Bending a 2" square tubing

   / Bending a 2" square tubing #1  

NCMau

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Nov 5, 2009
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MF 202/Ford 8N
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.
 
   / Bending a 2" square tubing #2  
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.
 
   / Bending a 2" square tubing #3  
.


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


.
 
   / Bending a 2" square tubing #4  
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.
 
   / Bending a 2" square tubing #5  
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.
 
   / Bending a 2" square tubing #6  
Here's a picture of what I was talking about.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

15 Degree cut of square tube.jpg
 
   / Bending a 2" square tubing
  • Thread Starter
#7  
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?
 
   / Bending a 2" square tubing #9  
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.
 
   / Bending a 2" square tubing #10  
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.
 

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