1/4, 3/8 sch 40 and sch 80 pipe bender

This forum is dedicated to the Live Steam Hobbyist Community.

Moderators: cbrew, Harold_V

Post Reply
jlakes85
Posts: 228
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:07 am

1/4, 3/8 sch 40 and sch 80 pipe bender

Post by jlakes85 »

I've been looking for something that will fit the bill for steel pipe, as these sizes fall below the standard hydraulic pipe benders. Also I think these are too hard for a tubing bender to tackle. I've tried the sand filling/torch method with mixed results. Just wanted to see if anyone knew of a better way.

-jlakes85
Howard Gorin
Posts: 348
Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2003 2:56 am
Location: Waltham, MA

Re: 1/4, 3/8 sch 40 and sch 80 pipe bender

Post by Howard Gorin »

What are you doing that requires pipe? Steel or copper tubing is much eaiser to bend.
ERIE S-1 BERKSHIRES
Posts: 105
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:43 pm
Location: Barberton Ohio

Re: 1/4, 3/8 sch 40 and sch 80 pipe bender

Post by ERIE S-1 BERKSHIRES »

I just checked JD squared Benders and their dies do not go that small ,I thought they might do the trick,
jlakes85
Posts: 228
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:07 am

Re: 1/4, 3/8 sch 40 and sch 80 pipe bender

Post by jlakes85 »

Hi Howard,

Some of the header and exhaust piping on the shay that I'm building was speced to 1/4 npt steel piping
SteveM
Posts: 7763
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:18 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Re: 1/4, 3/8 sch 40 and sch 80 pipe bender

Post by SteveM »

Are there pre-bent sections you can buy and weld in?

Steve
Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: 1/4, 3/8 sch 40 and sch 80 pipe bender

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

jlakes85 wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 10:04 am Hi Howard,

Some of the header and exhaust piping on the shay that I'm building was speced to 1/4 npt steel piping
Just use copper pipe, much easier to work with. I used “L” pipe for my delivery and exhaust lines on my shay
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
rkcarguy
Posts: 1730
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:33 am
Location: Wa State

Re: 1/4, 3/8 sch 40 and sch 80 pipe bender

Post by rkcarguy »

3/8 schedule 80 is getting up there in size and PSI required to bend it, and will require a pricey machine to do so. Work has a Balleigh semi-auto mandrel bender with an assortment of dies that I do this stuff on. Often the radiuses are too large for what I want though so I end up ordering pre-bent mandrel bends from Wagner and welding them in.
Post Reply