skyking
Well-known member
What kind of place would I go to have heavy wall pipe bent in 90 degrees . I need to make a roll bar 3' long x 2' tall x 3" or 4" round.. Any suggestions on the thickness of the steel pipe would help also .Thanx.
Pipe bending ??
- Thread starter skyking
- Start date
tractordude
Well-known member
Find the thread in the fabrication section, where the guy turned a Harbor freight bender into a useful pipe bender.
H.F. has them on sale this month for $89-99.
H.F. has them on sale this month for $89-99.
FORMUD
Well-known member
The thickness and type of pipe you will need, will depend on the intended use. I know you said "roll bar" but what kinda of application are we talking about?
As for getting some tube bent, I would think a Off Road shop into fabrication would have bender and the right kind of tube too.
As for getting some tube bent, I would think a Off Road shop into fabrication would have bender and the right kind of tube too.
No offense, but if you are asking "what diameter and thickness should I use for my rollbar?", (4", really? have you ever seen a rollcage?) you shouldn't be making your own rollbar.
This is assuming you want a functional unit, not a show unit, per your comment above. Fabricating and installing a good looking and more importantly FUNCTIONAL rollbar is not as simple as making two 90 degree bends and welding it to the floorpan of the car.
Here is some stuff to think about: You need single piece hoops - you can't piece tubes together, DOM is better than ERW, proper bracing in the hoop and supports and tie-in points on the chassis, load distribution base plates (again, of proper area and thickness), proper attachment points, full 360degree welds (much harder than you imagine in a car with an interior and a tight fitting bar/cage), tubing notching, gussets, how are you going to paint/chrome it, etc., etc., etc... Note: IMO it is more difficult to put a cage into a car with a roof/interior, than it is to build an entire damn tubeframe chassis.
If you are asking the kind of basic questions in your OP, I HIGHLY recommend you take the car to a speed/off road shop that regularly builds cages and have them do the cage/rollbar. Pay for their expertise for this safety system.
Source: have built roll bars, roll hoops, roll cages, and tube frame chassis.
This is assuming you want a functional unit, not a show unit, per your comment above. Fabricating and installing a good looking and more importantly FUNCTIONAL rollbar is not as simple as making two 90 degree bends and welding it to the floorpan of the car.
Here is some stuff to think about: You need single piece hoops - you can't piece tubes together, DOM is better than ERW, proper bracing in the hoop and supports and tie-in points on the chassis, load distribution base plates (again, of proper area and thickness), proper attachment points, full 360degree welds (much harder than you imagine in a car with an interior and a tight fitting bar/cage), tubing notching, gussets, how are you going to paint/chrome it, etc., etc., etc... Note: IMO it is more difficult to put a cage into a car with a roof/interior, than it is to build an entire damn tubeframe chassis.
If you are asking the kind of basic questions in your OP, I HIGHLY recommend you take the car to a speed/off road shop that regularly builds cages and have them do the cage/rollbar. Pay for their expertise for this safety system.
Source: have built roll bars, roll hoops, roll cages, and tube frame chassis.
Last edited:
72Anthony
Well-known member
Between Dallas and Tulsa there should be plenty of fabrication companies that serve the oil and gas industry. Bring cash and maybe they will do it while you wait.
Professur
Well-known member
If it's for show ... 2" exhaust pipe. Get mandrel bends, **** weld the joints, smooth the welds and paint. If it's for anything more, go talk to your local off road specialty shop and have then crank out your hoop for you.
Rookie2
Well-known member
Go buy one from a cobra and cut and fit it to the car. If you have never done this type of work , this isn't the time to start .
Zeke
Well-known member
Why would anyone build a 'roll' bar for show? Either it is or it ain't. You might be better off with nothing rather than a tube breaking and impaling you.
J.A.Varela
Banned
Light car. I'd use 1-1/4" sch 40 steel pipe. Chump change. One of those bottle jack HF benders will do it easy(12-16 ton) Use a 3/8 foot with a 1/4" matching plate underneath and 1/2" GR8 bolts. You'll have the look and decent protection with out the wallet muncher that is Chrome moly.
Last edited:
csp
Well-known member
All that those harbor freight benders do is kink the pipe.
FordsnFishin
Well-known member
Find an union electrician! We bend 3'' and 4'' rigid conduit all the time!
I agree with sac02. If you don't have a clear idea of what you're doing, don't do it. Internet forums, even our beloved GJ, are full of people who will 'help' by shooting their mouths off whether they know anything or not. None of these pontificators are going to be in your car if it goes wheels up, but you will be.
If you're looking for an actual functional roll bar or cage, then you're asking strangers for advice on how to do something that your life may depend upon. Find someone who knows what they're doing, and deal with them face to face, and build something useful.
If you're looking for an actual functional roll bar or cage, then you're asking strangers for advice on how to do something that your life may depend upon. Find someone who knows what they're doing, and deal with them face to face, and build something useful.
SALIV8
Well-known member
Call a performance automotive shop, chassis shop, race car fabricators, etc. they'll pump that out easily.
