---------------------------------------------------------- Pitts-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 07/20/09: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 07:19 AM - Bending Square Tubing (Howard Williamson) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 07:19:40 AM PST US From: "Howard Williamson" Subject: Pitts-List: Bending Square Tubing Gregg, I used the following method to bend the square tubing for new I-Struts on my Skybolt: I started with two pieces of square tubing that were slightly longer than needed for the upper and lower square tubing components of the I-Struts. I formed one piece from each end of the tubing-two lower contours from one piece and two upper contours from the other. The reason for using the long pieces of tubing was have the leverage needed to form the pieces. I then used a clamp to hold one end of the tubing down to the work surface and a short length of iron pipe that I could place under the tubing at any location. I then used a gas welding torch to heat the upper surface of the tubing and slowly formed it to the correct contour by moving the pipe back and forth to different positions and pushing down on the other end of the square tubing-simply heating and stretching the upper surface. I worked it slowly and checked the bend against a template that could be laid on top of the piece as I formed it. If necessary you may have to place something under the pipe to provide enough vertical space to allow the tubing to flex downward enough to stretch the top to the correct contour. Remember, the steel will contract as it cools so you will need to take that into consideration as you get to the final steps of the forming. The end result was a nice smooth bend on each component that followed to rib contours nicely. I then cut the two pieces from the long tubing and finished the dimensions on each end-the diagonal cut to allow the installation of the bolts. Hope this helps. Regards, Howard _________________________________________________________________ Time: 09:26:41 AM PST US From: "Gregg Costabile" Subject: Pitts-List: I-Struts and tube bending Used heat to bend the bottom longerons. Trying now to build the I-struts. Anyone ever bend square tubing? Tips are greatly appreciated. -Gregg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message pitts-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Pitts-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/pitts-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/pitts-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.