How to Use a Chinese Pipe Bender - Kevin Caron

Kevin creates the edge of a piece for a 7-foot tall commission using the ingenious Chinese pipe bender. He explains how he's using it, and how he could have done it on the forge - preferably without setting his pants on fire.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Chinese
• Pipe
• Bender
• Sculpture
• Artist
• at
• Work
• Sculptor
• Art
• Studio
• Metal
• Welded
• Steel
• Kevin
• Caron

[kevincaron]

It is called a "compact bender" and you can find it at Harbor Freight. The cost is $84 dollars

Thanks for posting....

[hardwares1]

you're gonna be there DAYS makin' that one side piece that way, on that hossfeld, tryin' to bend it "the hard way" to match an existing free-form curve...

suggestion:

1. hold scrap cardboard against shape (or lay shape OVER the cardboard)

2. trace around with pencil

3. cut out template with scissors (or razor knife)

4. chalk its outline onto steel plate

5. cut plate out with oxi-acet (or plasma)

well, good luck with it...

[kevincaron]

@hardwares1 You did notice the date this video was added right? That piece is all done and installed a long time ago.

But thanks for posting. Check back often, things change quick around here.

[kevincaron]

Hi moto911. I PM'd you.

[savagenomore]

why does he remind me of Kermit the Frog...

[albertmorales1]

where could i buy this machine and how much is it? is there a specific name for this product?

[obeze101]

Tape one end, pack with sand, then tape the other end. Be sure to hit with hammer or tap hard on the ground about every cup or two of sand to make sure you pack it tight and have NO air pockets.

[kevinacaron]

Very hard to do. If you do not have the dies to fit the shape it will collapse when you try to bend it.

You can try filling the pipe with sand, pack very tight and sealing the end to keep the sand tight. The sand should keep the pipe in the right shape. I have had some success with this but not much.

A large roller and a gentle curve may give you what you are looking for.

Hope is helps.

[dan3nad]

I got some hand rail tubing(hollow tubing)looks like a mushroom from side, can any one please help me with how i can bend that into a curve?

[moto9ll]

i have tube bending dies for the bender you have in this video if your interested from 1/8 upto 5/8 OD