Shapeable steel tube

[chunkolini]

I am just pitching for an exciting job, cant go into details but a 5M tall sculpture of a person.
I am planning on offering something in this kind of style.

The spec involves the finished piece being suspended, so I am thinking of making it in 25mm tubing, and using lots of short curved tubes to give a feeling of bulk.
My Powerbender is able to roll steel tube up to this size.
I have played about with hydraulic tubing and have read that is particularly easy to shape and bend without it kinking. Is this true?
Would ordinary ERW steel tubing work ok? I am thinking of using gradual flowing curves rather than sharp angles.
I am after keeping the materials costs reasonable, but I want it to be a quality piece of work as well.
Interested in any information you can offer.
This is stretching my self a fair bit, but I am confident that I am up to it.

 

[bump]

ERW should be fine, just got to take it slowly.

 

[chunkolini]

Thats what I was hoping, I have ran a short length through and it seemed ok.

 

[Shox Dr]

CFS NBK360 is the stuff for really right bends. However for what you wish to do ERW will be fine.


Edit has that figure got tits Seems a bit weird on such a non gender design

 

[chunkolini]

That figure is based on Ella Fitzgerald, mid career; she had 'tits' as you call them, plenty of them, and new how to use them. Check out her thighs as well. the head is not so good, early days.

 

[Welderpaul]

ERW should roll nicely if your kit is up to it. Cheapest way of going about it too.

Good luck on winning the job Chunko'.

 

[chunkolini]

ShoxDr, that cold be the stuff to make the head, that would need some tighter work.
WP, will keep you posted

 

[Big Pete]

25mm conduit or 1 inch erw tube hould be fine, conduit bends pretty easily and a plumbers bender will work it pretty easily with a suitable die.

 

[Welderpaul]

Conduit might be a bit of a pain; it comes either black enamelled or galv. More expensive than plain ol' tube of the same size I would guess.

 

[Big Pete]

might be, seems to be cheap at my local place, maybe because they get through a lot of it? inch erw with 1/16 wall is cheap anyway, and still bends well.

 

[Shox Dr]

ShoxDr, that cold be the stuff to make the head, that would need some tighter work.
WP, will keep you posted

I think CFS tube would be overkill. ANd a waste of dosh. unless you are doing tight radius bends ERW will be fine, most steel motorcycle frames are still made with ERW

 

[chunkolini]

If I get the job I will be running away screaming. And excited.
For the face I should have a go in ERW, there sre some guys nearby who sell hydraulic tubing to me at what seem decent prices, could be good for a few details.
Fingers crossed.

 

[Shox Dr]

Life is good then

 

[outofthefire]

Tubes filled with compacted silver sand will bend just like solid. If its too hard to bend cold a bit of heat works wonders, it is the ideal method of bending for this application.