opiear Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 im still farly new to forging but i have a guy that wants me to makehim a set of steps for his truck he wants twist look but solid stock would be way to heavy. i know from my years of fabrication u can fill the tube with sand to get a smooth bend with out having a mandrel set up will this work with twisting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 No need to fill with sand....... use heavy wall tubing, it actually works easier and looks better too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hans138 Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 r u wanting the tube to be square or round. i just started messing with steel pipe like 2 weeks ago, one cool thing about it is as you draw it out the walls get thicker since the downward force causes it bunch up or upset set. so maybe start with way larger pipe, draw it out, i like squareing it up and drawing it out as opposed to fillling with sand or using a botttom swage, then twist while its squared up, andif you want it round, round it back out with a wood stump and wood mallet. that may do the trick but im sure there is a much more experienced smith who would have a better way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 im still farly new to forging but i have a guy that wants me to makehim a set of steps for his truck he wants twist look but solid stock would be way to heavy. i know from my years of fabrication u can fill the tube with sand to get a smooth bend with out having a mandrel set up will this work with twisting Short answer is yes you can twist tube, go too far and it will collapse and /or distort, You don't give sizes or a rough sketch re attaching this to the vehicle, but have you considered using flat bar twisted with flat areas for the rungs to be secured to ? Left hand twist for one side, right hand twist for the other, twists will give rigidity to the flat bar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opiear Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 its going on an 05 dodge crew cab and i hadn't thought about using flat bar like that to attach it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest baddog Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 We actually just tried twisting hollow square tubing. Just go slow. Slow and a couple heats and it turned out pretty nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 the short pieces i have messed with i used a piece of rod on the inside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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