Just wondering what works for bending your own intake pipes about 75mm diameter and 2 or 3 mm thick aluminium. Will a conduit bender work or do i need to rent a hydraulic bender? Thanks

 

4th picture from the bottom is corksports intake tube. It's welded aluminum.

http://corksport.com/store/category/...rx-intake.html

I don't know if that helps much, but i'm sure you can make one for less than what they charge for it.

 

If you want a quality job, don't bother bending it because cheapie benders will kink the pipe. Just buy mandrel bent pipe weld els and cut it with a band saw or weld as needed.

Typical supplier:
http://www.burnsstainless.com/Alumin...minumtube.html

Example of how to fabricate bends with weld els:
http://www.sdsefi.com/techheader.htm

 

Thanks for the input, I guess invest in a better welder first

 

There are some tricks to get "mandrel" bends out of cheap benders.

After you have cut your pipe to size, plug one end so it's water tight. Use duct tape or similar. Now mix up a solution of a bit of dish soap and water. Fill the pipe, and plug the open end so it's water tight as well. Put this in the freezer overnight so it's frozen solid the next morning. Now bend with your cheap bender.

The ice forms a mandrel that keeps the tube from collapsing, while the soap lubricates it during bending. Works wonders...

 

Hey thats a good idea Aaron, I'm gonna give it a try. Worse that can happen is lose a pipe. Thanks again.

 

yup... thats actually what they do when making bends for trumpets and such.