DIY exhaust pipe bending is a cheaper alternative to purchasing pre-bent pipes. Bending allows one to replace a rusty or leaking pipe efficiently without wasting time. When you opt to take bending as a DIY project, you will have the best fit customized according to your vehicle.
Exhaust pipes are essential. A leaking or rusty pipe needs to be replaced to ensure your vehicle runs smoothly. Improper bending may ruin the pipe due to creasing at the point where force is applied. This article will guide you on how to bend exhaust pipes the traditional way.
Getting Ready
First things first, you cannot start bending if you are not prepared to. It is crucial that you have the right tools for this task. You will require a mandrel bender, two pipe caps, a template pipe, bench vise, fireplace, clean sand, the pipe, and a pair of leather welder’s gloves. The process of custom exhaust pipe bending is easy. However, a high level of precision is essential to ensure everything works out just fine.
For an exhaust pipe, you will require a strong and durable metal, such as stainless steel or iron. If this is your first time, template pipes to show you exactly how you should bend the pipe to fit your car are essential.
Getting the Right Pipe Size
To begin, prepare the pipe, you are to bend into the appropriate size, depending on your vehicle. Measure the pipe into the correct size and mark out where you have to cut it. A hacksaw is an excellent tool for cutting any metal; hence it is important to have it with you.
Make sure that you make a straight cut to assure you that the tubing will fit well into each other. Do not forget to have the safety gear on. In case there are any flaws after the cut, you can always use a grinder to deal with the imperfections of the cut.
Add Sand into the Pipe
The basic concept of sand is that it builds up enough pressure to prevent the inner walls of the pipe from collapsing. It also helps ensure a smooth bend on the tube, making it an invaluable material. Block one end of the pipe with a cap and fill it up with sand, making sure that the sand is tightly packed. Close up the other end with the second cap such that there is no air space left.
Heat the Pipe
One of the most popular methods of bending gas pipe is via the use of a blow torch. It provides a lot of heat on the area you want to turn, thus making it malleable. Therefore, it becomes easy for you to shape it anyhow you want.
There are several heating ways you can choose when bending pipe. However, because steel or iron is a relatively hard metal, you may require a lot more heat to make it malleable. A fireplace thus would be essential. Just ensure to set it up at an outdoor safe place far from buildings and flammable objects.
You should make sure that before you embark on a bending black iron pipe, you mark out where you need to bend. Having a template pipe helps to ensure you have the bends accurately. When the iron or steel pipe is red hot, that is when you know it is ready for bending.
Bend the Pipe
A homemade vise for bending would be great and cheap to make. You only require an old car tire rim and a metal welded on one side to hold the pipe you want to bend. The vise or C-clamp should be close to the fireplace to ensure that the pipe is still hot when you are turning.
When heating, be careful not to overheat the pipe since it may cause damage. The rim may also have some markings to guide you on how much you should bend it. Bending the pipe with your bare hands is the best. You can also ask a friend to help you when doing bent exhaust pipe repair for a much easier process.
The driver side bends are always harder to make, but once done, the hardest part of the work is complete. First, you will need to make a 90-degree bend and two other bends, as you will see on the video linked at the beginning of this guide. The best exhaust clamps are also essential tools to have for joining the exhaust pipe.
Finalizing
After you are done bending, remove the pipe from the vise and check if it is fit when held in place. If not, you have to adjust it accordingly. Keep in mind that the pipe is still hot; thus, you may want to be careful not to burn your hands. A handy tip on how to mandrel bend exhaust pipe without kinks is bending the pipe in degrees slowly. Take caution not to over bend the pipe.
Whatsoever method you choose to bend your pipe, make sure you do it gradually to ensure precision. After all the work is done, remove the caps from both sides. Flush the pipe with water to remove all the sand you had put initially. At this point, the exhaust pipe is ready to install. Remember, safety always comes first!
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Final Word
With that said, you now have a detailed step by step guide on how to bend exhaust pipes. It will be of much help to you and, most importantly, save you a lot of time and money. The process is straightforward to follow through, although if mechanical jobs are not your thing, you may need to search for ‘exhaust pipe bending near me’ to get professional help.
If you are not sure if it is a leak that is reducing your vehicle’s exhaust pipe efficiency, you have to learn on leak symptoms and how to deal with each of them, respectively. All in all, whether a leak or a rusty pipe, it needs to get fixed promptly for advanced safety.