Bending a 2" square tubing

[NCMau]

I need to bend a 2"x 3/16" square tubing about 15 deg. Other than cut and weld or take it somewhere, is there a way that I can do it at home? I have a 20 ton press but without using some kind of proper jig, I would probably end up distorting it too much.
Fishing for ideas.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Do you have any heat you could apply to get it cherry red? If you want 15% exactly you'll need some kind of a jig. Even if you made the jig out of hard wood. Of course, you better have water near by when the hard wood starts burning.

Personally, I would cut out a triangle, leaving the back on, then bend and weld. But I don't have a good shop.

 

[Danno1]

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If you have some way to cap the ends, filling it with sand will prevent the walls fr collapsing when you bend it.


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[nwngunner]

I have a pipe bender, i had to put an arch in a peice of square tubing as well. I took and put the 2inch square in the pipe bender on the 3 inch mandrel. I heated a large section of the tube and slowly used the bender to make my arch.

 

[LD1]

How big of a radius can the bend be made over.

IF you need a tight bend, I am afraid the only way would be to cut a triangle out. Otherwise, the sides will buckle and it will look like crap. Being only 3/16" thick, a slicer disk on a 4-1/2" grinder will make quick work out of it. Or if you have a bandsaw, set it to 7.5*, cut it all the way through, rotate one of the halves 180* and weld.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Here's a picture of what I was talking about.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

 

[NCMau]

I have a pipe bender, i had to put an arch in a peice of square tubing as well. I took and put the 2inch square in the pipe bender on the 3 inch mandrel. I heated a large section of the tube and slowly used the bender to make my arch.

That's a thought! What was the thickness of the tubing?

 

[NCMau]

Here's a picture of what I was talking about.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

View attachment 282904

Cut and weld is probably the best option for me. I want a small radius without deformity.
Thanks

 

[LD1]

Mind if I ask what its for?

If welding is of no concern, I''d make ONE 7.5* cut and rotate peices 180* and re-weld. Instead of TWO 7.5* cuts 3/4 of the way around. Unless a smooth outside corner is the goal.

 

[Shield Arc]

Got a torch? Heat a small wedge in the side where you want it to bend. First picture is of a beam, but same technique.
If you want a slow bend heat the heels of the box tube.

 

[Shield Arc]

Here is a quick and dirty drawing of how to heat shrink square tube.

 

[nwngunner]

That's a thought! What was the thickness of the tubing?

It was only like 1/4 wall. Nothing to heavy. I would bend a section roll it down the pipe bender and do another part of the arch. I had to make the arch follow the frame of an atv. It attached at the rear 2 inch receiver then follow the frame forward until it arched it up following the skid plate.

 

[Artisan]

Buy me the dies for my bender and I will buy a section
of 2" and bend it and ship it for free!

 

[Shield Arc]

Buy me the dies for my bender and I will buy a section
of 2" and bend it and ship it for free!

That's a good idea! I should have thought of that:laughing:, but they don't make 2-inch square tube dies for my bender.

 

[Artisan]

Oh but they make them for mine so were good to go!

CLICK HERE, Scroll to very bottom, make sure it is good
for you, send them the cash w/ my mail to addy and
I will bend you your part. Heck, I will even draw it up
w/ B"Bend-Tech" software too!
Guaranteed within .5*+/-
( I usually can get spot on...)

 

[Shield Arc]

Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but according to the website, Maximum Wall Thickness- .188". He wanted .250" wall.

 

[Artisan]

Whats 0.062" amongst friends?

 

[Shield Arc]

I bet it would bend it anyway! If not, nothing a little time with a weed burner wouldn't help.

 

[sandman2234]

Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but according to the website, Maximum Wall Thickness- .188". He wanted .250" wall.

In the original post, he mentioned 2" x 3/16 square tubing... so wouldn't that be .1875 ?
David from jax

 

[Shield Arc]

My mistake, I thought later he mentioned using 1/4 wall. But that was nwngunner. Sorry!