How does a guy curve some pipe?

Ultradog MN

Well-known Member
Location
Twin Cities
I'm trying to design a bathroom for some people. It's not a big space so I'm thinking a corner shower.
Sorry, no plastic showers here.
I would pour a concrete basin and have it curved. Think of it as 1/4 of about a 7' diameter circle. The pour is easy.
But I need to think up a way to curve a 1" shower curtain rod to match the curb below.
Shower rod has to be nice. Classy even - stainless or maaybee aluminum. Steel or brass might work too as I could have those chromed.
Where does a guy have a piece of pipe curved to spec like that? No wrinkles in the curve - smooth! Or what is there that's already made that a guy could salvage a curved pipe like that from? 7' trampoline? Do they make them that small?
Not a big hurry. Back burner job. If I can come up with a good design I can sell these people a new bathroom.
Thanks for any ideas on this pipe.
 
A roller is what you need. HF sells a basic one or find a ornamental ironworker guy in your area. We all have them to roll the curves in gates and handrails.
 
I put one in the boss's house, everything from a slight curve to half-circle reasonably priced at a local plumbing supply house.
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Pack a length of straight pipe with sand and close the ends so the sand remains packed. Bend the pipe over a form. The sand will keep the pipe round as it is bent. The pipe will need to be soft enough allow it to bend without cracking etc.
 
Here in "Down Under" lands we can buy from a curtain shop curtain track that is designed for bending. Curves can be quitr sharp without kinking. But there are other tracks which don't like being bent, they just kink. Ask around curtain shops as not all are equal.
 
I built a a pipe roller bender. I turned up three rollers like pulleys the diameter and shape of the outside of the pipe I want to curve. The out side rollers are about 18 inches apart. The center roller is mounted on a jack screw assembly that I can put pressure down. I roll the pipe back and fourth placing more down pressure as the pipe bends until I get the curve I want. I built it to make this front guard.

3rdCutting2007-vi.jpg
 
Why don't you guys get together? Let him draw up a design and you can get stainless exhaust pipe or such and do her up! You two chit chat.
 
Jerry, my local welding shop guy made his own roller for making round bale feeders. It"s adjustable for other sizes. Rubs off hyd. Just an hour west of you....
 
(quoted from post at 19:02:09 06/29/16) I built a a pipe roller bender. I turned up three rollers like pulleys the diameter and shape of the outside of the pipe I want to curve. The out side rollers are about 18 inches apart. The center roller is mounted on a jack screw assembly that I can put pressure down. I roll the pipe back and fourth placing more down pressure as the pipe bends until I get the curve I want. I built it to make this front guard.

<img src="http://images57.fotki.com/v505/photos/3/34676/415039/3rdCutting2007-vi.jpg">

Hey Dick, I think that I have it visualized but how about a pic of the bender?
 
It is at my mold shop. I'll try to remember to take a camera with me to work. I kinda copied it from a catalog picture but didn't put the big wheel to turn the center roller. Mine was quick and dirty for one job.
This Principal
 
I had a 4 foot dia handwheel rolled at a sheetmetal shop, many plate rollers have radius in one end of the rollers just for this purpose. A conduit bender will only bend to a specific radius, probably not what you want.
 
Do you know this for sure Mark? This sounds like the best idea so far. They should be able to weld some kind of plates on the ends too - to fasten it to the wall - couldn't they.
I will look into this.
 
I've been thinking about this project here.
Another thing I wanted to do is not have the water spraying directly at the shower curtain - which it would if you have the shower head on one of the walls.
So I'm thinking I will drop the ceiling to 7'above the shower with a curved soffit.
Put the shower head in that ceiling so it sprays downward instead of horizontaly. Water won't spray around the ends of the curtain so bad that way.
Next issue is to figure out how to bullnose the top of the shower threshold. But I know a custom tile manufacturer who should be able to make those pieces for me.
The best part of my job is the design.
The rest of it is just work.
Thanks to all.
 
Check with a local marina/boatyard/boat dealer that works on sailboats or big sportfishing boats. They'll probably have a local fabricator they use.

Yes, boat railings are normally attached with welded plates. Or they use off-the-shelf fittings like these: <a href="http://search.defender.com/?expression=railing%20fittings&s=1&Trigger=ac">http://search.defender.com/?expression=railing%20fittings&s=1&Trigger=ac</a> The off-the-shelf fittings are ridiculously expensive, so fabricators tend to make their own.

Try to get 316 stainless, which is standard in salt water but maybe not so common inland. 304 tends to "weep", which could leave rust streaks on your new tile.
 
I see 2 options, buy one already made, (if you can find it), or have one custom rolled.

As for the finish, I have not found a ready-made shower rod that didn't quickly rust or peel. I replaced mine with a piece of 1" tubing and had it power coated. It has held up well.

One thing I have noticed about curved rods, unless there is a support in the middle, they are very susceptible to getting pulled out of the wall! It will need some substantial load spreading ends and something solid to attach to.
 
You need an iron shop that can roll in the bend. Any other bender would take a series of bends and sliding the pipe into the shoes. You can make a 90* sweep on an electricians bender by making 18 -- 5 degree bends but will see a series of slight transitions -so no good.
 
I suggest you visit showerrods.com
They have loads of rods that are available for showers. I used them before on two projects. One was a readily available corner rod and the other I had them custom make it for me on the bending.
Check them out, give them a try.
Showerrods.com
 

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