JoeFin
Well-known member
Your located a little too far for my bender
mark18mwm
Well-known member
Like^^^like^^^like^^^. Any race car shop should be able to make exactly what you want/need. A roll bar like that is as simple as it gets. They will set you up with proper tubing (dom- drawn over mandrel) that will be safe and good looking and from the sound of what you want, probably fairly inexpensive. don't waste your time and money with conduit, water pipe,etc not only unsafe but harder to work with and not as nice looking as dom. I raced, worked on and built dirt modifieds, the main structural tubing was usualy 1 3/4" dom with either .084 or .095 wall thickness. Some of the lighter cars guys use 1 1/2" to stay light, to me that little weight savings is foolish considering at some point a race car will most likely be on its roof. Save yourself the hassle money and piece of mind, go to a race car fabricator, very simple job for them.
Last edited:
kaffine
Well-known member
Look up structural steel fabricators.
HMCFab9
Well-known member
As others have said: find a hotrod / fab shop. Have it bent out of DOM tubing.
Otherwise find a 4x4 / Jeep / off-road shop or club.
Some 4x4 guys have benders in their own shops. Locally a lot of full tube buggy's are being built, so there are a lot of JD squared tube benders around.
Otherwise find a 4x4 / Jeep / off-road shop or club.
Some 4x4 guys have benders in their own shops. Locally a lot of full tube buggy's are being built, so there are a lot of JD squared tube benders around.
laser3kw
Well-known member
not good - ever
or, if the car is ever sold, the next guy may not know "it's fake" and not functional.
do it right the first time.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
LOTS of baaad advice. A roll bar is a safety device. You don't just "make" one out of rigid conduit, exhaust pipe, etc. Contact whatever organization you race with & get their requirements. The only exception I would make is if you get a harness bar. They're not legal for racing, but they sometimes look like a roll bar and the only true purpose they serve is to be a mounting point for sport harnesses.
IDK what your chassis is like, but I know the competition roll bars for MG Midgets & Austin Healey Sprites are the same.
Tommy
IDK what your chassis is like, but I know the competition roll bars for MG Midgets & Austin Healey Sprites are the same.
Tommy
Last edited:
arrowhead
Well-known member
You could use two of these (they have passenger side as well)
http://www.breezeautomotive.com/details.php?prod_id=926
http://www.breezeautomotive.com/details.php?prod_id=926
Try searching Google for a chassis builder in your area. When you find one, you'll be better off talking to them in person instead of a phone call. Take a few pictures of the car and a rough drawing of what you want. They should be able to give you a yeah or nah.
blacknblue
Well-known member
If you would like to do it your self you will need a tube bender not pipe bender. The die is what costs the real money. When making a cage you really should use DOM tubing not pipe. If you can cut metal and weld already is not to difficult. Just research cage building and google "triangulation". If not find a Jeep shop. Good luck!
Here is one that alot people use:
https://www.jd2.com/p-32-model-3-bender.aspx
Here is one that alot people use:
https://www.jd2.com/p-32-model-3-bender.aspx
laser3kw
Well-known member
I made the mistake of using a "pipe bender" instead f a "tubing bender". All I got was flattened bends. I stepped up and got a tubing bender from
tubing bender link
I have the manual type. Works good, makes the job a lot easier.
tubing bender link
I have the manual type. Works good, makes the job a lot easier.
Check these guys out, I've gotten a lot of stuff from them over the years for various projects.
http://www.smileysracing.com/locations/
http://www.smileysracing.com/locations/
Pantone032
Active member
DOM Mild Steel.
Vehicle weight: 1701 - 2699 lbs
1.500 x .095
1.625 x .080
2700 lbs and up
1.50 x .120
1.750 x .095
2.00 x .080
SCCA requirements..
Even if its a show car, do it right the first time.
Vehicle weight: 1701 - 2699 lbs
1.500 x .095
1.625 x .080
2700 lbs and up
1.50 x .120
1.750 x .095
2.00 x .080
SCCA requirements..
Even if its a show car, do it right the first time.
tractordude
Well-known member
wnstwolf
Well-known member
Beat me to it arrowhead. The FFR cottage industry pulls through. Mark at breeze will treat you right.
The wide radius of a conduit bender shoe makes a roll bar look like ****, muffler shop may be able to do a decent job, and a union electrician is not the only one who can bend pipe.
A electrician who knows how to bend conduit is a artist, IMO.
Edit: If anyone does not believe me about the radius of conduit sweeps & how lousy they look on a roll bar, go to a HD or Lowes & lay a couple of rigid 90's on the floor to visualize how they would look like, & I would not use them to make a roll bar, the threads are the weak point, incase anyone gets a bright idea.
Last edited:
Rentawrench
Well-known member
You guys need to READ the op . It's a roll BAR like on a Cobra kit car TIGHT radius , nothing a HF , Electrician, exhaust pipe bender can bend. A real fab shop with a mandrel bender.
To the OP Glad at least someone read it Right an gave you the Right info, a Fab shop closer to home IF your car is differnt behind the seat.
To the OP Glad at least someone read it Right an gave you the Right info, a Fab shop closer to home IF your car is differnt behind the seat.
bad_idea
Well-known member
You and everyone you have ever met will die in a fiery blaze if you don't pay a professional to build the roll bar for you.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
^^^^
I suppose your roll bar is made out of PVC?
(I've seen that done).
BTW, the Breeze bar is NOT a safety item. It's a dress up piece...
Tommy
I suppose your roll bar is made out of PVC? (I've seen that done).BTW, the Breeze bar is NOT a safety item. It's a dress up piece...
Tommy