When bending exaust pipe, do i need to preheat it? I am thinking about putting a custom exaust system on my car. I will use my lincoln 175 mig welder, and i just bought a new hydrolic pipe bender. I should be able to bend as far as 90 degrees.. right?
the power pipe benders i've seen were used for bending 2" EMT (electrical conduit). a friend of mine used it to bend the pipe for his roll cage for a race car. the pipe was around 1/8" thick and 1 1/2" diameter. he never used a preheat, and the bender bent it w/ no problems. exhaust pipe shouldn't be a problem as long as you use the right size dies for it. that's what those machines are made for-- bending thin wall large diameter pipe.
what kind of bender did ya buy. i used a friends to replace a section of handrail at a church. it was a 12 ton chinese unit and it worked great. the pipe was 2" od 1/8 wall. i think he paid 100 new for it and has used it alot. i didnt heat the pipe either
rich
Don't worry about heating it,it will bend it no problem!