I'll bet the sand would help.

I recall seeing a video of a dude bending pipe with some kind of
affordable pipe bender.  IIRC before bending it, he was up on the roof
of his garage, with a long-ish peice of pipe on end, packing the sand
down water. (I *think*)

I looked, but can't find video. He seemed to have some good pointers.

Neil.

On Fri, Apr 18, 2008 at 6:30 AM, Mike <mbucchino@charter.net> wrote:
> Have you tried filling the tubing with sand and plugging the ends before
>  bending?  It helps to maintain the inside diameter throughout the bending
>  process.  Or wrapping the outside with steel wire?  If anything like that
> is
>  possible,I'd think it'd be worth a try........
>
>  Mike B.
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: "Phil Stanhope" <surfmobile007@YAHOO.COM>
>  To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>
>  Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 8:51 AM
>  Subject: Re: tube bumpers
>
>
>
> > I posted the plans to the Tiico Group thinking id just buy a $65 HarborFr8
> > pipe bender and MIG away untill i had an exact copy of the
> > BullBars......turns out i need a hydrolic Mandrel bender, im still waiting
> > for Harbor Freight to make one of those for $200...LOL:)....not holding my
> > breath.
> >
> > Phil 84' Westy
> >
> >
> > --- On Fri, 4/18/08, neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >
> >
> > > From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
> > > Subject: Re: tube bumpers
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Date: Friday, April 18, 2008, 2:09 AM
> > > Hi.
> > >
> > > There are plans for "bigbullbar bumpers" on the
> > > Tiico list.
> > >
> > > http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/tiico/photos/browse/b9e8
> > >
> > > (you need to sign up)
> > >
> > > I knew I saw them somewhere. Found them while looking for
> > > other things.
> > >
> > > Neil.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tue, Apr 8, 2008 at 1:06 PM, Robert Adams
> > > <oldmanbmxr@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > I remember seeing a blueprint / plans for tube bumpers
> > > >  somewhere on the net last year but cannot find them
> > > >  now. Does anyone have the link or file saved ?
> > > >
> > > >  Thanks
> > > >  Bob Adams
> > > >  87 Syncro
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> > > >  You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering
> > > you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.
> > > >  http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
> > > "Jaco"
> > >
> > > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> > > http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> > Be a better friend, newshound, and
> > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.
> > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
> >
> >
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"

http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/