Dekers Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 I need someone near Reading who has a decent Pipe bender and knows how to use it please. My boat has had a coming together, and a couple of stanchions and the handrail are bent!! This is gentle work, there is nothing dramatic to do here, but I don't have a Pipe bender and I don't have any experience using one. The way I see it, 2 tall stanchions and the hand rail need a tweak, the small stanchion visible in the 3rd picture is only leaning in because of the bends to the tall stanchions and handrail further forward! It is Stainless steel (so quite hard) and best I can measure seems about 26mm diameter. The boat is near Sonning (Near Reading) on the Thames. I'm happy to pay for someone's expertise, or offer a day out on the boat in exchange. Can you help please? Please PM or reply here!! Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owain Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 I’m nowhere near you, so can’t help hands on. But that looks like it would pull straight with a block and tackle or pull lift. If you could moor up next to a tree or other substantial point to pull off would only be a couple of minutes work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 2 minutes ago, owain said: I’m nowhere near you, so can’t help hands on. But that looks like it would pull straight with a block and tackle or pull lift. If you could moor up next to a tree or other substantial point to pull off would only be a couple of minutes work. Unfortunately not, the GRP (Gelcoat anchorage) is not up to it. Must be direct pressure on the stainless steel only!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 Your rails need to be the same external diameter as standard pipe sizes for a maching to work. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 It looks like they have some type of screw or allen key could you not remove it to then carry out the rectification?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 (edited) 47 minutes ago, Blackpowder said: Your rails need to be the same external diameter as standard pipe sizes for a maching to work. Blackpowder I measured it at about 26mm, could be 25mm, are there standards in sizes, if so I guess its 25mm. I know nothing in this area, if it was 26mm, what happens if you use a pipe bender close in size but not exact??? Edited August 9, 2023 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 5 minutes ago, Dekers said: They are some sort of stainless rivet!!! ahh - sorry - sense would be to have allen key - or some type of security head at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 21 minutes ago, discobob said: It looks like they have some type of screw or allen key could you not remove it to then carry out the rectification?? They are some sort of stainless rivet!!! 14 minutes ago, discobob said: ahh - sorry - sense would be to have allen key - or some type of security head at least. I thought the same myself, first look they did seem like Allen key, unfortunately not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 drill out the rivets and replace them?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 27 minutes ago, discobob said: drill out the rivets and replace them?? No need if I can find someone with a pipe bender, but even if I did, and took everything off the boat, I really need a pipe bender to resolve the issues anyway! 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 You may have to take them off the boat to get them into a pipe bender 25 mm or 1 inch is fairly big and depending on the wall thickness of the pipe you could need something a little bit bigger than one used for copper pipe Can’t you get whoever bumped the boat to get you new rails? Insurance claim possibly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 1 hour ago, Dekers said: what happens if you use a pipe bender close in size but not exact??? Wrinkles, collapsed tube, tool marks. And it's super obvious on stainless. I think you need to take it off its mountings anyway. Otherwise you're talking about the full weight of the bender hanging off the tube, which is a recipe for disaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 Can you not get a couple of lengths of wood and some g clamps or an unbolted tabletop vice to see if that would at least take the worse of it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 Standard domestic copper sizes that can be bent in a pipe bender are 15mm and 22mm. Not going to be easy to straighten anything. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNKS Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 Take it off and get a professional to do it. As I see it a frame must be welded up to support the tube then pressed out with an hydraulic press. Not going to be cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 10, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 11 hours ago, ph5172 said: Can you not get a couple of lengths of wood and some g clamps or an unbolted tabletop vice to see if that would at least take the worse of it out Have done and it works to an extent, hence why I thought someone with a decent pipe bender who knew what they were doing could finish the job. Despite what looks like a bit of a bend on the small stanchion, I think it only need a slight bend on 2 stanchions and the handrail further forward and this will come out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted August 10, 2023 Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 I think its going to be difficult to bend those tubes in situ, I would imagine they are substantial as they need to take the weight of someone leaning/pulling against them? Cannot see how you could attach anything that would do the job without it putting strain on the base fixings and causing more damage. Although having said that if you think the base fixing that go into the boat body are strong enough you could try a winch attached to some solid object such as a car or tree. I know nothing about boats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted August 10, 2023 Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 As stated hand benders only take 15 and 22 mm pipe. A proper bending machine will take larger but S/S is hard and difficult to pull manually even on a machine. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 10, 2023 Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 Just now, Blackpowder said: As stated hand benders only take 15 and 22 mm pipe. A proper bending machine will take larger but S/S is hard and difficult to pull manually even on a machine. And of course the hardest part is that you will be attempting to straighten bends rather than bend straight pipe! Remove and take to someone who has heat and brute strength! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted August 10, 2023 Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 (edited) Can you not brace the deck with boarding same with the pipe and use a bottle jack. that should allow you to take it easy and watch the connectors for signs of drama. or do some rope type wrapping around that section to try and hide it, same with the other side to even it up failing that a trip to the boat repair yard I think. Edited August 10, 2023 by ph5172 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCB56 Posted August 10, 2023 Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 7 hours ago, Dekers said: Have done and it works to an extent, hence why I thought someone with a decent pipe bender who knew what they were doing could finish the job. Despite what looks like a bit of a bend on the small stanchion, I think it only need a slight bend on 2 stanchions and the handrail further forward and this will come out! To straighten anything bent you need to bend it beyond straight to finish with straight, so have another try with your blocks of wood and clamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted August 11, 2023 Report Share Posted August 11, 2023 19 hours ago, ph5172 said: failing that a trip to the boat repair yard I think. Two choices, either leave it or the above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down South Posted August 11, 2023 Report Share Posted August 11, 2023 Take it to a yard, get a quote and claim on your insurance, that’s why you have it. Straightening any tubing is not easy and the structure below the bases might be weakened or leak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted August 11, 2023 Report Share Posted August 11, 2023 Actually looking at the pictures it’s probably a pretty standard rail maybe cheaper to buy new and replace it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizzbangwhallop Posted August 11, 2023 Report Share Posted August 11, 2023 Henry Cole took a pair of bike stanchions to this firm in Luton for re-furbishment which included straightening them using a press iirc? May be worth a shot? https://www.amphardchrome.co.uk/history.php cheers fizz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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