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patrick_g · 10-29-2006, 10:33 AM

Matt, If your needs exceed the primitive by very much it is likely that you would not be happy with the HF unit. It does what it does OK but it is pretty primitive.

The last bending job I needed to be done with precision was fitting an Aires wind vane self steering unit to the transom of my sailboat. A buddy of mine and I were both putting them on our boats. Luckily for me he really knew this stuff cold. He is a graduate mechanical engineer. He helped me make prototypes out of coat hangers. We were working with aluminum alloy thick wall tubing. The outfit he selected anealed the aluminum to dead soft, bent the curves to match our prototypes, and then tempered the alloy to T-6. In storm situations the loads are tremendous and the installation has stood up well for over 20 years (I got a report from two owners after me.)

This was nothing I would have liked to try with my HF bender.

Pat

10-29-2006, 10:33 AM	#29 (permalink)
patrick_g Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Central OK Posts: 2,832	Re: Harbor Freght Pipe Bender Matt, If your needs exceed the primitive by very much it is likely that you would not be happy with the HF unit. It does what it does OK but it is pretty primitive. The last bending job I needed to be done with precision was fitting an Aires wind vane self steering unit to the transom of my sailboat. A buddy of mine and I were both putting them on our boats. Luckily for me he really knew this stuff cold. He is a graduate mechanical engineer. He helped me make prototypes out of coat hangers. We were working with aluminum alloy thick wall tubing. The outfit he selected anealed the aluminum to dead soft, bent the curves to match our prototypes, and then tempered the alloy to T-6. In storm situations the loads are tremendous and the installation has stood up well for over 20 years (I got a report from two owners after me.) This was nothing I would have liked to try with my HF bender. Pat __________________ Never wrestle with a pig (however titled) as you just get dirty and the pig has all the fun.