tube bender......bull bars!

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:33 pm

Hi there my next little mission for my suzuki is some bar work just some simple tube bullbars....im going to do most of it myself and tack it all in place then get it welded up fully by a professional welder...all i need is a tube bender...one that pulls the tube around rather than crushes it eg. a mandrel bender? and this is being done on a budget like everything with me :oops:

...what i need to know is does anyone have 1 that i could borrow just for like a weekend or something or can you hire them...and how much would this be? also you you think 2mm thick walled tube would be addiquite? as i dont want it to bend but i dont want it to be so solid that it bends my chassie...this is for a vitara by the way

Cheers guys
James

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:36 pm

also you you think 2mm thick walled tube would be addiquite?

can't say i have heard of 2mm thiick walled tube :lol:

doddzee · Post by **doddzee** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:38 pm

Steel and Tube sell 90 and 45 degree bends for most sizes might make it a big easier.

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:43 pm

yea thats an option...but if i weld in a bend that then makes the wekd the weakst point wouldn't ti be better to bend tube rather than weld in a bend?

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:44 pm

mercutio wrote:
also you you think 2mm thick walled tube would be addiquite?

can't say i have heard of 2mm thiick walled tube

ewww well whatever's closest to that.... :oops:

Sadam_Husain · Post by **Sadam_Husain** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:47 pm

mercutio wrote:
also you you think 2mm thick walled tube would be addiquite?

can't say i have heard of 2mm thiick walled tube

Dunno about tube but I've brought thin walled box section, they call it furniture grade or something like that?

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:50 pm

hmmm...did you make bullbars outta that? that would be kinda easier to work with and to bend couldn't you just cut like a triangle out and bend around and then weld up the cut?

Sadam_Husain · Post by **Sadam_Husain** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:51 pm

Ya dont need a heavy bullbar... especially on a suzuki, its only there to push a bit of scrub away from the front of the vehicle and make the truck look cool :tonbreu:

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:52 pm

thats exactly what im trying to acheive...maybe box section would be better? any idea what you payed for it per metre or something?

Sadam_Husain · Post by **Sadam_Husain** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:52 pm

mroffroader wrote:hmmm...did you make bullbars outta that?

Nope... made a stand to sit my coalrange on :oops:

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:54 pm

oh hahaha.....do u know what u payed for it?

Sadam_Husain · Post by **Sadam_Husain** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:54 pm

Can't remember how much... but it came in 6m lenghts and wasnt very dear

Got it from Steel and Tube in seaview

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:55 pm

mmmm right yea thats were i was gunna go as i live in the hutt :lol:

Sadam_Husain · Post by **Sadam_Husain** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:09 pm

at 6m ya might want to get them to cut them in half to get them home

.... havent got a picture of my flash coalrange stand on this computer :cry:

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:24 pm

yea could be a point oh ok not stress :lol:

ruf_zuki · Post by **ruf_zuki** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 1:09 am

mercutio
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:36 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
also you you think 2mm thick walled tube would be addiquite?

can't say i have heard of 2mm thiick walled tube

MANZ approved roll cage tube is only 2.5 mm,

if its only for a bull bar it doesnt have to be super strong, youd rather the bull car bend than your chassis, and welding on the corner if it was done properly wouldnt be weak, most decently welded joints are stronger than the parent metal,

just go to steel n tube and get some seamed 2-3 mm wall 1/2" tube or better still hunt around for some galv pipe, its a prick to weld but itl be more than enough for a bull bar and just hire a bender, for a bull bar it wouldnt matter if its crushed a little bit

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:04 am

ruf_zuki wrote: MANZ approved roll cage tube is only 2.5 mm,

holy hell!!!! :shock:

[/quote] if its only for a bull bar it doesnt have to be super strong, youd rather the bull bar bend than your chassis,[/quote]

Yes that i exactly what i am trying to acheive.

[/quote] and welding on the corner if it was done properly wouldnt be weak, most decently welded joints are stronger than the parent metal,[/quote]

[/quote]just go to steel n tube and get some seamed 2-3 mm wall 1/2" tube or better still hunt around for some galv pipe, its a prick to weld but itl be more than enough for a bull bar and just hire a bender, for a bull bar it wouldnt matter if its crushed a little bit[/quote]

hmmm ok... i think i will make it out of square section as its going to be easier to work with... :lol:

and probably cheaper :oops:

cheers ruf :lol:

Post by **mike** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:41 am

ruf_zuki wrote: better still hunt around for some galv pipe, its a prick to weld but itl be more than enough for a bull bar and just hire a bender, for a bull bar it wouldnt matter if its crushed a little bit

Just be careful welding that stuff, the gases let off during welding of galv are full of poisons. Best to grind all the galv off before welding in the effected areas and keep your head out of the rising fumes and do it in a well ventalated area

Mike

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 6:52 pm

yea its smells bad to.... i think im going to leave it for awhile... i saw my bank statement 2day :oops:

and im going to save some $$$$ so i can do side bars and sill protection in 1. cheers for the info though guys :lol:

WACKO · Post by **WACKO** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:01 pm

just got some 3mmx25mmx25mm box the other day from steel traders in seaview, minimum was 8m but it cost me $45 and they cut to whatever size i needed.