Bending pipes for a green hoops

[Michelle K linnane]

I am sure some body on this forum has bent so pipe for green house hoops
looks like you guys have done everything in the world else. I think the pipe my other hoops are made from a fence pipe for chain link. the guys I bought
the orginal hoops charged too much and I think I can get the job done with

http://www.hoopbenders.net/4999dyseriesbenders.html

Interested to hear if anybody else has done this?

Also working on clearing some brush and dug some rather big brush with bucket. I have surprised myself with what my tractor and I have accomplished. will take some pictures this morning before I start and take more tonight. This area has never been this dry to work in here before, and I am not working now and I am going to town.

 

[Rob-D]

Hi Michelle,
Not to change your system but have you looked into PVC pipe? When you an arc that is stable at both ends it becomes very strong. I'm thinking 1-1/2" PVC. We use this on our green houses around here with good results and no bending issues.

Rob

 

[Mousefield]

I used PVC pipe to make this small hoop "green house" for two beds.
On a larger structure you may need to go with steel.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Here's another bender option:
Tubing Roller
A really long discussion thread on it:
Harbor Freight Tubing Roller

 

[Egon]

They could be built up by laminating lumber.

 

[JerryK]

I have bent thinwall electrical conduit for a guy to make hoops across a double axle trailer with sides. He was hauling harleys back in forth from Michigan around the country and did not want the truckers to be able to look down inside and see the bikes. He eventually bought an enclosed trailer. I bent the pipes using electrical conduit benders, making a small radius every so many inches. Most tin or millwright shops have rollers that can be set up to roll the radius's...and they can do it in one quick bend once they get it set up. My way works, but is a pain...

 

[grnspot110]

I used 1" PVC on my 10' x 10' greenhouse, has lasted for many years!

 

[crazyal]

It would be nice if they would tell you what wall thickness that the bender is good for. The row bender says it's good for 1/2" and 3/4" emt. I would think that may be kind of weak depending on the area you live in but I've never done a greenhouse. I've bent tubing for race cars. I would like to hear more if you do decide to try it.

I know around here you can find a shop that can bend pipe to any radius. All those benders look like two bend pieces of pipe connected together. I would think you could buy some heavier walled pipe, have a shop bend it, and make a bender similar but stronger.

 

[Haoleguy]

Hi Michelle - My spouse has me as the hired hand to execute her garden ideas. One of those has been to make hoops to go over raised rows to extend the growing season. While I have not made the larger hoops I have made smaller hoops from PVC(3/4") and EMT conduit(1/2 and 3/4") in 10' lengths. Since you are looking at larger hoop houses I would suggest the larger EMT conduit sizes(> 1") or the chainlink fencing poles is where you need to look but be aware that if you need couplers(unions, Tees, etc.) they maybe the limiting factor in your selection. In terms of bending I ended up making a gabled roofs instead of round because I could easily do it with a conduit bender. If you want round then either have someone bend it to your specification or go after one of the larger benders that provide good leverage. They can be a bit pricey but if you intend to make more hoophouses that might be the ticket.