Practically Classics Forum

Has anyone any experience in using one of those 'cheap' pipe benders to bend 42mm 1 5/8" exhaust pipe or to be precise tube? I've watched various videos on line but still not sure about it. I've tried a few of the methods, filling with sand, using a die that's a bit tight and whilst they work to an extent aren't fool proof, or at least not for this fool....laugh please it's a joke. I wish to make a new exhaust with a couple of bends but so far no joy. Any help would be appreciated. I'm going to keep trying as I'm sure I'll master it before I run out of pipe.....or the will to live.

Bending exhausts to shape is probably a lot more skilled than it looks- to be honesti reckon your best option is to buy the bends off the shelf or cut them from used pipes of the right diameter and weld them in- exhausts tend to get junked because a box has gone but the actual pipes are often pretty good.

WHS^^ without a proper mandrel your wasting your time, buy the bends and weld it all up.

Yes agree with above.

Exhausts can often be tweeted a little, hangers moved etc but for a system get some pipes and bends and build your own. I used to do this regularly when I worked in Motorsport and specialist tuning although we were slightly spoiled in that Jetex were local to us and had shelves full of various sizes of pipe's, bends, silencers, catalyst's, hangers etc etc that we could choose from. I'm sure if you could locate a nearby supplier there is nothing you could not achieve.

I've had some good success's in the past with a simple hydraulic bender, I worked out my own little system where I could replicate bends how I wanted them over and over.

I've built a few cages (for show use only before anyone says it ). I was young then and realise now that the cage would probably do more harm than good!







And I bent four lengths of 2x2 box tubing and had to get them spot on.





So it is possible,

However..... All that said for an exhaust I have to agree with the above comments. The time and effort it would take it would be quicker to just use pre fabricated/used bends.

I spy a Caddy !! I had a MK1 Caddy Sport. Then we had a baby and 2 seats wasn't any good, so we sold it . Its on youtube ,afraid it's been got at no longer a Sport in my eyes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqijnM0vO-I
What it did look like..

Bending tube is a pain without a mandrel.

Yeah that's no caddy sport anymore, such a shame.

I used mine for two years while I renovated my house then started to restore it but my dads work mate son was desperate for one as he'd just passed his test so I sold it to him. Which was a mistake as it's still sat untouched and unloved in a lockup.

Dobbin wrote:Has anyone any experience in using one of those 'cheap' pipe benders to bend 42mm 1 5/8" exhaust pipe or to be precise tube?

You mean one of these?

It's not really a pipe bender,more of a bar bender,as they kink the pipe

Bending pipe with these is best

No not one of those. One of these
Admin edit: removed random data

Well that didn't work as I intended.........

The one I have is a 12T hydraulic pipe bender