Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Picked up some stainless 1 inch pipe for making the back bumper out of.

Can stainless pipe be bent easily because I want to have it bent to come around the side of the tear back. Does it have to be heated in order to do so?

This is the same stainless that the Marine Industry uses for boat ladders and handrails.

Classic Finn

It's not really 'pipe' - It's thinwall tubing

The companies that make handrails and such out of it have special benders they use. While it can be bent cold, I suspect that anything more than a gentile curve will cause it to collapse on you. Heating it would probably give you better results, but you'll have to repolish that area if you want it to look 'chrome' like the rest of the tubing does

Don

Ohh so its even called a special name is it? Hmm ok. All I know its stainless.

I could however purchase the angle ends ... that are plentiful in the same place and fasten them instead of bending but yes Id sure like it to shine like the rest of it once bent...

You understand what I want to do correct... The 2 pipes are under the other by a spread piece in between.. about 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch not more..with end caps..

It will look very nice as to what we have in mind..

Here is the pipe ..


and here are the angles available.







Classic Finn

Hey Finn , you won't have any problem have'n SS tube or pipe bent .Take it to a muffler shop they use a tube bender . Or call around to railing shops . Alot of them will have both tubing and pipe benders . I would go with tube , you can buy already polished . Another place would be boat fab . They make their own bow rails , might be more $$$$$ . The fittings are pretty big and cost more than welding I bet . Good luck . Kerry

kerryd wrote:Hey Finn , you won't have any problem have'n SS tube or pipe bent .Take it to a muffler shop they use a tube bender . Or call around to railing shops . Alot of them will have both tubing and pipe benders . I would go with tube , you can buy already polished . Another place would be boat fab . They make their own bow rails , might be more $$$$$ . The fittings are pretty big and cost more than welding I bet . Good luck . Kerry

Thanks Kerryd...I,ll check into it..

Classic Finn

Hikkei, you can fill the tubing with sand and bend it yourself without heating.
it's easy..unless there is no sand in Finland..I don't think fins will work.

Jiminsav wrote:Hikkei, you can fill the tubing with sand and bend it yourself without heating.
it's easy..unless there is no sand in Finland..I don't think fins will work.

Sand Ohhh Yes Lots of it in Our Back Yard - Kids Sandbox

So you say it will bend with filling it with sand? Ok..

Classic Finn in da Sandbox

Classic Finn wrote:So you say it will bend with filling it with sand? Ok..

It won't kink, or crush if it's full of sand when it bends.

steve wolverton wrote:

Classic Finn wrote:So you say it will bend with filling it with sand? Ok..

It won't kink, or crush if it's full of sand when it bends.

Ok I,ll give it to my son when he goes out to play in the morning...

I did find a bender near by..inexpensive as well


Classic Finn

Finn , Ive tried the sand thing , with not much luck . It is very hard to bend two pieces the same this way. It's harder to bend tube than pipe . I've always had good luck with muffler shops . It would take them about 2 min. to bend your 4 sweeps . Here it would be about $25 to $30 . Just a thought . Kerry

Heikki...don't mean to be Mr. Negative...but that 1" tubing and those corner pieces are primarily made for marine railing uses. It's pretty much going to be cosmetic and not real protection on the rear of the tear. I think if you want protection, use a condom...no seriously, there are 90 degree bends and tubing in a steel that can be welded up to make a wonderful protective bumper (hand rail material). Of course it wouldn't have the stainless look, will be a larger diameter, but can be painted a metallic silver, or if you have the Kroner (that's what you use isn't it, pre EU?) plated...just my opinion...others may vary...or you could just stack what you have into 3 or 4 pieces tacked to a support and put a cap in the end of each tube for a straight bumper. Doug