Is anyone on here a well read or experienced Metallurgist or experienced fabricator? I'm conducting a hypothetical tube bumper experiment and am running weight and price numbers for aluminum but have some questions about physical properties.

I'm interested in doing an extremely minimalist tube bumper and am thinking about using 6061-T6 tubing and plate (for the mounts). I'm concerned about tubing wall thickness, and whether or not aluminum tubing is bendable at 1/8+ wall thickness.

Something like this

 

I want a bumper just like that but with a winch mount

 

I plan on using square hitch receiver as a pulling point or to mount a winch. That way I can move it front to rear and remove it when I'm daily driving it.

 

I already knew this, but ran it past my fab guy and...6061-T6 will crack if it's not heated before bending. Here is a vid, just skip to 1:45 to see the failure. Good Luck

 

Awesome, exactly the kind of info I needed.

 

i like that bumper, is it custom?

 

Yeah the guy built several and sold them. Not sure if he is still around though, the trail went cold.

 

Ask "ImNotTheStig" over in his build topic, he has the same bumper, or at least looks very similar. I believe he works at a place that outfits off road vehicles...so he may have some leads.

Brian.

 

I believe you'll find most hard walled, formed, non ferrous tube whatever shape requires annealing prior to working or bending. Some copper is 'soft' copper tube, usually in a roll, and doesn't need annealing but to my knowledge all alu tube does.

 

Stick with DOM. There are companies that make aluminum links and they are big bucks. Anything aluminun will be big money.
Lose the A bar and use DOM. Very minimalist and pretty light.