Bending aluminum tubing to add more of a crown on the top ????

wellcraft-classic210

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 22, 2010
Messages
839
I am considering bending the aluminum tubing to add more of a crown on the top / Only need an inch or so added to help drainage / reduce / eliminate puddling on top of the existing camper canvas .

While a rolling tubing bender would seem to be the best way -- its not very cost effective and I may and up having someone else do the work. ( Lets just say that's not typical for me )

-- Wondering if anyone knows of DIY RIG or Method I might consider.
 

AShipShow

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 8, 2016
Messages
1,803
You could try filling the tubing with sand and capping both ends, then you could make a simple jig to hold both ends... then use a car Jack in the middle and slowly Jack the pipe till you get the radius your after.

If you don't fill the tube with sand or water, it will most likely kink.
 

emoney

Commander
Joined
Jul 19, 2010
Messages
2,551
Sorry I don’t have the link, but there’s a couple of good videos on Utube about exactly what you want to do that I just watched.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,082
Ayuh,...... When I built my semi-rigid bimini outa mostly aluminum conduit, I only bent the 1st piece,.....

The perimeter tubin' is 1, 1/2",..... The leadin' edge tube is the one I bent,......

I marked the center, put a short piece of 2x4 on the concrete floor, 'n had a bud stand on one end,.....
I stepped onto the other end, 'n the tube bent, in the center over the 2x4,......

Then I cut it to length, turned it abit so the bend was forward, 'n high, 'n welded on the prefab 90* corners,....
 
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