bending pipe for grille guard
 

ok ya all i wanna make a grille guard for the truck but dont wanna spend a grand on a premade one. o wanna make a ranchhand style thats bumper/ grille guard/ cat walk/ storage in the bumper. but i got a problem. to make the grille guard part i wanna use tubing but i dont know what kind of tubing and dont have a tubing bender. i was thinking black pipe or somethin im open to suggestions. thanks all tim.:bat::rocking:

DOM tubing is best for strength/looks. Your best bet is make the lower then have local shop make the tubing

check out Harbor freight . They have a nice bender for a low price.:humm:

I have the HF one, I dont think it will bend 1/4 DOM (what I would use on a bumper) as it had issues with 1/8 DOM

Just to be real honest, what your talking about here is a pretty advanced project in terms of skill and equipment needed. By the time you finish it, you will have more money in it then you would spend to buy one and it won't look nearly as good.

It's been tried many times and very rarely do they turn out looking anything but home made.

ok what is dom? i was thinkin black pipe and bacially a metal box as a bumper to store a jug or oils and jumper cables etc. and some kinda tube frame to protect the grille... maybe a square frame?

Dom is drawn over mandrel just a type of tubing which is strong and uniform.

o i see where is a good supplier for this stuff? like plumbing or gotta be a steel shop?

Your best bet for local would be a steel shop if there isn't one close to you I ordered some steel online through metalsdepot.com. Not sure how prices compare since the local shop I went to didn't have the size I needed so I went with them, but they are great to work with, UPS lost the package I emailed them and they sent out a second order right away and they took care of the rest. I think this is what your looking for MetalsDepot® - DOM Round Steel Tube, Racecar & Motorcycle Frame Tubing

exactly what im lookin for. but how to bend this stuff? i dont wanna drop a grand on a bender thinkin some kinda home fashoned thing... ideas?