Cracking aluminum

[Camaro Zach]

Originally Posted by JBFab

If you have been getting any 6061-T6 to bend without catastrophic failure consider yourself fortunate. As previously mentioned it is age hardening and that could play into why you got some (newer) pieces to bend and the older ones didn't. You definitely need to take that cracked piece back to your supplier - that's just bad material.

Any chance you can get a Mill Test Report from your supplier for the different heat numbers you have? That may give us more of a clue as to what's happening as well.

I spoke with my salesman on Monday and sent pictures of the defective piece but haven’t heard anything back yet. I will ask about the mill test report but it’s doubtful. They will be replacing or refunding the piece of pipe that is for sure.

[mccutter]

As mentioned, you need 6063 alloy if you are going to bend it.

I've bent thousands of feet of 1-1/2" x1/8" 6063 tube. I "borrow" an exhaust pipe bender at a local shop. I turn the pressure down to about 1/2 to avoid crushing the tube. The 1-1/2" dies on the machine are like new because nobody uses 1-1/2 exh. tubing anymore. I bend 90^s in it with no cracking or anything like that. Even though I use a thin lubricant, there is a tiny amount of galling but is easily removed... There is a little "shrinking" of the inside arc but not too bad. Everything is square +/- 1/8" off the bender then is tweaked to perfect in a straightening jig.

PS: I get my stock from Eastern Metal Supply. LINK It would appear they have stores in TX--call to see if they deliver to your area. My driver comes from about 2 hours away--granted, I am not the only one on his route...

PPS: and I use a square and not the "built-in" angle indicator as I found it to be too inconsistent...

[Camaro Zach]

Thanks for your link mccutter. They have a location about an hour from me. I requested a catalog from them for in the future.