Bending tube jigs for frame building

[spinningmagnets]

This first video is cued up at the 3:33 mark, showing how easy it is to bend square steel tubing...

Later, I will add more to show how to bend standard round tube without a hugely expensive frame tube-bender.

https://youtu.be/qM8z8_jVJzs?t=213

[youtube]qM8z8_jVJzs[/youtube]

 

[Dauntless]

Nothing wrong with free, as long as it really does work. But Harbor Freight has some cheap tube benders that I've used before.

https://www.toolots.com/bench-model-compact-metal-bender-with-7-dies-sturdy-and-versatile.html

 

[markz]

Hit up the pawn shops for some deep discount savings!

Nothing wrong with free, as long as it really does work. But Harbor Freight has some cheap tube benders that I've used before.

https://www.toolots.com/bench-model-compact-metal-bender-with-7-dies-sturdy-and-versatile.html

 

[Chalo]

This first video is cued up at the 3:33 mark, showing how easy it is to bend square steel tubing...

I've used the same method to make consistent large radius bends in round steel EMT tubing. It took a little trial and error to get the desired radius, because the bent tube always springs back to a larger size than the form.

That said, I would avoid bends in frames whose stiffness, strength, and weight are important. Both struts and tendons in a truss or space frame work best when they're straight.