frwinks
XS400 Addict
I used a pipe bender to build a full cage out of HREW tubing on my rockcrawler, so I know a thing or two on using the wrong tool for the job All in all it worked out well, we customized the bender a little not to kink the tubing, but still can't do tight 180's. Since my cage design never called for any all worked out great.
For my seat/fender hoop, I went to Condraulic in Mississauga. Steve is a solid dude with a mandrel bender.
National 4wd in burlington is another option. Not sure if they bend their own tube still, they did when my buddy worked there a few years back...
The trick is to start the bend early on the tube and go in steps (10-20deg, move the tube an inch or two and do another 10-20deg,etc), putting the center of the hoop where you want it. Don't try to do the 90 or 180 in one shot or it'll kink, as I'm sure you've already found out.
There's a method on here using heat and some plywood form type thing to "form" the tube as you're heating it.. run a search.
For my seat/fender hoop, I went to Condraulic in Mississauga. Steve is a solid dude with a mandrel bender.
National 4wd in burlington is another option. Not sure if they bend their own tube still, they did when my buddy worked there a few years back...
The trick is to start the bend early on the tube and go in steps (10-20deg, move the tube an inch or two and do another 10-20deg,etc), putting the center of the hoop where you want it. Don't try to do the 90 or 180 in one shot or it'll kink, as I'm sure you've already found out.
There's a method on here using heat and some plywood form type thing to "form" the tube as you're heating it.. run a search.