Stainless line bender kit
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
My advice is to NOT use stainless for any fuel or brake line. Why? Because SS is hard {and difficult} to bend. You can use regular steel line, bend it as you need, THEN use buffing wheel to polish the surface to a perfect shine. then clear coat it for protection.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 346
Likes: 33
From: OKC OK
I use the benders from Imperial, but I do a lot of SS tubing. You could use a cheaper bender but may need to add a little longer handle to get the leverage to bend SS. FYI, I buy my SS 304 from Mcmaster Carr, the "seamless" stuff can be bought in 8ft lengths and is the "soft" annealed temper. If you use the .035 wall tube it will bend easier.
https://imperial-tools.com/products/...-tube-benders/
https://imperial-tools.com/products/...-tube-benders/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,232
Likes: 1,232
From: PHX AZ
I've bent MILES of Stainless 316 in my Aerospace life..... it's difficult...so the above advice is good.
For sharper bends we used to us this stuff called CERROBEND. It's a VERY low melting point metal.....you pour it into the tube, bend the tube perfectly, because the line cannot kink and then heat up the line and it runs back out again.
Wood's metal, also known as Lipowitz's alloy or by the commercial names Cerrobend, Bendalloy, Pewtalloy and MCP 158, is a eutectic, fusible alloy with a melting point of approximately 70 °C (158 °F). It is a eutectic alloy of 50% bismuth, 26.7% lead, 13.3% tin, and 10% cadmium by weight.
Unkahal
Last edited by L-46man; Oct 7, 2019 at 06:58 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 1,185
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
Need to make a new 1/2" fuel line
Any bender kits that arent breaking the bank?
Any bender kits that arent breaking the bank?
I could bend 180* SS with no issues in the bend at all if needed. The only issue I had with SS is cutting it, it wears the hell out of even a SS cutter after a while. Also, the flaring tool even though I have a very heavy duty tool, SS kicks its *** as well. I only use aircraft grade aluminum now works, bends and cuts great. Good luck with whatever you decide to use. BTW... Did you get that video I sent, what did you think?
Last edited by Buccaneer; Oct 7, 2019 at 07:12 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Why don't you make it a lot easier on yourself- and use nicopp (nickle -copper)
Works great -easy to bend and will last as long as stainless steel - about the same price.
Life's to short to bend stainless!!!
Works great -easy to bend and will last as long as stainless steel - about the same price.
Life's to short to bend stainless!!!
Last edited by Richard454; Oct 7, 2019 at 07:20 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,170
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From: Willoughby Ohio
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 283
From: New York
^^^^THIS!!!
Also flaring stainless is a PITA!! I have a very good (read $$) hydraulic flaring tool and even with it or good old fashion manually I have to use a lot of caution not to crack the flare when double flaring...just go copper!
Also flaring stainless is a PITA!! I have a very good (read $$) hydraulic flaring tool and even with it or good old fashion manually I have to use a lot of caution not to crack the flare when double flaring...just go copper!
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,410
Likes: 8,215
From: Napa Valley California
I've used stainless line for decades.
Nothing better in my opinion.
It is expensive, and you need to purchase the good tools, otherwise the tools may fail and allow the tubing to move and mess up your line.
Because stainless is expensive plan and measure carefully.
Make as few bends as necessary.
The distance between two bends will change as you are bending so practice a bit and measure carefully.
You will learn.
Aluminum, mild steel and other tube alloys bend and shrink differently.
Buy good flaring tools as well and watch for hairline cracks and the flares edge.
Use stainless ferrules and nuts.
They all polish and look like chrome for years with little maintenance.
Have fun
Nothing better in my opinion.
It is expensive, and you need to purchase the good tools, otherwise the tools may fail and allow the tubing to move and mess up your line.
Because stainless is expensive plan and measure carefully.
Make as few bends as necessary.
The distance between two bends will change as you are bending so practice a bit and measure carefully.
You will learn.
Aluminum, mild steel and other tube alloys bend and shrink differently.
Buy good flaring tools as well and watch for hairline cracks and the flares edge.
Use stainless ferrules and nuts.
They all polish and look like chrome for years with little maintenance.
Have fun
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Im a sucker for shiny stuff, all the lines front to rear are polished stainless, and yes impossible to bend, pita so they gotta be perfect.
Going to put a regulator on maybe that will help with the needle/seat issue Im having.
Going to put a regulator on maybe that will help with the needle/seat issue Im having.
Last edited by cv67; Oct 8, 2019 at 08:55 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Here's a spare piece I had laying around- super easy to bend even with a $9 bender-
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you use ethanol-laced fuel, aluminum is not the best choice for fuel lines. Steel or NiCu lines would be best. The NiCu polishes up well, but has a copper tint to it and must be clear coated (or anodized) to protect that appearance. Polished stainless will stay bright much longer, but it will dull over extended time. But, for ease of fabrication, cost and great appearance you can't beat regular steel line that gets brushed, polished and clear coated
If you want to go crazy, just fab up the NiCu or steel lines and have them chrome plated.
If you want to go crazy, just fab up the NiCu or steel lines and have them chrome plated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I use the benders from Imperial, but I do a lot of SS tubing. You could use a cheaper bender but may need to add a little longer handle to get the leverage to bend SS. FYI, I buy my SS 304 from Mcmaster Carr, the "seamless" stuff can be bought in 8ft lengths and is the "soft" annealed temper. If you use the .035 wall tube it will bend easier.
https://imperial-tools.com/products/...-tube-benders/
https://imperial-tools.com/products/...-tube-benders/
That is the bender I use for my stuff. I bent up a lot of stainless lines and have not had any issues. I use them with AN fittings to run in place of braided hose.