05-18-2015, 12:39 AM
304 should meet your needs.
Sand bending helps prevent the tube from crushing during bending. It works, but must be packed in very tightly. Another method is to fill the tube with soapy water and freeze it. I've never done this, but I hear from reputable sources that it works. Either method, the ends must be tightly capped. What I do is smash one end flat and weld it.
I might suggest trying a sand-casting mixture which includes bentonite clay, it will ram up quite firmly. I've never tried this, either, but it sounds like a good idea.
If you orient the seam on the neutral axis of the bend, it won't give you any problems.
Sand bending helps prevent the tube from crushing during bending. It works, but must be packed in very tightly. Another method is to fill the tube with soapy water and freeze it. I've never done this, but I hear from reputable sources that it works. Either method, the ends must be tightly capped. What I do is smash one end flat and weld it.
I might suggest trying a sand-casting mixture which includes bentonite clay, it will ram up quite firmly. I've never tried this, either, but it sounds like a good idea.
If you orient the seam on the neutral axis of the bend, it won't give you any problems.