bending tube?

what is everyone using to bend tubing? metal and styrene?

i want to build an exhaust for a truck that im working on and i just cant figure out how to do it without melting the styrene. or maybe there in a mini tubing bender that i can purchase to bend aluminum tube then paint it?

what is everyone using to bend tubing? metal and styrene?

i want to build an exhaust for a truck that im working on and i just cant figure out how to do it without melting the styrene. or maybe there in a mini tubing bender that i can purchase to bend aluminum tube then paint it? Styrene bends easily with mild warming with your hands or by holding close to light bulb.

Alu and brass tube requires more brute force (but not much)

When bending tube (plastic or metal) insert some thinner wire or solder INSIDE the tube first. This will help prevent the tube wrinkling during bending process.

If you feel like it, you can browse though my 2CV thread (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=437156), I think there is some bending stuff in there somewhere

HTH

There is a tube bender kit (stock No. 321) from K&S, I have it but never used it so I can't tell you if it works or not in practice but from theory it is suposed to work.

http://www.ksmetals.com/Accessories/default.asp?Title=Accessories#tubetools

the styrene that I use usually doesn't require heat. I completely rebuilt the "greenhouse" area of a stock car roll cage form styrene that was unheated

most people use a high nickel content non rosin core solder for exhaust. it is already shiny, and has extrusion markings that resemble the markings on exhaust tubing. once you have it all bent up, just cap it off with a nice piece of aluminum tubing all polished up to look like chrome. solder is very soft, and can bend without kinking. tubing is a pita, unless you are building cages, or trailers or something that requires alot of cutting and soldering/gluing.

is water good to use when bending strene? does it need to be boiling?

A tip in a magazine some years ago said to fill aluminum tube salt, blocking the ends with superglue. Heat the tubing over a candle so make it easier to bend, and the salt keeps it from kinking and acts as a heat sink too. Then just trim off the ends and drain the salt. I haven't tried it, just something to consider.

You may use soldier wire or thick cupper wires instead.