Bending 7/8" 316 Stainless Steel

[grantrobarts]

I am planning on making some simple boat railings, that will consist of a piece of stainless steel 7/8" tubing with 2 60 degree bends. How should I bend this, without spending hundreds of dollars on some hydraulic press or something else like that?

Here is the picture of what I am doing:

http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a39...=siderails.jpg

But instead of welding the middle support and the bases, I am going to be using mounting brackets with set screws.

[svenakela]

Hi,

A couple of members made their own benders with rollers/wheels and a simple hydraulic jack a year ago (or something like that). I believe you'll find the threads if you search in the forums.

Regards,
Sven

[ras0112]

Grant,
IMHO depending on wall thickness the bending is the easiest part of your project. I'm puzzled by your choice of attachment method. Would not welding offer a more-pleasing-to-the-eye end product ? Not to mention SAFER?? Chances are you'll never know those setscrews have loosened up until its too late and someone leans on or pulls on a rail. Just my 2 cents worth.

[grantrobarts]

I would, but the existing bow rail is constructed like this, and I am trying to fabricate an OEM side rail from the 1980s. As you can see in this drawing, the bow rails use the same kind of fittings:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/ref...age749x493.gif

Suprisingly, the bowrail is very sturdy.

[greg b]

Grant a tube bender to suit 7/8 stainless steel is not a hard thing to make providing you have a lathe to make your dies to form the bend radius you require.It only needs to be hand opperated with the right amount of leverage,should you need help in a desighn let me know greg b

[Geof]

It is possible to bend that tube with an electrician's hickey bender. You need to pack the tube with sand to stop it collapsing and you will probably need a hickey for 3/4 rigid conduit. One for 3/4 EMT will give a tighter bend but you might break it on stainless.

[tullsa]

done some bending on stainless using a greenlee ratcheting conduit bender most electrical rental yards have them and you may want to fill the tubes with sand to prevent collapse

[aiyana]

Hi !!!!!! Nice post... thanks for sharing with me ........

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