Technical Tech Week -- Cutting and Routing Exhaust Mandrel U-Bends

That is slick. A lot of times it's those really simple to put together things that turn a so so job into a great job and I's say that this is one of them that qualifies.

 

Man, this and the "louvers with a stone chisel" thread are BOTH just too cool. Can I vote twice??

 

I like your idea! Nice write up too!

 

You guys are making the voting extra tough this tech week!
The tool is simple but effective, who could ask for more?

 

Totally awesome. Thanks for posting. This will really help when I do the lake pipes on mine (eventually).

 

It looks like you brazed the second dump on the exhaust manifold; how did that work out as far as strength/lasting over time? Good work. A friends son does exhaust work for me; he uses a commercially supplied "kit" of pipes and bends, adds whatever mufflers you want, and does a pretty good job. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Good eye, yes, I brazed it on. I talked to a guy at a welding shop who gave me the suggestion. I didn't have the means to use nickle rod with an arch welder, properly peen it, and heat treat it, which I was told was the right way to do it.

I put a fairly fat bead around it with the brass rod. I owned it about six months after I split the manifold. I talked to the guy who I sold it to off an on for about a year after I sold it so I know it made it at least that long.

 

I have a vertical band saw, and I LOVE it! I got used to using one when I did my machinist training about 3 decades ago, and decided it was a "must have".

 

I like the idea of the cutting jig!

Here's a thread I posted a few years ago that has some other exhaust fabrication tips - I will re-post it here so they are all together ...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/tech-exhaust-fabrication-tips.435797/

 

Nice there too!

BTW, this tech thread got my vote, so simple and clean and easy...Simon, bookmarked your post as well.

Good stuff gents!

 

This is a pretty slick deal. Wish I had known about it before I built these headers.

 

^^^
Nice work. My current project I bought application specific headers which were only a couple hundred dollars. I'd like to give a go one day at trying to make my own set of headers...you've earned some bragging rights with those.

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/vote-now-tech-week-october-2015.995188/

Short time to vote

 

What a nail bitter, at first I was just hoping for the top five then once the pack cleared things really got going. I was really hoping for 2nd, not for all the swag but the glory. I think the race to the finish line between me and "Emboss Your Valve Cover" made it a bit interesting. At times I thought I had him and managed to shut him down a couple of times but on the final lap he got past me and all I could manage to do was keep up with him.

Either way it was a lot of fun. Thanks to all that supported me with your vote along with your comments. I hope someone puts my tech to use one day...that would be the biggest reward.

My plans was to select a charity for the $$$ put up by those who generously supported this round of Tech Week and match the person that put up the most, which turned out to be $50.

I found a charity local to me that has a good rating:

http://www.childrensplacekc.org/ways-to-help/donate/

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=15347#.Vi6Ty36rSM8

As far as the hard goods, I'll take those, they sounds like fun.

Cheers!
HUSSEY

 

Class act.....Congrats!

 

Receipt...

 

Hussey:
Your a stand up guy, and I felt the same about the race to the
finish! 2 votes? I call that even! LOL Your idea to donate is
a great idea. I can't match it , but I would love to donate the cash
awards for 2nd place to a great charity listed below. Thank's!

Send the cash to :
https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=66&campaignSource=WEBSITE&source=ONLINE

Semper Fi, Rich (I like Tee shirts, and goodies though)

 

^^^
That's cool man, definitely a worthy cause!

 

Probably the best vote I've ever cast ! Congratulations.

 

I missed the voting and would have voted for this. Thanks for sharing the tech!

 

that's such a great ideal and its simple,provided you put the time in to make the jig correctly its almost dummy proof

 

Here is part of my exhaust that I built with your idea, not perfect but a start, Thanks

 

^^^^^
Nice. That's a clean looking ride.

 

Just an FYI update. I ran across another outfit that I think would be a good source for u-bends called Mandrel Bending Solutions. They have a website and an eBay store.

http://mandrelbendingsolutions.com/

Their prices on aluminized and SS u-bends seems really reasonable. Shipping is the only killer, though I'm sure with combined shipping the shipping cost per bend would go down.

 

Simple and easy to use jig though perfect. Definitely my tech-tip-of-the-month

 

one of the great Tech threads here

 

Loved this tech thread when I first saw it, been wanting to try it for myself. Picked up a cheap bandsaw at a yard sale the other day and made a jig and bought some U bends today, going to start cutting and routing the exhaust for the roadster tomorrow.

thanks for the tip!
This is why the HAMB is second to none!

 

^^^^^
Nice! Where did you buy your bends from? Make sure you post up some pics of your works, I'd like to see how it comes out.

 

'bought the bends at a local header shop, Stan's Headers in Auburn WA
made a bunch of cuts, got one side almost roughed in,
will need to break a few tacks to make some minor adjustments,
and I was reminded many times why I don't shop at HF,
bought the saw for less than a third the cost of new and it's still junk
must have thrown the blade ten times in four hours..
but the jig works great!

I'll try to get some pictures up tomorrow

 

Been there. I bought my HF saw used for $40 and it would throw the blade too. I found that if you get the blade guide bearings adjusted just right (after jacking with it for about an hour) and adjust the spring so you don't cut too fast it it helps.