Bending Stainless Boat Rail

[kc10a]

I need to bend a piece of 1" stainless steel boat rail about 75 degrees. I have a 1" conduit bender. Would that work? Any other suggestions? I'd prefer not to have to heat it because of the discoloring.

 

[rockwithjason]

What bend radius? What wall thickness?

 

[gregtwojeeps]

SS can be tricky to keep it from kinking. The longer radius of the bending shoe is , the better. Do you have enough tubing to try a test bend on it with your bender, yet have enough left over to do your project ? Muffler shops or metal fab shops may bend it for you also. JMO

 

[NKlamerus]

I know all about kinks.... Check out the tongue rail

 

[rlitman]

Fill it with something solid to prevent kinks. Sand is often recommended. I've used sugar in smaller tubes, because it can be dissolved afterwards.

 

[Chaznsc]

Two words, Jack Olsen

 

[LXCam]

The issue will be the conduit bender is larger then 1". So the tubing will flatten and kink on you no matter what you do. I think Woodward fab makes a inexpensive bender that would work. I have one but need to confirm the manufacturer, been a lot of years since I bought and used it.

 

[Jackfre]

You want more of an arc, correct? Make a cardboard template for the desired arc. Get a large enough router with a bit to cut the OD profile of the tubing in a large piece of wood. Mount that to a table. Fill the tubing with sand and with companion dies pull it in. You will likely have to overbend to attain the shape you need due to springback, but with this set up, you can experiment.

 

[Jess]

My marine canvas guys did all the top bows and new radar arch on my boat out of 1" stainless. He has a roller type setup with a large wheel that is about 12" in diameter. The smaller wheel can be advanced to the eventual radius required. They were perfect and some are 90s and small radius. The table bender suggested by Jackfre is the same principle. Easy does it and multiple bending will work fine. When I had the bow rail off my boat, it sprung out about 5' from each side when unsecured. When pulled back into place, the tension keeps it lined up and true. If you are near any boat builders, they do this type of thing all the time and might be able to help you.

 

[ez-duzit]

Take it to a professional who has a bender.

 

[zkling]

Based solely on the first post,

Take it to a professional who has a bender.

This is your best bet.

 

[kc10a]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll check with a muffler shop or a place that does bikinis. Better than ruining a piece of stainless at today's prices.

 

[ez-duzit]

A muffler shop probably won't be able to to it because they won't have 1" dies. You need a metal fabrication/welding shop.