Bending tube without a bender

[Nissan11]

I want to build a guard around two 6" halogen lights for a three wheeler I have. I am going to need to get something like 3/8" OD round tube and bend it. Is there any way I can make smooth bends at home with just heat and a vice or am I going to have to take this project to a fab shop? I thought about doing pie cuts but am worried it may not look very good.

I want something similar to this except I will be mounting it to forks instead of a chassis.

 

[awheelterd]

You might could do it with a conduit bender

 

[YotaOnRocks]

Make a form out of plywood the shape you want and you should be able to bend/beat it into shape.

 

[Nissan11]

Using heat?

 

[NickMaul]

Find it rent a rebar bender. That should do the trick. Shouldn’t take too long.


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[YotaOnRocks]

Using heat?

Yes but I think if you start with a longer than needed piece you can do it without heat if needed.

 

[kaiser715]

3/8 inch I'd probably just use solid rod instead of tube and wrap it around something by hand. Cut off after bend.

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[Nissan11]

What do you think the difference in weight will be for 3 ft of solid stick compared to tube?

 

[YotaOnRocks]

 

[YotaOnRocks]

Not enough to matter

 

[Nissan11]

Thanks!! I hope I can find some material tomorrow.

 

[LT1JEEP]

Fill the tube with water and freeze it and you can bend it around something without it kinking.

 

[frankenyoter]

Find something solid with approximate diameter of finished circle. Take solid rod wrap by hand with longer than needed ends. Cut and weld. Should be really simple.

 

[cbjeeper]

Fill the tube with water and freeze it and you can bend it around something without it kinking.

Pack it full with wet sand, duck tape both ends. This will make it bend without kinking.

 

[rodney eppes]

Use something with appropriate circumference, like a rim, or forked tree, & bend around that.

 

[Nissan11]

Just to update you guys on how it worked out...awwwwwwwwesome.

 

[jeepinmatt]

And I thought this was gonna be another thread about Fuller...