Bending Square Tubing Large Radius?

[Trent Flemming]

Hey Creekers,

I am going to build a greenhouse, using 1" square tubing. I was thinking of using a plywood form to bend the tubing around. I was also looking online for a relatively inexpensive bender, but have not really been able to find much of anything that bends the large radius. Give me your thoughts.

I have attached a rough sketch up image to give you an idea of the radius.

Thanks,
Trent

[Roger Newby]

Your best bet is going to be a Hossfeld bender or equivalent and it's gonna run you about $500 or so used. Check around for a shop that might bend it for you and you'll probably be way ahead for $$ spent.

[Matt Meiser]

If you could go down to 3/4" tubing then you can get a nice bender from Irvan-Smith. http://www.irvansmith.com/scart/tubi...ual-p-659.html I've got one and it works nicely. Its not going to give a perfectly smooth bend--it does the bend where the inside is deformed inward.

[Joe Mioux]

Why square tubing? is it something you have?

[Trent Flemming]

I don't guess it has to be out of square tubing. I am kind modeling mine after the neighbors. I could certainly use 3/4.

I guess I was thinking the square tubing would be easier to attach the siding panels. Keep the thoughts coming.

Thanks,
Trent

[Matt Meiser]

That one I posted will bend either square or round.

[Joe Mioux]

It isn't. There are all sorts of fittings that you can buy to attach purlins and bottom skirts.

A couple examples include...

C fittings work well around the bottom skirt, btw: use a 2x, not a 1x.

also for the purlins you can just drill straight through the arches and into purlins. From there run a bolt through the two.

I have built, tore down, built and re-built several greenhouses. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

[Rick Davidson]

You don't want to bend it. You want to roll it. There are several sites for DIY builds. Your best bet would be to find a local pipe bending shop they would have a roller to do this. This is similar to what you want.

http://vansantent.com/tube_bending_m...ll_bender.html