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Steel Hex 2.0

LeanMachine

LeanMachine

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2018
Messages
369
After building my other hex platform 100% cut and weld, i wanted to do one using the bender as much as possible. Im using the like $80 harbor freight bender that is really designed for flat stock. There is a bit of a learning curve to it. I decided to just waste some material to build some data on creating various angles. That was a good call. Now i have lots of data on where to stop for various angles and how much material it up takes.

I don't know that this design is an improvement but it was fun to design and build and it is bomb proof. I don't know what it weighs because my scale battery is dead. Id guess a hair over 3 lbs.

I would like a buckleless strap to attach it to the tree. I mocked up a stap like Carl makes for sticks. I have a ton of heavyweight backpack webbing so that is what i used. Concept tested valid but, as expected, that webbing has WAY too much stretch even in just a few feet. Can anyone recommend a specific webbing that is super low stretch and strong? I was happy to see that with me jumping on the edge the webbing was starting to shear and still no sign of stitch failure. I will have to modify the design so that shear force is done away with and the load is evenly distributed.
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The HF kinkomatic is a good tool.....just make sure the seam of your material in on the inside of the radius.....if it starts kinking to much try packing your tube or pipe with sand and preheat it
 
Cool design, I love seeing the things that everyone on the site makes.

I used some 1" tubular nylon webbing for a bridge at one point. It had very little stretch and was rated at 4000 lb tensile strength. Maybe someone else has used it for a platform and could confirm.
 
Weldabeast said:
The HF kinkomatic is a good tool.....just make sure the seam of your material in on the inside of the radius.....if it starts kinking to much try packing your tube or pipe with sand and preheat it
Click to expand...
Thats a good call on the seam. I did not think about that. What i have found to be key is to use inside and outside dies that lay up to have very minimal room for slop so that the tubing is fully supported as it is forced around. Im running the 2.5" die inside and the 3" on the outside. The 1/2" tubing slips between them very snug. I would imagine it is a less useful tool as the rubing gets larger but i have had great luck with it on 1/2"

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That is killer! You need some of the new Versa Strap that is coming out. It's dyneema so no stretch to it. Great idea!
 
flinginairos said:
That is killer! You need some of the new Versa Strap that is coming out. It's dyneema so no stretch to it. Great idea!
Click to expand...
Who will be making versa strap / where will it be available from?

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LeanMachine said:
Who will be making versa strap / where will it be available from?

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Click to expand...

Tethrd will be releasing it in a week or so ready to ship. I’ve been messing with it that past couple weeks it’s pretty sweet!


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LeanMachine said:
Thats a good call on the seam. I did not think about that. What i have found to be key is to use inside and outside dies that lay up to have very minimal room for slop so that the tubing is fully supported as it is forced around. Im running the 2.5" die inside and the 3" on the outside. The 1/2" tubing slips between them very snug. I would imagine it is a less useful tool as the rubing gets larger but i have had great luck with it on 1/2"

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Click to expand...
I built mine using the HF bender as well. I made a die on the lathe at work to do 1/2" tubing. Its 2" and I use the 2 1/2" die as the pusher. It's what i made my DIY wild edge steps and few other things with. That square tube die makes it so much easier and ya never have to worry about kinking.
 
flinginairos said:
Tethrd will be releasing it in a week or so ready to ship. I’ve been messing with it that past couple weeks it’s pretty sweet!


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Click to expand...
If ya send me some I'll be glad to test it out ;)
 
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