Manky Monkey Motors

This might be one for Zacboy, TrikerPete or T Bone (although I'm sure there are plenty of other Monkey's out there who know the answer to this).  How do you stop the pipe twisting in the die when your trying to get two opposite bends in the same length of pipe.  I'm using a Clarke 12 tonne hydraulic bender and my first attempt has gone t*ts up.


I think I've attached a sketch of what I'm on about (but if it hasn't worked I'll get my 14yr old to do it for me

hi jevi, not sure weather its the tube twisting,but if you mean how to get two bends in the same piece of tube in line with each other so that when you have finished the bends you can put the tube on a flat surface and both bends are flat on that surface so the tube is still straight,my bender is like a Clark's bender and on one side it as three short feet so you can lay it on its side instead of upright to make your bends, to get two bends in line i put the bender on its side use a spirit level to make sure the bender is level then i put my first bend in the tube then when i pull the tube though for the second bend i check the bender is still level, then put the spirit level on the first bend to get that level with this level and the bender being level your can now put your second bend in the tube witch should then be  in line and level with your first bend if that makes sense

As Zakboy said

Or get a digital, ,magnetic angle gauge and you can operate the bender in any position as you can zero a digital angle gauge.

They only cost 25 quid for a decent one and measure to 1/10th of a degree.

Very useful tool that you will use many many times during your build.  ;)

i used the clarke 12tonn bender, as i had no initial plans for my frame it was a design as you go, i marked a line down my tube top to bottom then marked every 100mm increments it gives you somthing to go off when making pairs or opposites,and the line down the centre helps to line it up in the bender, i found if i put a bit of presure on the tube when in the bender then moved the tubeto where it needs to be it didnt twist around

take a step  back in time = before fancy ,gadgets, and draw a line down youre tube/pipe  before you start.... when youve  done a bit and in time  you will understand --------------simple,s,,==== best  ;)

Guess this is where iv been going wrong using high teck gadgets such as spirit levels......when i could be using a pen or a scriber  ;D

Thanks everyone I knew I'd come to the right place for advice.  ;D

I'm definitely low tech.
I lay the Clarkes bender on it's side, (on the rubber feet, as Zak says), & draw a free hand line down the length of the tube with a white Tippex pen, (using my little finger as a guide down the outside of the tube to keep the line parallel). Then keep the line either on the top, or along the line of the forming head for every bend. Should ensure all the bends are in the same plane, but the ERW tube we use will allow you to tweak things a little if necessary. 

well said mike ;)
i used cds tube for mine 3mm wall with 1"od its as strong  as an alcholics wee wee but will crease a little if bent to a tight angle unlike erw. so it will need a good 10+awg gusset.

are we back to gusset ;D

one track minds  ::) ::)

 ::) ::) Calm down Merv! ;D