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Thread: How do you bend a tube?

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
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    everything is helped by a glass of wine I find!

    Thanks James, thats really helpful!

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    Central London
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    As usual, the devil is in the detail.

    1.To buy setters cement, you have to buy a kilo. I found it too treacherous when used for its real purpose, so having bought it ages ago and only used one stick, I cant remember where I hid it in shame. Most of us now use Polymorph or similar for holding our work.

    2. If used as a temporary filler for tubing, It will be very challenging to fill a bangle sized tube with it, presumably in the form of dust or crumbs, before melting it.

    3. Finally having bent the tube and melted out some of the goo, it will need a prolonged soak in meths/vodka to remove all residues. Otherwise the smoke generated when soldering could spoil the joint.

    One thing I do predict: To avoid damage, the tube will have to be bent around a wooden mandrel by hand until the ends crossover. To get enough purchase to do this you will need two or three cm of excess at each end.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
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    Witchford cambridgeshire
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    146

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    I have heard that you can form around copper draw down to the size you want, then bend the rod with the last operation being to use acid to remove the copper from the middle. I also think I've seem people fill it with water and freeze, bend then melt.
    Neil

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Romsey
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    5,256

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    For higher carat gold, yes - nitric will eat the copper and not do much to the surface.

  5. #15
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    Dec 2009
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    Quote Originally Posted by WitchfordSilver View Post
    I also think I've seen people fill it with water and freeze, bend then melt.
    Reminds me of a recipe for the perfect crime. Stab someone with an icicle.

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    32

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    Thanks again, people. I love the water and ice idea - should help to keep the vodka cold too or did I miss the point?

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Oxon
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    394

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    Or this stuff
    A bit expensive though, but reusable.

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Earley, Berkshire
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    371

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    Oh, I like the look of that, trialuser. Don't have anything to use it on at the moment though.
    Elaine at Mead Moon
    Mead Moon
    My Etsy shop

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