SS radius......Anyone able to help?

Razorbill RIBs · 05 September 2009, 17:36

To all the fabricators /practical bods out there......

As posted up a little while ago, we are currently in the process of making some seating up for the RIB.

Essentially we are making up two very basic double Jockey seats which can have the seats squabs removed to leave two basic frames which we will use as bottle racks. They are a very simple design with upright backs and will look pretty utilitarian, but thats all in keeping with the rest of the boat........

However, due to poor planning on my part we are really struggling to get the two backrest sections made up.

The tube is 316 grade SS 1 Inch and 1/4 tube (polished finish) with a 1.5mm wall (sorry about mixing mm and inches.....apparently that's how it's sold!)

I need two backrest sections bending which give a total height (from base of tube to middle of radius) of 600mm with an external width of 250mm........will do a sketch if anyone can help (and will email it) as I'm sure the above is confusing!?*!?

I am being told by local firms that they are either unable to do it or that they but want £200 to set up the bend!!

I have also been offered a 'solution' whereby they weld in two 90 degree angles (not right aesthetically)........this including material is coming out at £160 plus VAT /Delivery!!

Not sure if I am being unrealistic but can't justify spending this sort of money on these relatively minor parts of the overall design. To complicate matters, we have begun making up the rest of the seat and as such are now committed to achieving the above dimensions.............

CAN ANYONE HELP? I would be grateful for any leads etc.....will be happy to email a sketch which explains whats required!

Thanks

Dan

hatt11 · 05 September 2009, 17:41

Hi Dan,

I to am in the same situation where as I have the SS but have struggled to get it bent without spending a small fortune, a friend suggested hiring a hydraulic pipe bender which is only about £25 but am unsure whether this would do a nice enough job! Any one have any experience of such benders!!

chewy · 05 September 2009, 17:45

Thats all the fab shop would use. If the righ size clamps/tools are used then the bend should come out fine without any flat spots on it.
Can't a local custon exhaust place bend it for you?

Nasher · 05 September 2009, 18:04

Those bends sound possible if I've understood correctly.

I'd suggest it's the places you've tried that are wrong.

As a comparison for the welded version, I recently priced up an A frame in 2inch SS tubing with 4 x pre-formed 45deg bends for somebody on here. The materials came in at @£140, but @£70 of that was 4M of 2inch SS tube. I allowed 2hrs to weld it together, and there was a lot more work in that than what you need.

Nasher

Downhilldai · 06 September 2009, 19:21

PM sent

martini · 06 September 2009, 23:28

Making a 180 degree bend requires a much more expensive machine, most cheaper ones only go as far as 90 degrees.

The hydraulic benders that you can hire out for £25 are probably the type as in the picture, these dont produce a bend good enough for this kind of application IMO

codprawn · 07 September 2009, 00:00

I agree they are only suitable for scaffolding pipe etc.

This is the sort of bender you need - will treat myself soon.

http://www.jd2.com/shop/custom.aspx?recid=1

http://www.jd2.com/Vids/Mod3Movie.wmv

Not as cheap as it looks once you have bought the dies.

martini · 07 September 2009, 00:23

What does that bend up to Codders? Seen that type on these chopper building programmes on tv bending circa 1", not sure if they do much more than that being non-hydraulic.

I bought this one last year:

http://www.mittlerbros.com/tube_bender_90_hydraulic.htm

The bends are really excellent quality and it (just!) managed to do my A frame which is 2"x3mm 316.

codprawn · 07 September 2009, 13:06

They say it will go up to 2" but that's prob mild steel - then again with a long enough handle you can bend anything!!!

They also do hydraulic ones.

iandl · 07 September 2009, 13:22

I spoke with Tubela who are the UK importers for the JD2 machine but they recommended the T7 .....never tried the jd2 one but now have the tubela t7 which bends stainless a treat

http://www.tubela.com/index.htm

they also do the ratchet bender which i beleive is better on stainless than the jd machine

your welcome to come and use the bender anytime if your nearby .....

regards

Ian

Razorbill RIBs · 07 September 2009, 14:50

Many thanks to all for your responses...........I have spoken with Farrari Stainless but they couldn't help with the radius solution (do want a full 180 if poss) and have also tried some exhaust companies but to no avail.

However, Brad has given a me a promising lead which I will follow up (local to me).

Thanks to iandl for the kind offer, but I'm Pembs.....

Thanks all once again, will keep you posted.

Dan