I need a tube bender.

[10G]

I do a lot of work with RHS, mostly 1.x - 2.xmm wall, sometimes 3mm, and 11mm to 25mm square. A mate uses a tube bender to bend his rhs but I've never seen his bender.

What sort of bender would I need to put slight bends, maybe up to 45 degrees in stuff like that?

[PeeBee]

The bender will be a similar unit to a round tube bender - only difference is the mandrel or dies used, for RHS they will be square bottom'ed instead of half round. Also, RHS is typically formed from 350mpa steel as opposed to 250mpa for the round tube, so you might need a longer handle on the forming arm. A supplier like Blackwoods might have dies already avail, depending on how much you want to spend. Also, you will get tube deformation on the RHS/SHS across the flat unless you pre-fill the RHS with an in-compressible material, like sand or similar. If the deformation is not an issue then try it out.

[10G]

Hey thanks PeeBee. What does mpa stand for?

Are you able to end this argument for me?? I've been told RHS stands for right angled hollow section, so you can use it for square & rectangular. I've also been told it stands for rectangular hollow section, so you can't use it for square. Which one is correct?

[PeeBee]

RHS - rectangular hollow section
SHS Square hollow section

A square is a rectangle with equal length sides.

If you go to purchase a 25 x 25 section you would refer to it as 25x25 SHS, if you go to purchase a 25x50 section, you would refer to it as 25x50 RHS. If you refer to 25x25 section as RHS, the identifier is the dimension not the anal descriptor of SHS or RHS, so you would get 25x25 Square hollow section. I am sure this could turn into a never ending argument around a campfire with a gut load of piss, and either designation will give you what you want. If you order 25x50 SHS you will get a tube 25x50 that is rectangular.

[10G]

RHS - rectangular hollow section
SHS Square hollow section

A square is a rectangle with equal length sides.

If you go to purchase a 25 x 25 section you would refer to it as 25x25 SHS, if you go to purchase a 25x50 section, you would refer to it as 25x50 RHS. If you refer to 25x25 section as RHS, the identifier is the dimension not the anal descriptor of SHS or RHS, so you would get 25x25 Square hollow section. I am sure this could turn into a never ending argument around a campfire with a gut load of piss, and either designation will give you what you want. If you order 25x50 SHS you will get a tube 25x50 that is rectangular.

Thanks mate, I can now look a little smarter when I walk into my local steel supplier and also start an argument when sitting around a campfire boozed up!