Flexible exhaust tubing

"Maxwell" luv2^fly99@cox.^net wrote in message
...

"Stuart & Kathryn Fields" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a source of 1 1/2" flexible exhaust tubing. Mild steel
is acceptable. I want to use it for a model of the headers of a tuned
exhaust for my 0320 Lycoming engine that I have mounted in my Baby Belle
helicopter. The idea is to have 4 equal length pieces attached to exhaust
flanges bolted to the cylinders, arrange the 4 pieces to intercept the
4-into-1 collector, coat the tubing with epoxy resin so that the shape is
maintained and then present these pieces to be copied by the exhaust
bender.

Stu


Stu,

Why can't you model your headers with equal lengths of 1/4" steel brake
line tubing? It's easy to bend without kinking, and could be bent around
simple plywood templets to maintain the minimum radii of the larger tube.
Just route it to represent the center line of the 1 1/2" tubing, and
maintain at least 1 1/2" between tubes.

A trick I found while trying conduit was that if I had all 4 pieces cut to
the same length and had them connected to the cylinders thru a flange, then
I could kind of bend them all at the same time keeping their other ends
together and have them all come to the collector at the same time. Doing
one cylinder at a time presents a bunch of trial and error, re-bend and try
again. I think that having the flex exhaust pipe might just save some time
and using up all of my cuss words. (I've only got about 15 minutes worth
before I start repeating myself) I found some galvanized flex exhaust on
Amazon.com

Stu