Forming 4130 Streamline Tubing

[fatoldman7]

Has anyone in this forum had experience forming streamline tubing from round tube? I know certain manufacturers flatten round tube in to a rectangular shape, (sometimes referred to as Burns tubing) This is for a formula car project, and I'm just trying to be cheap! materials alone for a set of arms using streamline tubing would cost around a 1000.00 dollars vs 200.00 for round tube.

[Nastyzen]

Long ago I machined an ellipse on two pieces of cold rolled bar by simply tilting the head of the mill to about 35 deg. and using a 1.375 dia.endmill.For 1.dia. tubing.
A-arms are usually not much longer than 30'' anyway.If you go gradually you can crush or form longer pieces as needed.You can use a regular shop press or in my case a 50ton iron worker to get the job done cost efficiently.
Mind your fingers.

[bjorn toulouse]

This outfit sells streamline 4130 by the foot, at what I consider reasonable prices.
www.chassisshop.com

$1000.00??? Those must be some long arms!


Rex

[Badwolf]

TRY HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT SUPPLY HOUSE , I HAVE A CATALOGE FROM SOMEPLACE IN MICH. THE AIRFOIL TUBING IS NOT THAT EXPENSIVE USED IT FOR SPRINGER FRONT END ON A HARLEY! PICK UP A MAGAZINE AT THE LOCAL BOOK STORE AND THEY HAVE MANY HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT BOOKS WITH SUPPLIERS LISTED.

BERNIE
BADWOLF1957@YAHOO.COM IF YOU STILL CAN FIND A SUPPLIER

[fatoldman7]

Thanks for the help, I have a chassis shop catalog, and the price that is listed is $3.11 per INCH! not a foot. that works out to 37.32 per foot! The best price I have found is from a company called Wagaero, and there price is 13.50 per foot.(2.035 X .857 X .049 tube) A little time with Google can save a lot of money. I'm just looking to trade some of my time to save a bit of money, if it's practical. I was just hoping someone in this forum would have some experience with tube forming, so thanks for the idea's and help.

[yellerrado]

check out dillsburg aeroplane works. they are out of PA. they dont have a website but what ive been told they are pretty much the supplier of anyone that sells 4130 tubing in the US. great prices, very nice people, family owned and operated from their farm. and did i mention great prices!