cbernhardt

I need to bend some 1/2" thinwall aluminum tubing (fuel line tubing) for a project that I am working on. Any recommendations on a good bender to use?

Thanks,
Charles

Bill Pilon

Charles, my tubing benders go up to 5/8", if I need to bend up to 1 inch I use conduit benders. I do a/c work on old cars with rear mounted units and some of them use 5/8 and 3/4 suction lines. Bill

Powershift

Imperial tubing benders......what the pros and instrument guys use for 1/2 inch tubing. Buy a used one from Ebay.

Larry

EDIT: This is an example for you. http://www.ebay.com/itm/IMPERIAL-OD-...sAAOSwstxU87tr

As Jim says, this is one of the best. I have a number of various sizes in my garage. If you get good/used they are affordable.

jim lockwood

Charles,

If Imperial makes a bender which will do 1/2" tubing, I'd think that's the brand to buy.

I use Imperial benders any time I need to make a brake, vacuum or fuel line. The results are consistently high quality.

Jim

wmf62

one thing to consider when bending thinwall, as it can kink VERY easily, is packing the inside with sand...
Bill

Powershift

That may be required if the aluminum tubing begins to kink. However the Imperial bender is about the best for this type work that most of us can afford for hobby use.

Advice sounds like it comes from a Mechanical/Construction Engineer with hands-on experience.

Larry

bluzrocker

I got the blue point....did thin wall 1/2"...makes it easy....a friend rented one for his one day job from local rental store

wmf62

lol... and I spent a bit of time erecting a combined cycle unit at Union Carbide at Taft....
Bill

Powershift

I know that. The Cogen Unit is still running and producing over 225 MW today.

Larry

wmf62

that is surprising....

now, why don't I recognize you (I have sleep a few times since then, and I suspect a few 'senior moments' haven't helped...)


thanks
Bill

cardo0

Amazon sells a Aircraft Tool Supply/Imperial bender for soft tubing up to 1/2". The 370FH is $52 does 3 sizes but only thin wall steel, stainless and soft alum/copper. Not many 1/2" benders out there for tubing.

Good luck.

cbernhardt

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Charles

fogaley

Charles, these spring type benders work fine on thin wall tubing. Scott

http://www.sears.com/superior-tool-4...000P?rrec=true

brit vet

An old fridge engineers trick with spring benders - take the bend past where you want it then back to where you want it releases the spring. If you only take the bend to the angle you want the spring remains under tension and is nigh on impossible to pull back.