bending tubing with heat

[anotheridiot]

I was hoping that someone out there could help answer a question about bending mild steel tubing.

What are the consiquences of heating mild steel tubing in order to bend it over a form?

Is there a particular alloy of mild steel that would be better suited to this procedure than another and why?

I assume that you would want to use just enough heat to soften the steel just enough to facilitate bending. Is there any general guidelines as to how hot is too hot when it comes to affecting the strength properties of the steel?

Would the affect that the heat has on the steel be enough that it should not be used in a structural manner? When I say structural manner, I am refering to it's use as structural components in the making of motorcycle frames, crossmembers for use in the making of hot rod type frames, suspension components for cars, etc.

I know that this is not your typical queston, but if anyone can shed some light on this subject I would appreciate it.
I know that there are tubing benders of all sorts for bending steel tubing cold, but I just want to know what affects heating the tubing will have on it and is it dangerous to use as a structural component. Please feel free to call me an idiot, but note that I am just trying to learn. Thanks

 

[CWIC]

We all learn.

You can learn something about heating to shape (or remove a shape) from metals by purchasing an inexpensive copy of the The Procedure Handbook of Arc Welding by Lincoln. It is avaiable at most welding supplies or directly from Lincoln at their website.

 

[unclesyd]

Adding to what CWIC posted I wouldn't try to heat and bend alloy mechanical tubing until I had a little basic knowledge about the material and their behaviors. And the book he recommends is excellant and inexpensive. I have it and many others from Lincoln.

A lot of the stuff seen on TV about building bikes and things are very wrong from an engineering and metallurgical point of view. On a show the other night I saw some bending of wrenches that probably had the materials engineer of the company coming out of his chair.