Correct method for bending a stuffing tube. (yes I've searched)

[TristanJones]

Hi everyone,
Ive just taken owner ship of a rigger I need to bend the stuffing tube to suit, by the looks a J will do fine.
I'm not interested in hearing which is better, I've just read all about that and made my own mind up thanks.
The information I seek today is how to bend the stuffing tube without kinking or damaging it. Id like to be able to do it with out having to buy special tool/s as I cant see it being something I will be doing often.

So, How do you bend your tubes..??

[tlandauer]

What size is your tube? For 1/4" brass, this is the way I bend mine:
I stretched a section of a .150 flex teflon liner ( Stuffing tube liner) over a discarded .187 flex cable.
Yes, I was able to shove the .187 cable into the teflon liner that is meant for .150 cable. I push this contraption into the brass tube to where the bend is, it is real effective and no kink !
The length of this section where there is teflon liner is no longer than 3" but I find it eough to protect the bend.

[TristanJones]

Thanks for your input.
yeah its 1/4 inch mate. I haven't got any cable laying around to try that method, but I like the idea.

Anyone else??

[martin]

Anneal the tube, bends easy without kinking. Simply heat the tube slightly longer than the area your bending & let cool its then annealed & will bend easy. You can also heat & quench in cold water to anneal.

[TristanJones]

Thank you very much Martin. I think I'll do that. How hot is hot enough? red hot?

[JimClark]

Fill the tube with salt or sugar or use a spring tubing bender they are under 10 dollars

Sent from my MB611 using Tapatalk 2

[TristanJones]

I'm interested in the salt/sugar method. do you just use tape on the ends of the tube to hole the salt/sugar in?

[martin]

Yep i do mine untill it just turns red then let cool.

[TristanJones]

thank you!!

[longballlumber]

I'm interested in the salt/sugar method. do you just use tape on the ends of the tube to hole the salt/sugar in?

Yep, you can tape or simply crimp the ends and after you get it bent in the shape to your liking cut the crimped end off. I have found that 1/4 tube can be bent without annealing, but that is just me.

Later,
Mike

[Fluid]

I am simply amazed at how some folks will overly complicate a very simple operation. You do not need to anneal, fill with sand or sugar or buy an expensive bending tool. The tools you need are at the end of your arms.

1/4" brass tubing like that available from K&S can be bent into a 6" circle with your hands alone - without kinking. You use your thumbs and fingers to slowly bend the tubing, a little bit at a time, moving your fingers along the bend area as necessary. Make two or three passes if the bend it tight, don't go too fast. I have demonstrated the technique many times to club members, bending a piece of tubing into a circle in about two minutes. The 'trick' is to buy a slightly longer piece of tubing if the bend is near one end. Bend at least 6" from one end and cut off any excess. Annealing the tubing will soften it so that it will wear faster if you don't use a liner. Don't make a molehill into a mountain.....



,

[Heaving Earth]

I gotta agree with fluid here. I've tried all these methods, and the simple using my hands is the best way. Sand and salt just makes a mess. Annealing actually weakens the brass and makes it too flexable. Use your thumbs and work it slowly. You'll be done with your bend before you can fill a tube with salt or heat it up and cool it down

[Darin Jordan]

Well, I always lightly anneal mine, and it's worked out fine, but Jay is right, you don't have to.

One thing that I also have done, especially when trying to bend aluminum into water-cooling pickups (hooks), is I'll slide a snug fitting piece of flex cable inside the tubing and then bend it...

Franky, if you are bending your stuffing tube far enough to kink it... you might want to re-consider your installation. Shouldn't have to have much bend in it in most cases...

[TristanJones]

Thanks very much guys, I have never had a go at bending up tube without a pipe bender so all the info is great.
I cant help but go with the most cost effective method mentioned, fingers :)

Thanks again for all your input!

Tristan.

[Southwest]

I use what Fluid does but wear gloves as hands tend to stick to tubing while leather gloves will slide with tubing. Now it doesn't take much to bend.