How can I do this ?

[Vernmotor]

I want to put these alum-plates 0.50 thick on my roll bar to hep keeping it from geting scratch up. So I need to bend them to fit..any ideas on how ?

 

[Red Green]

Set the plate on another tube and use a several hose clamps to tighten the plate around the bar. You might have to experiment with different parts.

 

[rcleaver]

Set the plate on another tube and use a several hose clamps to tighten the plate around the bar. You might have to experiment with different parts.

That might work better if you heat the strips after attaching them.

If you had a wider sheet of aluminum, it might be a whole lot easier (or at least a better result) with an English wheel.

 

[jsaw]

Did you mean that they were .050"thick?
You could find someone with a sheet metal bending brake, & make a series of slight bends across the width of the pieces,or
You could find a piece of tubing the same size as your roll bar, clamp the pieces to it, and slowly Bump & massage the pieces & form them to the tubing.

 

[nissan_crawler]

You aren't doing .050 with hose clamps. your best bet is scrap tube and hammer/dolly.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Find a sheet metal shop with a roll press. Then again perhaps I am wrong, can they roll material that tightly?

How about this get your hands on a piece of pipe that has the same internal dimension as the external dimension of your roll cage. Cut the piece of pipe you will use as a top die in half length wise. Now you need some sort of fixture or jig to hold a piece of pipe the same size as your roll cage (your bottom die). Then load the pipe like the rollcage(bottom die) in the fixture and compress one half of your split pipe (top die) on top of the roll cage diameter pipe and sandwich the material you want to compress between the two. I don't know from here if you have a shop with a press bend them up for you or you try it with a sledge yourself or what, but it is a start for ya. I am sure this could easily work, it is just like dies in a press.

 

[Vernmotor]

Yes .050 sorry...I have a press.. thanks for the ideas !

 

[WH0DAMAN]

Find a sheet metal shop with a roll press. Then again perhaps I am wrong, can they roll material that tightly?

How about this get your hands on a piece of pipe that has the same internal dimension as the external dimension of your roll cage. Cut the piece of pipe you will use as a top die in half length wise. Now you need some sort of fixture or jig to hold a piece of pipe the same size as your roll cage (your bottom die). Then load the pipe like the rollcage(bottom die) in the fixture and compress one half of your split pipe (top die) on top of the roll cage diameter pipe and sandwich the material you want to compress between the two. I don't know from here if you have a shop with a press bend them up for you or you try it with a sledge yourself or what, but it is a start for ya. I am sure this could easily work, it is just like dies in a press.

Sounds like it will work to me.

 

[senlow]

A slip roll leaves a short straight section at each end of the part. Is that 1-3/4" tubing? Most slip rolls will not roll that tight.

When I worked with sheet metal, we made many small bends in 1/16" to 1/8" increments to approximate a radius. You could make a punch and die (as mentioned above) and press form the radius. Keep in mind that you will need to use a slightly smaller radius on the punch and die set to account for spring back.

Of course, you could also hammer form the radius over a pipe. I suggest this as a last resort because without alot of practice, it is hard to do a good job.

How do you plan to attach the aluminum? I prefer not to drill any unnecessary holes in a cage.

 

[wrenchr]

Scrap tubing and a mallet.

 

[Defender Chassis]

You could just buy them. I know I have seen them in SS but can not seem to figure out who sells them. Here is a link to some made out of carbon fiber:

http://www.quartermax.com/details.php?prodID=1604&catID=1

 

[Uncle Buck]

How do you plan to attach the aluminum? I prefer not to drill any unnecessary holes in a cage.

Sounds like a good place for zip ties to me.

 

[WH0DAMAN]

Sounds like a good place for zip ties to me.

I would use 3M double side tape. Thats what we use for door mouldings and it doesnt let loose very easily. Adhesive promoter would also be a wise choice.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I would use 3M double side tape. Thats what we use for door mouldings and it doesnt let loose very easily. Adhesive promoter would also be a wise choice.

I agree, it would look better too!

 

[Vernmotor]

Thanks Guys...I have found that A.R.T sells them for 32.00 ?..I will mess around alittle and see if I can bend them..if not 32 bucks ain't much..

 

[Jim M.]

If all you want to do is protect the rollbar from scratches, then why not put some aluminum or stainless steel tape over the rollbar. You'll be done in 15 minutes and for a lot less money.

Jim M.

 

[franksinatra]

I thought of a couple of ideas. One, fasten the piece your trying to bend with 2 rivets lengthwise on the same size bar your trying to apply the piece too. Take it to the beach, lay down a towel on the sand. Beat the back of the pipe with the SS side down and it may form correctly with some persuasion. I would say you should smooth a section of sand to start out.

Second idea, get some SS and have someone bend it first and then cut it out.

I dont know if either will work, just some ideas. G

 

[franksinatra]

I suppose I should have added that you will need to drill out the rivets on the first idea and use the same holes to mount the piece on the actual bar its going on. G

 

[Vernmotor]

Just to update I need to take pics and I will..but the trick was to get the right alum..Guy call it 0-temper ?? All I know is it is soft and .050 thick ..I bend it around some tube the same size and a peice smaller..work good, Frank I like your idea..I might of try'ed that..Thanks to all for the help.

 

[racer7x]

Not sure what you are doing with the car but another option is use roll bar padding instead of the alum. Might be a little easier on the knees and elbows.

 

[Vernmotor]

I had roll bar padding in all my race car..it looks real bad after about 2 months..We do have to have it around the driver..put new on every year...

 

[rsanter]

you can use an english wheel to apply some curve to those

bob

 

[Vernmotor]

Here is a update pic..got it done .tie-wraps holding in place while I am working on car.. when done I need to do some paint work and then I will fasten them on.

 

[cshabang]

so how did you finally do them?

 

[Vernmotor]

rounding -rolling by hand over a little smaller tube and then the right size tube...sore thumbs lol.

 

[ProGun3400]

Another option is spiral wrap. We use it at work to protect wires from rubbing/chafing. It comes in many different sizes and colors. Not sure how cost effective it would be versus the aluminum? Installation is a snap.

http://www.pro-tec-toproducts.com/catalogwrap.asp

 

[914forme]

Clear plastic is the only way togo, you know the stuff 3m and others sell for paint protection. BTW, a metal edge on a roll bar could be like a knife to your race suit.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

I want to put these alum-plates 0.50 thick on my roll bar to hep keeping it from geting scratch up. So I need to bend them to fit..any ideas on how ?

Not to avoid your question - however, have you considered coating the roll bars with that Linex bed coating - or even that Rhino - stuff - They are UV resistant and super super tough

 

[Vernmotor]

Thats not a bad idea !! I think that would work...

 

[VDubJoe]

If you want it more workable use a torch to aneal it. Use a sooty flame and cover it with soot. Then heat enough to burn the soot off. It should be very workable.

Joe

 

[rodknocker]

My 2 cents, if you bought some angle iron, I'm guessing around 2"X2", weld some tabs to hold the metal in place,weld the angle to a plate, then use a bar to push it into the angle might give you the shape.