Bending square tube with out a bender.

[poser]

Anyone have a secret trick or method of bending tubing with out a bender?
I'm going to be building a full length roof basket for my 4Runner, using 3/4" 16 ga square tube. The place I buy steel has square tube circles I could buy and cut up to make corners, but that's a lot of extra welding. Not that big of a deal, but I figure the end product might look better if I could get some nice even bends.
Thoughts, tips, tricks?


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[BettysNephew]

Since you are doing the welding yourself, go to a fab shop that can make the bends for you, pay their fee which will likely be more reasonable than buying a bender and learning to use it while wasting material. If you can find a welding shop that has a Hossfield bender they should be able to do that for you. If you know anyone in the mechanical trades they can probably recommend someone. I would try an ironworker first but most of the guys in trades know each other and who is good. If all else fails find a union hall and ask around, just tell them what you are trying to do so they don't think you are beating them out of work.

Check with the place you buy steel from they don't have a dog in the game and can recommend someone. Perhaps they know someone private that does work on the side.

 

[FrenchToasty]

Since you are doing the welding yourself, go to a fab shop that can make the bends for you, pay their fee which will likely be more reasonable than buying a bender and learning to use it while wasting material. If you can find a welding shop that has a Hossfield bender they should be able to do that for you. If you know anyone in the mechanical trades they can probably recommend someone. I would try an ironworker first but most of the guys in trades know each other and who is good. If all else fails find a union hall and ask around, just tell them what you are trying to do so they don't think you are beating them out of work.

Check with the place you buy steel from they don't have a dog in the game and can recommend someone. Perhaps they know someone private that does work on the side.

Agreed! 60-100$ it will take you longer to splain what you want, than it will take them to bend it up. Just come knowing what you want in exact measurements, not sorta this long or I don't know what do you think? Most of the supply houses counters are plastered with cards of fab or weld shops, it's your gamble to choose a good one

 

[xplormor-offroad]

Mc

Or just miter cut and weld it...

 

[fourwd1]

Moving to OT.