22mm anodised thin ali tube, bend or break?

Jan 28, 2010 9 Replies

I need to put 2 slow sets in said tube (shower rail) e.g, 1st set bends 3" from straight, 2nd set bends back to straight over maybe 8". Any chance d'you think? TIA.


erm pass - what are the issues to the unitiated?

JimK

Worth a try. Hard anodising is the stuff that makes thin sections very crack prone when strained.

Knowing the properties of various types of aluminium, I would say your chances are slim. Have you got an off cut that you could try bending in a hole through a 3 inch thick piece of wood that has a good radius on the bending side? Try it and see, by bending it over the length you mention above.

Dave

Well, it doesn't break although it kinks a fair bit. I won't notice after a few days ;) I actually offset it over far less than 8". 8" may have been kinkless.

Did you use a bending spring?

I'd fill it with fine sand and put a tight fitting cork in both ends. Tape over any holes in the body with gaffer tape.

It's 22mm use a pipe bender... Not sure how the anodising would standup to being forced into the guides though, bit of paper to reduce scratching?

One similar to this -

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But is it the same 22mm as copper? It needs to be a pretty good fit to the former.

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