Knotching Tube?

[mhubacek]

Anyone with experience in knotching tube? I'm having a difficult time with it. I don't have all the fancy tools, and I've been attempting to knotch some tube with a grinder. It takes me forever to get an even close fit. There's got to be an easier way to get it right, on a budget! Any Idea's?

 

[Old Dog]

a hole saw in a drill press.

 

[IOPort51]

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
as with most things from HF it is a piece of but you may be able to do three of four notches with it.

 

[BrockGrimes]

I wrap a piece of paper around the tube tape it and slide it off.
Then use it as a paper template to figure out my curve, once I have
my template cut I slide it back over the tube, mark it with a sharpie,
then use a cut off wheel to cut the tube.

 

[IOPort51]

can I ask what size tube and what wall thickness??

 

[IOPort51]

Not exactly sure if this will help you or not but, there is a free program available at TONY FOALE DESIGNS - Home page that allows you to print a template for tube or pipe coping. It is, however, in millimeters but you could easily convert the measurements before inputing them. It allows for the diameter of the tube/pipe, the wall thickness of the tube, the second tube/pipe diameter and the included angle. You print and cut out the pattern wrap it around your stock and cut. Click on the download free software button and look for tube miter link. It's only good for up to about 4" stock but what the heck it's free.


I am plagiarizing this from another forum, "weld talk" I think. check this out and see if it helps.

 

[mhubacek]

Thanks for all the great ideas! The tubing is 1 1/2", and I'm not exactly sure on wall thickness. I'm guessing 3/8?

 

[mylittlecj5]

Somewhere on the web is a how-to on using a cut-off saw to notch tube. I can't seem to find it now, but look around. If you have a cut-off saw its a great read.

 

[essexmo]

im thinking why are you notching the tube and what are you making out of 1 1/2 inch tube ?? a brushguard ?? if so then youll need a drill press and a metal holesaw or a cutting torch or plasma cutter and dont forget to beval the edges 45 degrees then you can mig or tig or arc weld with your 6011 rods

 

[mhubacek]

Essexmo, I'm building high hood tube fenders. I have a build thread on it right now. It's a do it yourself kit, and there is alot of cutting to fit, and some knotching to do. I'm trying to keep it "budget" oriented. I wish I had access to things like plasma cutters, knotchers, benders and such, but can't afford it right now. Looking for old school tricks to get me by for awhile!

 

[essexmo]

Essexmo, I'm building high hood tube fenders. I have a build thread on it right now. It's a do it yourself kit, and there is alot of cutting to fit, and some knotching to do. I'm trying to keep it "budget" oriented. I wish I had access to things like plasma cutters, knotchers, benders and such, but can't afford it right now. Looking for old school tricks to get me by for awhile!

no probs i looked at the other thread you can bend that steel with a hickey or electrical conduit bender the steel could be heated by a propane torch then bent to shape

 

[IOPort51]

I really have not paid that much attention to flat fenders, are they generally using 1 1/2 schedule 40 pipe for this?? thats some pretty heavy stuff. I would think 3/4 or 1 inch EMT would have done the job. I guess I had better go look at some of these things and get a clue.

 

[essexmo]

im thinking 1 inch rigid would suffice emt is too thin

 

[CoreyYoungCj577]

im thinking 1 inch rigid would suffice emt is too thin

You wanna see heavy duty flat fenders i got a pair that will make ya when ya see them lol i mean they are made out of heavy duty stuff i dont know the exact size ill take some pictures later today for ya, but the guy who owned them before i got them bent one and i dont even know how ya could do this with the thickness of tube he used.

 

[73CJ]

EMT? Pipe? Most Fabricators use tube. Pipe=ID Tube=OD Most common size for tube fenders is 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 w/ .120 wall tubing.

 

[IOPort51]

EMT? Pipe? Most Fabricators use tube. Pipe=ID Tube=OD Most common size for tube fenders is 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 w/ .120 wall tubing.

As I said I haven’t been paying attention to this fad so I am a bit surprised to find the OD being that large but I guess that would be a suitable size to work with. I do find it interesting that the fender is built strongly enough to put a high lift under, I would prefer the fender bend rather than rip the firewall loose from the rest of the tub. I also find it interesting that the fender on a lot of these kits does not cover the tire. I tried running 10.5 wide tires with no fender flairs in the mud and found visibility very Limited in a very short time. mhubacek I see you have elected to add three inches, this seems like a good idea. With the high hood arrangement, how much tire clearance did you gain?? From the pictures it looks like you did a pretty fair job of assembly, I congratulate you.
For what it is worth, don’t over weld the sheet metal, it will help keep the distortion to a minimum. I know, it’s fun, but this is one of those times when less is more (better).

 

[essexmo]

As I said I haven’t been paying attention to this fad so I am a bit surprised to find the OD being that large but I guess that would be a suitable size to work with. I do find it interesting that the fender is built strongly enough to put a high lift under, I would prefer the fender bend rather than rip the firewall loose from the rest of the tub. I also find it interesting that the fender on a lot of these kits does not cover the tire. I tried running 10.5 wide tires with no fender flairs in the mud and found visibility very Limited in a very short time. mhubacek I see you have elected to add three inches, this seems like a good idea. With the high hood arrangement, how much tire clearance did you gain?? From the pictures it looks like you did a pretty fair job of assembly, I congratulate you.
For what it is worth, don’t over weld the sheet metal, it will help keep the distortion to a minimum. I know, it’s fun, but this is one of those times when less is more (better).

i agree what you call a fender we call a wing or mudguard ! From a legal standpoint i believe the fender has to cover the tire and also common sense would dictate if the tire is covered then mud and rocks wont be hitting your windshield or yourself when you get stuck and look out the door lol

 

[mhubacek]

IOPORT51, I'm not exactly sure how much more tire clearance I'll have, but it a hell of alot more. I'll measure it, when I remount them. The 3 inches on the flare definately will help with the flying mud and debris. It also looks like it going to cover most of the width of my tires. I'll have new pics up Thursday and Friday since I hope to have it mostly completed by then. That is, if the weather cooperates. It's been pouring down rain here lately.

 

[essexmo]

Same up here in Canada the temps hovering around -1 to +1 c and my Jeep is in a feild at least the snows down to 1 meter now ill be glad when its home Im building a workshop /3 car garage this year and finishing off my house hopefully I bought an old apple orchard on 7 acres of land here with an old farmhouse on it for $7.500 and $170 a year taxes What was i thinking lol Im looking forward to seeing the finished fenders hopefully it will stop raining there you need a garage or carport even a tarp and 2x4s would keep you and the Jeep dry to work on it

 

[mhubacek]

I have a two car garage, but it is cluttered with a completely disassembled 68' CJ5 right now, and some motorcycles. I can get the 72' CJ5 in there with everything else barely, but it dosen't give me enough room to work. Essexmo, It looks like you need a snowmobile sitting in your front yard, not a jet ski! I love old farm houses, and property. Congrats on your new home. We're hoping to close on a house w/5 acres here in the next couple weeks. Then I'll have to start my steel building project!