Exhaust Tubing Benders and Roll Cages, Etc.

[Tom and Amanda Lang <rustnrot@domain.elided>]

>From: Richard Welty <rwelty@domain.elided>
>
>i would expect 1.75" with a 0.095 wall thickness, using DOM tubing, to
>offer excellent protection, actually. DOM in 0.095 is stronger than ERW
>tubing in 0.120 wall thickness, and is easier to work with as it doesn't
>have the nasty welded seam of ERW, with all the bending requirements that
>flow from the seam.

Richard and others, I may have the opportunity to purchase a used Ben
Pearson model MC59 exhaust tubing bender from a muffler shop.  Obviously it
should work great for exhaust work.  Supposed to have dies from 1.5 to 2.5
inches.  Other than getting some info from the 'net about this machine I
know nothing about this bender and whether it would work to fab up roll
bars, cages, etc.  Would it?  I assume the big difference is you use
different wall thickness tubing.  BTW, what is wall thickness for schedule
40 pipe?  What, other than making sure it is all there (whatever that would
be) should I need to know.  It has the 220 volt split-phase motor so
running it in the home garage should be no problem. 

Tom (an electrical guy still learning about mechanical stuff) Lang