[TheForge] filling pipe with sand to bend

[Andrew Vida]

I have done it with copper and black pipe.  It works well enough, but 
care must still be taken.  Go slowly.  The tighter the radius in 
relation to the diameter, the more prone you will be to flattening the 
tube.  The sand definitely helps a lot, but you can still dimple things 
if you get too tight or move too rapidly.  It might not hurt to anneal 
the tube locally as well if it will not cause strength issues.

On 11/6/2012 10:35 AM, Andy Gladish wrote:
> Has anyone out there tried this?
> I've got a curved schedule 10 1 1/4" nominal railing that needs a
> transition piece between two sections- this will be a curve that changes
> direction by 15 deg. in about 11". (that's a 42" radius)
>
> I'd have to bend it around a form or make some wooden dies and use a press,
> but if it's hot it seems like it would distort unless the dies are shaped
> just right.
>
> I'm worried about distortion if I roll it cold OR hot....
>
> Then after it's done it needs to get to a brushed finish- will muriatic
> acid do that, or is it better to try to do it cold so there's less cleanup?
> Or perhaps I can just grind and sand it clean?
>
> Thanks for any ideas!
>