[Rhodes22-list] Bent Stainless Steel Tubing

[Arthur H. Czerwonky]

So glad you asked, Dave.  HD has a conduit pipe bender, although use it with greatest caution, because the lower tube section (1" SS) is nearly a perfect fit with the upper section (7/8" SS), which slips inside.  Very little tolerance for variation from the normally straight condition.  I would suggest taking the top U shaped section off of the pop-top to make your work easier.  If it cannot re-bent, there might be options short of trying to have the entire top bar replaced.  Just be absolutely certain and mark the bend well before diving in.  I use this same bender for tubing on a bimini I make, but it is an exacting process.  As a reference, Ron Singerman had an identical, but more severe bend from when a guest leaned or fell against his pop-top, so it could be worse...

Art


-----Original Message-----
>From: David Bradley <dwbrad at gmail.com>
>Sent: May 16, 2010 7:03 PM
>To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Bent Stainless Steel Tubing
>
>Quick question for the more mechanically inclined...
>
>The stainless steel pop top arm in our boat has somehow been bent
>slightly.  I removed the assembly and can see the bend in the lower
>port section of the upper arm.  Does anyone have a suggestion as to
>the type of place that would be able to straighten the bend?
>
>Not sure how this happened.  Was working fine and one day the assembly
>just stopped working.  I don't remember anyone falling against it -
>maybe someone tried to break into the boat when I had it locked up and
>the pop top cinched down to the step.
>
>Seems like a quick fix if someone has the right equipment.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Dave
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