I need to bend a 1-3/4" chrome exhaust pipe, not much, maybe 3-5 degrees over a foot long section. Tried it cold clamped in a vice between wood blocks, couldn't budge it. Torch time I guess, and goodbye chrome?
take it to an exhaust shop, have them put it in their bender. And see how the chrome plating explodes at the bend.
I have “tweaked” chrome exhaust pipes in a hydraulic exhaust bender before, grease the dies beforehand and try. Go slow and see, I have done a few successfully and some that have cracked the chrome and some where as squirrel stated the chrome shatters and comes off completely 50/50 shot.
Hang the chrome pipe on the wall, buy a stainless section (about $12/ft through Summit or Jegs), bend, polish, replace.....
Those little blades of chrome your going to cleanup will cut the hell out of you. Remember to wear gloves and use a brush into the dust pan.
Depends on the plating, if its the cheap "flash Nickel" good chance of it poping. Triple on the other hand is more forgiving. How come chrome bumpers back in the day bend in an crash and the chrome didnt come off??
Stuck it in a press yesterday between wood blocks I cut u shapes in. Heard a couple snap crackle pops but no progress. Muffler shop next, it's already messed up I guess.
If it is triple chrome, Cu is the base-filler layer, Ni is the 'hard', followed by Chrome. Which as topcoat gives it the desired 'color'. Electrolytic deposition, in this case offers a thin, brittle coating. I'm w/Jim on this one
i would fill it with sand, cap ends with duct tape and give it a try. maybe stick it in a trailer hitch receiver and jump on it or something like that.
Have you tried laying down an oxygen bottle on the floor, mark off the section you want to bend with masking tape and with the help of a friend on each end of the pipe push down and roll it back and forth over the bottle? I had a freind show me this trick and I have used it for a lot of things to get a gradual/small bend in any kind of tubing
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