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I have read several accounts of DIY steam bending irons being made with the halogen bulbs or a propane torch for the heating element inside an aluminum tube.

So I picked some halogen bulbs and a rheostat to adjust the heat but I could not find any aluminum tubing and I am not quite sure where to look for some.

Where is a good affordable source for these?

Having both and aluminum and a steel pipe, I would opt for the steel pipe every time - it tends to heat more evenly and hold the temp better. Go to your local plumbing store (even HDepot) and ask for a cutoff length of whatever diameter you are after - I made mine from a 8 inch piece of 2 inch, 3/16 thick wall pipe. It works better than the aluminum one I have, it almost never gets the call anymore. BTW, I heat it with a BBQ lighter squished to fit inside the pipe, running at about 80V off a variac, but you could easily use a light dimmer, its a 500 watt starter.TonyKarol38900.4534837963

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Scooter, I went to my local Junk Yard and got a piece of stainless pipe for next to nothing. I got stainless because at the time He was out of large dia. Aluminum pipe.

I've had good luck with Onlinemetals.com.

See if your local electrical contractor has some scraps of large electrical conduit.

Al

How about a chunk of tailpipe from the local muffler shop.

I got mine from a local machine shop - I had problems with steel staining flamed maple, so I went with thick walled aluminum - I only use it for mandos, and touch up on guitars.

-Mark

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I use steel, I live in an area of high Oil production and at one of the local Oilfield supply houses they carry all that you need and any size diameter. If you have trouble finding what you need PM me and I can pick up the materials for you and send them to you. I think all total I spent less than $20.00.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

seems like I heard you can use the mast of a sailboat....some are that oblong "egg" shape you're probably after

Check out Metal Supermarket They will sell small orders and cut it to size while you wait. They also have locations all over the country. The one in Arizona carries both aluminum and steel tubing in diameters large enough for a bending iron.

Joe

Cool guys they have a Metal Supermarket here in Oklahoma City!

I did pick up a metal 2" diameter pipe 8" long at True Value but it is plumbing pipe and is much smoother inside than outside. Not sure if that is a concern or not....

I was thinking a 3" diameter would spread the bend point a little more and cause less focal stress than a 2" diameter pipe but thats just a guess.

So what is the consensus on size and is Stainless the way to go?

What wattage of bulbs do I need to get the neccessary heating temperature?

[QUOTE=TonyKarol] Having both and aluminum and a steel pipe, I would opt for the steel pipe every time - it tends to heat more evenly and hold the temp better.[/QUOTE]

I'm surprised that steel works better for you. Aluminum has higher thermal conductivity than steel, so it will tend to heat more uniformly - about 5 times better than steel per weight, and about 1 1/2 times better for the same wall thickness.

It also has higher thermal mass, so it's temperature will tend to stay more constant over time.


Is the steel pipe that you use much thicker wall that the aluminum you tried? That might explain why it works better for you.

And, stainless steel has VERY low thermal conductivity - even compared to mild steel. So, that might not be the best choice.

Phil

A subject line about sourcing aluminum tubes is just begging for some political comment......but I will obey forum rules.

                      Drat, Paul Harrell

From your numbers there Phil its no wonder I like the steel - its much heavier and twice as thick. I also prefer the smaller radius of the steel piece I have vs the aluminum.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"