A Comparison Between Aluminium and Steel Pipe Bending
Are you planning to fabricate a custom exhaust pipe for your car? Read on and discover some factors that can help you to select between aluminium and steel pipe for that DIY fabrication project.
Cost
The cost of steel pipes varies depending on whether you want to use mild steel, carbon steel or stainless steel. Stainless steel is the most expensive of those three metals. Aluminium pipes usually cost more than carbon steel pipes. As you buy pipes for your project, remember that you may make mistakes during the bending process. Those mistakes can cause you to dispose of some sections of pipe. Your budget should therefore allow you to account for some material wastage.
Weight
You should also consider the weight of those pipes as you select the right one for your project. Carbon steel is very heavy when it is compared to mild steel. Aluminium is lighter than mild steel and carbon steel. Stainless steel is lighter than carbon steel, but it is heavier than aluminium. The weight of the pipe may affect how easily you can manipulate that material during the pipe bending process. You are therefore better off getting the lightest material that your budget can allow you to buy.
Ductility
Mild steel is relatively ductile due to the limited amount of carbon in it. Carbon steel scores very low when ductile metals are being ranked. Aluminium is very ductile. This means that you are likely to have a harder time bending steel pipes as compared to bending aluminium pipes during your project. Stainless steel will also give you a hard time during the bending process.
Strength
Do you want to fabricate an exhaust pipe that will last for a long time? Select a metal which scores highly in terms of its strength. For example, mild steel will not last for a long time because it is very flimsy. Stainless steel will last for a very long time because it is very strong. Aluminium is also very strong and will save you from having to pull out your pipe bending equipment soon after installing the new exhaust pipe.
Think about the conditions under which the exhaust pipe that you fabricate will be operating. For instance, that pipe will be exposed to several severe conditions, such as high temperatures and moisture. You should therefore select a material that will not only give you the fewest challenges during the pipe bending process but will also stand up to the operation conditions once the exhaust pipe is installed.