316 stainless tube

[iwillmott]

I want to mount some solar panels atop my bimini or davits with 1" stainless 316. I figure on using 90's to make the turns and open jaw clamps but my problem is:how do you cut stainless. Hacksaw? I did cut some opnce with a roto-zip but it burned it's way thru and coloured to steel back from the cut. Open to any and all. Also has anyone used an electricians conduit bender for make turn in stainless? I know its pretty strong.

 

[Roger Long]

I cut it with a hacksaw all the time.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

An electrician's hand bender won't do it but a hydraulic one will. It's critical that the tubing and bender dies are a match or you risk kinking the tube.

 

[Steve Dion]

I think if you take your tubing to a muffler shop or a canvas shop they can cut/bend the stuff for you.

 

[RAD]

I'm an electrician and I've bent plenty of stainless with a 1" bender but never a complete 90 but it can be done, just make sure you apply the pressure at the foot of the bender and not the handle to avoid the kink.....I take plain old black electric tape and wrap the stainless where the bender will be to protect it from scratching

 

[jmark]

cutting stainless tube

You can make a clean cut to stainless tubing with a small pipe cutter. Just remember to cut through it as in small cranks on the handle each round as opposed to crushing your way through it. Less than 3/4 tubing cuts fine with hand (palm) tubing cutters.

 

[woodster]

the electrictions use to have a bender called a chicago bender that work well ...if i remember correctly it had a multipal set of bosses on it and set on the floor on a 3 legged base with wheels on one end ...was made by Greelee not sure i spelled that right but it work great on 1 1/2 inch ss pipe ........

regards

woody

 

[kenn]

I've cut stainless steel tube with a 4" metal cut-off blade in an angle grinder... but this isn't a precision instrument.

How are you planning to assemble this? If you don't have fittings for all the possible joints, and you don't weld SS... it could be pretty crude.

Is there a reason you're not using aluminum? I find that there's lots more shapes available in aluminum - round and square tube, angle channel, bar - and of course it's alot easier to cut and work. I've also had good results where I created a structure from cut aluminum components fastened onto a wooden jig, then took this to a welding shop and had them weld all the joints.

 

[DJN51]

cutting stainless

Just made stern rails for my 23.5 Hunter.Cut it with tube cutter,used conduit bender to bend it.Filled it with pool filter sand,plugged ends,bend slowly.Worked great.Made a test pattern out of 3/4 conduit to know where to align bender.

 

[Maine Sail]

I use a Rigid pipe cutter. Takes about 15 seconds and leaves a beautiful clean cut. If you don't have a pipe cutter then a hack saw with a good Lennox blade works well. A Rotozip is far to fast to cut stainless, unless using it with an abrasive cut off wheel. When drilling or cutting SS slow speed is your friend.

 

[RAD]

the electrictions use to have a bender called a chicago bender that work well ...if i remember correctly it had a multipal set of bosses on it and set on the floor on a 3 legged base with wheels on one end ...was made by Greelee not sure i spelled that right but it work great on 1 1/2 inch ss pipe ........

regards

woody

The Chicago bender is a great tool and I just realized there's one buried in the shop attic, this is an old tool that won't be found so easy I bought mine with a load of auction lots and have never used it, todays electrician's use state of the art hydraulic smart benders

 

[iwillmott]

anyone ever use a sawzall?

 

[RAD]

anyone ever use a sawzall?

Thats what I've used with a new metal blade and slow speed......remember slow is pro with stainless, I never tried a tubing cutter but if MS gives it an A+ I'll try that next time

 

[Ron20324]

I just mounted solar panels on my bimini and decided 1 inch tube was overkill- probably as was the 7/8 I used. I suggest the thinner .049-walled tube. I used a large pipe cutter- like plumbers use, with the small wheels. I cut my bimini and dodger bows with it. The nice thing about it is it compresses the end a little so they go into the fittings better.

 

[iwillmott]

I just mounted solar panels on my bimini and decided 1 inch tube was overkill- probably as was the 7/8 I used. I suggest the thinner .049-walled tube. I used a large pipe cutter- like plumbers use, with the small wheels. I cut my bimini and dodger bows with it. The nice thing about it is it compresses the end a little so they go into the fittings better.

I like that idea..was kinda hooked on the 1" strength ..Thinking of 2 135 kyoceras and they have a bit of weight..maybe 50 lbs total..

 

[dscribner]

Fill the tube with sand. It will act as an internal mandrill and prevent the kink. No, really.

 

[iwillmott]

Fill the tube with sand. It will act as an internal mandrill and prevent the kink. No, really.

I'll try that on copper first -results shouldn't be that different

 

[alexco38]

Try look up local SS shop first. I got my bimini frame 3 tubes done for $75 each.

By the time you bought your tube bender, trial and errors later. You may ended up with no gain

I found these guys by google Www.thestainlessshop.com

 

[alexco38]

Sorry the web site is
Thestainlessshop.ca

I am sure there are local business like this in your area