3/8 tubing for airline

[69chevy1]

my question is does any body know how to straighten tubing that comes in coil roll i work at napa and i came across a new tubing that's coated silver and its a easy bend type tube but i'm having a hard time getting it straight does any body know what would work, i know classic tube has a coil straightner but its not cheap so if anybody has a different alternative i would appreciate it

[jlaird]

I've never tried this, only read about it: straighten the tube out as best you can by hand. Then put it on a flat surface. Then take a piece of thick plywood cut maybe around a foot wide and the length of the piece of tube and try to get the tubing to roll back and forth. I may be totally making this up, just remember reading something like this...

[BuiltByBrooks]

Originally Posted by jlaird

I've never tried this, only read about it: straighten the tube out as best you can by hand. Then put it on a flat surface. Then take a piece of thick plywood cut maybe around a foot wide and the length of the piece of tube and try to get the tubing to roll back and forth. I may be totally making this up, just remember reading something like this...

I've seen it done works pretty good

[bentfab]

The best way is with your stomach sounds funny but it works. In the past when customers would bring me the coiled aluminum tubing that you can get from jeg ,summit,etc. The best way to start out is take the coil and start out by rolling it out on a hard surface table,floor,bench,etc. After that cut the length you need (alittle long). Then take both hands and place your thumbs inline and start to straiten out the really bad spots where they wouldn't flatten on the bench. Once thats done support the tube with both hands and push it on your stomach while tightening your abs. Your belly is soft enough to where it won't kink the other sides while you support it. The good part about the final step is your looking down on it so you will know exactly where to put pressure. Hope this helps and if I get off my butt I will make a short video.

[lolife99]

I was taught this method by an old machinist, a long time ago. Clamp one end of the tubing in a vise. Roll out plenty of tubing including a little extra. He would then bend a 180 degree loop on the end and pull on the tubing with a ratchet strap or come-a-long. Worked perfect. It looked like straight hard tubing. Cut the ends off and you are ready to make some nice bends with your bender.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I was taught this method by an old machinist, a long time ago. Clamp one end of the tubing in a vise. Roll out plenty of tubing including a little extra. He would then bend a 180 degree loop on the end and pull on the tubing with a ratchet strap or come-a-long. Worked perfect. It looked like straight hard tubing. Cut the ends off and you are ready to make some nice bends with your bender.

Yep. Solid wire artisans use the same method. There is also a snap method, where you clamp one end in a vice and snap it taught with a whipping motion, but I'm not sure you could do that with 3/8 tubing...

[bentfab]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I was taught this method by an old machinist, a long time ago. Clamp one end of the tubing in a vise. Roll out plenty of tubing including a little extra. He would then bend a 180 degree loop on the end and pull on the tubing with a ratchet strap or come-a-long. Worked perfect. It looked like straight hard tubing. Cut the ends off and you are ready to make some nice bends with your bender.

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Yep. Solid wire artisans use the same method. There is also a snap method, where you clamp one end in a vice and snap it taught with a whipping motion, but I'm not sure you could do that with 3/8 tubing...

These methods might sound good, but be careful. The first method your pulling on the tube and stretching it and will probably oval the tube witch might not work in the bender or flatten out when you bend it. The second method like he said probably wont work because of it's size and it's a hollow peace of metal. Just my 2 cents

[69chevy1]

thanks guys

[Bob@ProAuto]

I use a 1 gallon paint can to hold down one end and the relief slot in a concrete floor. This gets it somewhat straight. A piece 2' piece of 3/4"OD x 1/2" ID tube slid over it finished it out enough to work with.

[N2TRUX]

Doesn't Summit racing sell a tubing straightener?

[69chevy1]

i checked summit out didn't find anything

[N2TRUX]

Dang it. I saw one in an article somewhere recently. Now I have to go looking or it will bug me all night.

[N2TRUX]

Found it.. The Tube Straightener from Classic Tube