Large radius tube bends

[CTX-SLPR]

Well I'm rerouting my transmission cooler lines and they need to go around the spring pocket. This has about the same radius as the tank on my welder. How do I bend 3/8in tube in something like a 5-6in radius?

Thanks,

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Large radius tube bends

Fuel line bends in 6 inch radius is fairly easy. Much easier than small radius turns with a tubing bender. Most people get in a hurry and kink the line. If I understand you correctly, you want to use your welder tank. I've used a steel post. Work the tube slowly around the tank.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Large radius tube bends

Pretty much read my mind Rebel, was thinking slowly working it around the curve of the tank with a block of wood for the large radius then using my bender for the sharp bends at the end.

[CaminoKid]

Re: Large radius tube bends

another trick if you can get the tube cleaned out after,is to fill it with a fine sand so that it wont collapse when bending,but tubing springs are much better and they sell them in packs of four different size at the auto parts store for a little of nothing. Good luck.

[SuperBuickGuy]

Re: Large radius tube bends

or, do the same thing they do when making the bends for brass musical instruments - fill them with water, freeze it, then bend the pipe while the water is still frozen....

[Matt Cramer]

Re: Large radius tube bends

My experience has been when the bend radius is that much bigger than the tube radius, it's hard to kink the tube even if you try. I've bent tubes around the wide end of a baseball bat before without kinking them and without really being all that careful about it.