Hi all,

I meet to put a 15 degree bend in some 2" stainless pipe for my exhaust but haven't got a bender. Has anyone got any locost solutions? I want to keep the full size so no kinks etc.

Jon

You could make a lobster back bend by cutting nearly through pipe in several places and welding the cuts up. Then polish bend or just wrap it.

Buy a bend and weld it in.

I did do this but not too pride of the results as it left kinks in the tube. Use weld-in bends if you can.

It's a funny angle though to buy bends. How much would slitting the pipe affect flow. It will be mig'd too so will melt through slightly I'd think too affecting flow.

When I had to make up my front pipe I bought a box of assorted steel bends for £35, took out 2 or 3 to make my pipe and sold it back on Ebay and got my £35 back. Buying a single bend to weld in should be around the £15 mark.

[Edited on 16/11/13 by Scuzzle]

I've already bought the straight pipe would filling the pipe with sand help to bend it if I heated it up with some oxy/acetylene? I've found 2.25" pipe ine the right angles but not 2"

I filled mine with sand and used a pipe bender ("Strong Arm" I think) unfortunately the former was not an exact fit so required shimming. I also needed about 15 degree bend. Hopefully you'll have better luck with oxy/acetylene.

If you do try the sand technique you do need to make sure that the pipe is well packed with sand and that the ends are sealed to stop it coming out otherwise if the sand is free to move the pipe will just deform the same as using a bender.

Will be easier to cut a pre bent pipe at the point the angle looks right for you, and weld on a straight piece. Buy a piece already bent, then try and get an idea of the angle required, then hand cut the pipe leaving yourself some margin for error. try it up and see where you are, If you have left the margin for error in, and its still not right then carefully cut some more off, and try it up. Once your happy it will fit, tack the straight piece back on and try it up.

http://www.ospreyexhaustcomponents.co.uk/index.php/exhaust-bends/2-tube-bends/c_27.html

[Edited on 17/11/13 by T66]

Definiely got to be easier buying pre-made bends in my opinion.
But if you do the slit tube method (done it before myself) use as may small slits as you can (be bothered with) and weld it on low heat should prevent going through.

I'm doing one, 2.5" and I got 5 90 degree stainless bends for £38 from China, they're great. Just using the TIG to fuse most of the joints so no melt through