE CORRECT DIE, THEREARE PIPE DIES AND TUBE DIES, BOTH LOOK SIMILAR BUT ARE DIFFERENT, WIDTH OF COURSE AND DEPTH.
3MM IS A BIT ON THE THIN SIDE IF YOU ARENOT USING A MANDRELL, I WOULD SUGEST MINIMUM 4MM (YES IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE), BUT MAIN THING IS GET THE CORRECTSHOES FOR YOUR TUBE BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE OR YOU WILL JUST KEEP WASTING TUBE!

[beast5680]

you can fill the tube with sand as well it helps stop the deformation, i havent used this method myself but a friend of mine has and it seemed to work from looking at the results, as said though the correct dies etc would be better

[ragerover]

IF YOU GOING TO USE SAND MAKE SURE ITS DRY AS A FREIND MADE AN EXHAUST USING THAT METHOD AND WHEN HE HEATED IT UP IT EXPLODED  IM SURE SOME ONE ON HERE WILL KNOW WHY

[Guardian.]

THERES A LOT OF MOISTURE IN WET SAND,and when heated needs to go somewhere, AND IT ISNT THE WAY TO GO, YOU need the correct gear for the job.

[Muddy]

what type of bender are you using? you will get nowhere with a [!Expletive Deleted!] bender, if its from machine mart you may aswell take it back.

Buy a proper second hand one off ebay for about 2-300, tubela, staffa and sealey are all around at that money.

I have a tubela and a box of approximatly 25 formers and have yet to ripple any pipe i bend.

[Guardian.]

I KEEP  telling them!   will they listen.   

[solihull-mick]

Take it from me who has tryed to do this, dont bother, for the cost of a hoop no worth the hastle

[jamiezx10]

Take it from me who has tryed to do this, dont bother, for the cost of a hoop no worth the hastle

I'll second that Mick, I remember the late nights with that ridiculous load of CDS which tried our normally adequate patience to the MAX!!
.......closely followed by a trip to Wales to see Malcolm at Whitbread Offroad who I can totally recommend.

[landrover598]

I've just done dozens of bends in Blue band tubeing using a cheaper version of the clarke bender, and they all came out great.  Make sure the tube is good quality Corus BS pipe, no cheap chinese.