32 replies to this topic

[Mopower71]

So what are you guys using for a tubing bender brass rod bender? And where did you get it?
Also, what are you using to cut your tubing/rod?
Just trying to get everything together before I heat the soldering iron up, and give this a go.
Thanks for the info/help.

[munter]

Hi Norman
Re bending tube...I dont usually.
Re cutting tube... I used to use sidecutters and then grind the crimped end off in the bench grinder.
Now I'm much more refined and use a dremel cut off wheel,then tidy it up with a light filing.
Cheers John
ps I believe there is a small version of a plumbers pipe/tube cutter available for modellers, but I dont own one.

[Mopower71]

I have the larger tubing benders and cutters. Use to use them a bunch for doing stainless steel tubing.
But I haven't seen one for smaller diameter tubing.

Also wondering how you guys are cutting the rear axle tube after it is soldered to the motor bracket.

[Mopower71]

Like the pictuers of Jarius's chassis. The axle tube is cut nice and clean. I can't see getting a cutoff wheel in there straight to do that.

[havlicek]

Small plumber's tubing cutters work fine for rear axle tubes. For those you need to cut after mounting, you can score then first with the tube cutter and then cut through later...or just cut through with a jeweler's saw or even a Dremel and then clean it up. I have seen very small tubing cutters that will do down to 1/8" tubing, but can't find them lately.

Bending rod doesn't require any special tools...just overbend a bit and then bend back to the finished angle. I never tried bending tubing before...but Steve O'Keefe showed a way to do it right here by sleeving the piece of tubing with the next bigger size and then just carefully making the bend. It works really well on pin tubing, but I haven't tried it on larger sizes.

-john

[slotcarone]

Hi Norm

I always cut the rear axle tube to the correct length with a mini tube cutter and center it in the bracket. At some point in the chassis build I cut the center out with a new Dremel cut off disc with no problem. I'm usually racing at HVR wednesday nights if you can make it.

[Bill from NH]

Norman, K&S, the Chicago company that sells the brass tubing, strips, & piano wire also markets a small tube cutter & a set of 5 small spring benders in different sizes. I got the tube cutter from Tower Hobby (www.towerhobby.com) & the benders at a local hobby shop that has since closed. Each costs $4-6 at Tower.

[Phil Irvin]

Look on the IRRA web page. They have a list of what most builders will need or use and where they can be orderd from. They have a good bender that works well on .063 piano wire from micre mark.

PHIL

[Mopower71]

Thanks Guys.
I found a nice tubing bender at the tower hobby site. It's not the spring bender, it is like the big ones that I have.
I didn't see the Where to get them on the IRRA site last time I was there. I must have missed it. I'll go check again.

[Phil Irvin]

Go to the HOW TOO and then TOOLS OF THE PRO'S

HAVE FUN!
PHIL

[Rick]

This is the K&S tubing bending kit. Any hobby shop carries them.

http://www3.towerhob...0...LXR791&P=FR

[Howmet TX]

Because I'm lazy, I cut tube with a Stanley knife, just roll it on the bench until it parts. I get through a lot of blades, but they're cheap. Cuts square and accurately if you keep steady. But to clean up, a small bench disc sander is great! Most of my chassis end up on the sander table to get the ends of the axle tubes squared off to length and true, as well as pin tubes'n stuff that might hang over the edge of batpans etc. Sometimes I don't even switch it on- just turn the disc by hand to deburr and square off ends. I still have a residual fear of exploding Dremel discs.

[Bill from NH]

When I get lazy, I've been known to cut wire & tubing with a Dremel cutoff disc mounted on my Unimat lathe. All cuts come out perfectly square that way. John, I wear eye glasses & have bounced a few exploding cutoff discs off their lens. I'd highly recommend anybody using a Dremel cutoff disc do so only when wearing safety glasses. If you don't grind on the disc sides, they don't explode as easily, but we all do.

[Bob Blackburn]

about cutting tubing. . .

You can alays roll it back and forth under a sharp knife blade ( X-Acto #11) or this:

mini cut off saws are being sold at Harbor Freight for abt $ 27.95 that beats $130 at "Mini Mark"
Bob Blackburn

Rocky Mtn. div retro can am div.

[Bob Blackburn]

I have the larger tubing benders and cutters. Use to use them a bunch for doing stainless steel tubing.
But I haven't seen one for smaller diameter tubing.

Also wondering how you guys are cutting the rear axle tube after it is soldered to the motor bracket.

Iwanted to use stainless, but they won't let me play with it in the Rocky Mtn. retro can am division

[tonyp]

On inlines when you get ready to cut out the rear axle tube just put in a new disk so you have the maximum size. Makes it easier to reach in there. Cut a little at a time on each side....


I agree on the safety glasses. When i was young and stupid and build 20 chassis a day I never wore any and never hit myself in the eye. In the last 2 years now that I am old and stupid I have already chipped 2 pairs of glasses and bounced at least a dozen off my face.

[Tex]

I've never used a tubing bender. BUT, I think I'd like to try. I don't see much need for one when building a retro Can-Am chassis, but I plan on building some more new "old" chassis using brass tubing. If I understand correctly, just picking up a piece of 1/16" brass tubing and bending with your hands or pliers will "kink" the tubing at the bend, right? Am I to understand that using the tubing bender(s) will eliminate the kink?

[Mopower71]

Yes the brass tubing tends to kink.
That's why I was looking for something small to use, to eliminate the problem.

[slotcarone]

Hi Norm

Can you make it to HVR this Sunday for the Retro races?

[Mopower71]

Mike,
I'm not sure yet.
My father in-law is comming over to rebuild my porch roof, and we are doing my daughters birthday party that day also.

[Tex]

So, how do the tubing benders work? Do you just slip the tubing inside the smallest of the benders that will accept the tubing and then just "bend"? Does the bender regain it's original shape once the bent tubing is removed? How long do the benders last?

[tonyp]

I think they are just a long coiled spring you slip over the tubing when bending it. I assume it would last forever. Never used one.

[Rick]

Here you go, Tex. I have some of these leftover from the store. Says 1/16' through 3/16" tubing. Yes, they return to straight after use.

[Dave Wilson]

Not sure if this is true or not, but was told a long time ago regarding bending brass tubing was to compact salt into the tube first. then add a small amount of heat and bend!

Never had a chance to find out if it worked or not, though.

Anyone else been told of this?

[Bill from NH]

Dave,

That's a new one to me. Somebody will have to try it to see if it works. Since I already have a set of those K&S spring benders that work okay, I nominate you!