bending stainless steel exhaust tubing

BillR · 08-12-2012, 09:41 AM

I need to make up a mid-pipe for my MZ. Just needs a couple of gentle bends, maybe one, if I can get it to line up right.
No luck checking with local shops, they say they can't bend thin wall stainless...
Anyone with experience doing this?
Advice/hints appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill

Weldangrind · 08-12-2012, 12:38 PM

HF has a tubing roller on sale. It would be worth a try. Make sure that the tube is lubed before trying to roll it; even WD-40 would do. http://www.harborfreight.com/tubing-roller-99736.html

Anybody with a mandrel bender should be able to do it for you.

BillR · 08-12-2012, 10:25 PM

Thanks for the HF link. Don't think I'll spend $160 for one piece of pipe, but now I know what the heck to ask when I call a shop...
Got a couple of friends that are into car rebuilding...maybe they know someone with one of those.
Bill R

MICRider · 08-12-2012, 10:41 PM

I've never tried to bend stainless tubing so I can't comment on technique but I would think any muffler shop should be able to do it?

Weldangrind · 08-13-2012, 01:14 AM

Any muffler shop can do compression bends, but a few select shps can do mandrel bends. Compression bends produce wrinkled tube, because it fails to shrink the ID while stretching the OD of the radius.

FastDoc · 08-13-2012, 11:26 AM

I heard thatif you fill the tube with sand it bends smoother but I don't know about this sort of thing.

Weldangrind · 08-13-2012, 02:34 PM

That's true if you don't have a bender, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to fill the tube if you're using a bender.

BillR · 08-14-2012, 11:06 PM

Checked with a couple of muffler shops, both wouldn't do it because they were sure it would crush the tube.
Read up on the sand method. Will probably give that a shot.
Thanks for the help.
Bill R

BillR · 08-15-2012, 04:04 PM

Talking with a couple of the "car guys" at work..."Know anybody who has a tube bender?"..."How big?"..."1 3/4in thin wall stainless"...
"if you can wait til this winter, I'll have a die that size for my mandrel bender so I can make the roll cage for my dune buggy. Be glad to do it for you."
Well, well, sign me up..

Tain't in no hurry...this is totally just for the rumble from that big ol' single...

Bill R

08-12-2012, 09:41 AM	#1
BillR Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 588	bending stainless steel exhaust tubing I need to make up a mid-pipe for my MZ. Just needs a couple of gentle bends, maybe one, if I can get it to line up right. No luck checking with local shops, they say they can't bend thin wall stainless... Anyone with experience doing this? Advice/hints appreciated. Thanks, Bill
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08-12-2012, 12:38 PM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	HF has a tubing roller on sale. It would be worth a try. Make sure that the tube is lubed before trying to roll it; even WD-40 would do. http://www.harborfreight.com/tubing-roller-99736.html Anybody with a mandrel bender should be able to do it for you. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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08-13-2012, 01:14 AM	#5
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Any muffler shop can do compression bends, but a few select shps can do mandrel bends. Compression bends produce wrinkled tube, because it fails to shrink the ID while stretching the OD of the radius. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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08-13-2012, 11:26 AM	#6
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I heard thatif you fill the tube with sand it bends smoother but I don't know about this sort of thing. __________________ Happy to serve.
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08-13-2012, 02:34 PM	#7
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	That's true if you don't have a bender, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to fill the tube if you're using a bender. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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08-12-2012, 10:25 PM	#3
BillR Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 588	Thanks for the HF link. Don't think I'll spend $160 for one piece of pipe, but now I know what the heck to ask when I call a shop... Got a couple of friends that are into car rebuilding...maybe they know someone with one of those. Bill R
	0

08-12-2012, 10:41 PM	#4
MICRider Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,274	I've never tried to bend stainless tubing so I can't comment on technique but I would think any muffler shop should be able to do it?
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08-14-2012, 11:06 PM	#8
BillR Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 588	Checked with a couple of muffler shops, both wouldn't do it because they were sure it would crush the tube. Read up on the sand method. Will probably give that a shot. Thanks for the help. Bill R
	0

08-15-2012, 04:04 PM	#9
BillR Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 588	Talking with a couple of the "car guys" at work..."Know anybody who has a tube bender?"..."How big?"..."1 3/4in thin wall stainless"... "if you can wait til this winter, I'll have a die that size for my mandrel bender so I can make the roll cage for my dune buggy. Be glad to do it for you." Well, well, sign me up.. Tain't in no hurry...this is totally just for the rumble from that big ol' single... Bill R
	0