Yes you can easily bend tube thickness down to 75 thou of an inch with good dies.
It is important that the die supports the full diameter of the tube so that it doesn't collapse the pipe/ tube as it's bent.
I have a cheap “made in china 12 ton bender” with "galtube pipe" dies (for extra light galv pipe).
I slit a 200mm piece of the
next size up tubing, length ways and put ½ under each roller to support the back of the tube where the rollers contact it, so not to leave dents where the rollers run on the back of the pipe.
To bend a bit of forward planning is needed.
Simply tape over the end of the tube you need to bend and fill it with water. Put it vertically in the freezer (we have a 5 draw upright freezer and a 1.55mtr of 32nb fits nicely beside the draws each side) over night and in the morning into the bender and away you go. If the bends are far enough apart you can usually do all that is needed in that length without refreezing between bends. My mate runs "Browns Ice-creams" in Esperance, so I'm sorted for the longer lengths in thin walled tube as well.
The ice supports the tube beautifully and a perfect bend results.
If you are bending two pieces and require them to be bent to the exact same angle, measure from the top of the die, to the frame of the bender with a tape and bend the second one to the same measurement and it will be perfect.
I have even bent aluminium arrow shafts with ice, into 50mm coil springs using brake pipe mandrels and left the flights on. That gets people guessing.
Another neat trick to remove dents from my model helicopter mufflers is to do the same as above. Tape over the outlet and fill with water and freeze. As they expand it pops the dent out. Sometimes it has taken several goes to completely remove the dent. Works a treat on motorbike fuel tanks as well, but keep a good eye on them, as the expansion can do damage if not monitored.
Hope this helps, cheers Chook
