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My son is going to build an "At-om" type vehicle and we don't see the point in buying a decent large radius bender (and probably screwing up a bunch of tubing learning to use it) for a job that will be done once. He is located in Pelham, NH and I am in Duxbury, MA.
Anyone willing to help or point to a shop that has this equipment?
Thanks,
Paul

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Parts left out cost nothing and cause no problems!!

C'mon kids...I know someone here can help with this.
Thanks,
Paul

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Parts left out cost nothing and cause no problems!!

JPS are you referring to the pipe rolling or bending ?

Bob

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Build Log viewtopic.php?f=35&t=16640&p=187700#p187700

Mancave http://s1116.photobucket.com/user/mypic ... ow/mancave

Awww Paul... You don't need any fancy bending thingies....


K "helpful" S

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Check out Firearm Finishes & Coating for options to ceramic coat your Locost parts. Hundreds of stock or custom colors including Chrome and Clear Coating options now available! High Temp options for hot bits!! Plastics too!!

Never become a pessimist. A pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events.-Robert A. Heinlein

I guess it would be considered rolling. The goal it to end up with a very large radius arc.
Thanks,
Paul

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Parts left out cost nothing and cause no problems!!

ummmm...not so helpful really, are we!
funny though.
Paul

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Parts left out cost nothing and cause no problems!!

This bender should work. Price is right at 20% off with coupon. Pay off tool in use for one car.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=tubing+roller

Use is more forgiving than a die bender. Bends progressively. Compare to an arc drawn on the floor/build table. Compare second tube to first tube.

Famous last words!

Having said that, they do work. I have one to prove it. The only issue I had with it is that it likes to impart twisting into the material rather than just a straight bend. I believe that it does this because its dies are designed for PIPE OD. Tube OD is significantly smaller .



So that lets it roll around in the die. It also tends to crush it rather than roll it. Only cure I can conceive for this is to find/make dies that fit tube OD. IIRC I used the 3/4" dies for my 1" tube. Eventually gave up and came to work on the weekend and used the bender here.

I don't think this'll work for your needs guys!

K "sell you one cheap" S

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Check out Firearm Finishes & Coating for options to ceramic coat your Locost parts. Hundreds of stock or custom colors including Chrome and Clear Coating options now available! High Temp options for hot bits!! Plastics too!!

Never become a pessimist. A pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events.-Robert A. Heinlein

Are you referring to the HF Pipe Bender or HF Tubing Roller die dimensions? My HF Roller has dies sized for tubing dimensions.

I bought the HF roller after I bent 2"dia DOM tubes on my homemade roller. I did experience spiraling. I think it was likely caused by die spindle misalignment (non parallel) or, less likely, unwinding of the DOM tube since they were rotated when pulled through mandrels/sizing dies.

Either way, I used a work around. I welded an extension on the end of the tube and installed a "T" handle so a second person can keep the tube from spiraling.

Jon,
since you have mad skills in this area, would you be willing to help us roll bend up a few tubes? You live close to a bunch of my relatives, so we could kill many birds with one stone.
Also, I would not mind seeing some of your toys in person.
Paul

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Parts left out cost nothing and cause no problems!!

Paul,

Not sure how "mad" my skills are. I'm more controlled by the desire to complete a project that the pursuit of perfection.

If you can't find a closer option, I'd consider helping you after the weather breaks. I'm currently not working in the garage but in the more comfortable basement woodshop building guitars. I've slowed down after retirement. (I have more time and get less done. Life is good.)

Jon "luthier wannabe"

PM me if you want to pursue

I'm in northeast PA and have the same HF roller. My zip is 18643 to see just how far away you might be.

Let me know,

Dan

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Dan Lipperini Jr
www.RaceLabz.com