bending 25mm box section

[unclegrouch]

Not sure this is the right forum to post my question in, but it doesn't really seem to fit anywhere !

I need to bend a few lengths of 2m long 25mm box section steel. (similar to chair legs)

I do have a pipe bender so most of the hardware is sorted, but it kinks rather than bends.

I am pretty sure I need a former of some description to put the "indent" into a side to allow smooth bending ??

had a good go on google but nothing obvious it turning up in the UK (want to buy a tool as this is something i need to do fairly regularly, so contracting the job out isn't viable).

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Fatboy]

Try filling it with sand before you bend it - should stop it collapsing...

What sort of wall thickness are we talking about?

[BadRotorFinger]

Rolling box section into curves will always deform the cross section of the box, to get it perfect you would need to buy extruded section to suit. Not sure on price. If you are putting a angle bend into box section try cutting and welding? HTH.

Eta, you could try a local fabrication workshop with rollers.

Edited by BadRotorFinger on Tuesday 25th October 21:41

[Nobby Diesel]

It depends on a number of factors, such as wall thickness, bend radius, material spec and the equipment that you have to hand.
A specialist section bender will help you. Look at The Angle Ring co, Tipton. They may have a website tool that helps. Alternatively, PM me and I will try to help you.

[cpas]

Nobby Diesel said:

It depends on a number of factors, such as wall thickness, bend radius, material spec and the equipment that you have to hand.
A specialist section bender will help you. Look at The Angle Ring co, Tipton. They may have a website tool that helps. Alternatively, PM me and I will try to help you.

...and while you're there pop into Mad O'Rourk's for a Desperate Dan pie!!

[unclegrouch]

thanks chaps :-)

Taking it to a specialist isn't an option, I maybe only need one or two pieces @ 2m long bent, but might need 2 this week & another 2 next month.

material would be mild steel, probably 12-16swg (1.2 - 1.6mm ?)

[singlecoil]

Try doing a search on you tube. This was a subject that interested me at one time, and there was an american guy on you tube that made a die out of wood and metal, and used a long lever on the die (and retaining strap), laid the tube on the ground, and pulled the lever down toward him thus executing the bend.

Not very precise, but it got the job done, and cheaply too.

[dickymint]

These guys have cracked it...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vguWbHxzG98

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjRlA4HxuyQ&fea...

[Nobby Diesel]

unclegrouch said:

thanks chaps :-)

Taking it to a specialist isn't an option, I maybe only need one or two pieces @ 2m long bent, but might need 2 this week & another 2 next month.

material would be mild steel, probably 12-16swg (1.2 - 1.6mm ?)

Radius??

[unclegrouch]

Nobby Diesel said:

Radius??

Maximum 90 degree bend, probably a bit less 9not sure until i start knocking something together.

I know it can be done as most metal framed chairs seem to be done this way, leaving an "indent" on the bend, presumably to lose the stretched material ??

Like this

[MATTP77]

cut & weld!

Be hard pressed, and even more effort to bend it without kinking it first.

[unclegrouch]

MATTP77 said:

cut & weld!

Be hard pressed, and even more effort to bend it without kinking it first.

Hard pressed LOL - that seems to be the answer !

No doubt in mass manufacture they are done by a cnc machine etc, but surely a hand operated tool could be made to give the same result ???

[Marty63]

90 Degree Right Angle Box Section Inserts

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-90-Degree-Right-Angle-...

[unclegrouch]

Thanks for that marty but it's not going to be an exact 90, probably a bit less than 90, not sure yet.