Brake & fuel lines bending
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
From: Belgium
Brake & fuel lines bending Hi,
I'm practicing my tube bending skills.
With 3/8 and 5/16 lines and my 10$ chinese bender, here are the poor results:
Some bends are not cracked, but all of them are pinched and probably reduce the flow a lot. I wonder if I can achieve better results with this bender?
I tried oil on surface of tube to ease the bending process. Maybe heating the tube a bit? Any tricks?
I'm practicing my tube bending skills.
With 3/8 and 5/16 lines and my 10$ chinese bender, here are the poor results:
Some bends are not cracked, but all of them are pinched and probably reduce the flow a lot. I wonder if I can achieve better results with this bender?
I tried oil on surface of tube to ease the bending process. Maybe heating the tube a bit? Any tricks?
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 728
Likes: 3
Are you using a bender that has a channel for 3/8" tubing?
Also, it looks like your tubing is sliding in the bender. Grab a pair of vice grips and clamp the end of the tubing into the bender so that it doesn't slide around the bend. If it slides, it will crimp from excess length in the bend.
Also, it looks like your tubing is sliding in the bender. Grab a pair of vice grips and clamp the end of the tubing into the bender so that it doesn't slide around the bend. If it slides, it will crimp from excess length in the bend.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 89
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
You're doing something wrong. I bought a 5 dollar tool and bent my first brake lines ever and they turned out fantastic. The inside of the bend must be supported with the proper die to keep the bend from kinking.
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
From: Belgium
If you can't make a good bend without sand, get a good bender or let someone else do it.
I'm not bashing......I'm trying to save ya'll a bunch of future head and wallet aches.
slow fluid motion like mentioned before, plus you gotta make sure the tubing is more secure, i can see it slipping in the die when your making the bend. It seems like you might be bending too far, you don't want the throat of the bend kinking or crimping at all.
practice makes perfect. i can do that stuff in my sleep now but we all had crappy bends when we first started out. also what material are you bending? looks like steel, different materials bend differently. i started doing copper when i did mostly refrigeration stuff so everything else was much more forgiving in my opinion, ie not so soft so you kink it instantly.keep at it, youll be a pro in no time.
practice makes perfect. i can do that stuff in my sleep now but we all had crappy bends when we first started out. also what material are you bending? looks like steel, different materials bend differently. i started doing copper when i did mostly refrigeration stuff so everything else was much more forgiving in my opinion, ie not so soft so you kink it instantly.keep at it, youll be a pro in no time.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
From: Belgium
you're right i'm getting better with practice
it's 304 stainless steel welded, and I think the radius is a bit small for my cheap tool, i have better bends by slightly increasing the radius
still have to buy a good tool for 1/2 inch OD, any brand to recommend?
it's 304 stainless steel welded, and I think the radius is a bit small for my cheap tool, i have better bends by slightly increasing the radius
still have to buy a good tool for 1/2 inch OD, any brand to recommend?
that explains it. ss is much harder to bend, i have a eastwood cheapie i use at home that works great. i use an old imperial at work. try to get some mild steel brake line and see how that bends up compared to the ss you have.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
From: Belgium
some updates here
I can do almost perfect bends with my 10$ multisize chinese tool which I use for 3/8 and 5/16 SS 304 grade
Now, trying to bend 1/2" OD SS 304 grade 0.02" thick with one of the best tool on the market, RIDGID 400 series.
http://www.ridgid.com/us/en/400-seri...rument-benders
And my bends are awful, as subarubill96 said my tube is moving when i'm reaching about 60° thus creating a bend if I continue to 90°. I tried securing it with tube clips, vise clamp or my ridgid flare tool but still my bend is ugly. I tried lubricating the pad moving on my tube to help.
Here are some pictures:
I can do almost perfect bends with my 10$ multisize chinese tool which I use for 3/8 and 5/16 SS 304 grade
Now, trying to bend 1/2" OD SS 304 grade 0.02" thick with one of the best tool on the market, RIDGID 400 series.
http://www.ridgid.com/us/en/400-seri...rument-benders
And my bends are awful, as subarubill96 said my tube is moving when i'm reaching about 60° thus creating a bend if I continue to 90°. I tried securing it with tube clips, vise clamp or my ridgid flare tool but still my bend is ugly. I tried lubricating the pad moving on my tube to help.
Here are some pictures:
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
From: Belgium
here's the "best" 90° bend i could do, by increasing the radius to 3" instead of 1.5" as supported by tool. i did this by several pass of 10°, moving the tube each pass
and 45° bends with 1.5" radius
some people suggested that 0.02" is too thin to be bend. what do you think?
and 45° bends with 1.5" radius
some people suggested that 0.02" is too thin to be bend. what do you think?
Last edited by mjollnir; Jan 26, 2014 at 08:17 AM.