I was wondering if anybody knew if you can use a mandrel bender on titanium piping to make an exhaust system. I ask b/c on the J's racing exhaust there appear to be no welds on the exhaust piping -while on the Amuse exhausts the bends are welded together. I ask b/c I do know titanium i very strong and I thought there would be chance that a mandrel bender couldnt bend the piping.
Lastly, if a mandrel bender does work, cana 90 degree bend be accomplished?


If anybody can shed some light on this topic, I would really appreciate it.

 

The question is if you can find the material. I tried last year and it was VERY expensive and not "in stock". The additional strength allows for thinner wall diameters so the mandrel shouldn't have a problem doing it but who do you know that has a mandrel bender?

 

There is actually one place who has a mandrel here in socal- it is rare indeed.
Tianium piping is extremely hard to find but I may have found a reliable source. This is all speculation anyway.
Thanks foryour help.

 

I would think the owner of the rare bender would know for sure if it can bend Ti.

 

I know a few places that have mandrel benders. I know that the piping can be mandrel bent by most good mandrel benders, but up to what gauge and diameter will depend on the machine. Most the companies i knew that used to sell titanium piping no longer do. So again good luck finding the material, if you do find a reliable source, let me know!

 

It depends on the alloy

 

good one.
I am asking here b/c the shop has been closed for 1 month due to remodeling.

 

Nope!
Your normal mandrel bender can NOT bend pure Titanium 6AL piping.
You need speical equipment to do smooth bending on Ti piping.

Also true for raw Ti market price went up so much last few months due to China.
Expect price rise in high-end Ti product soon.

 

100% right... if you notice all the jun cars that make everyting from intercooler pipes to custom d/ps out of Ti its made up of tons and tons of welds from very small peice to make up a bend

 

Many custom exhausts for the S are made from thinwall Stainless. The cost difference between the stainless and titanium would probably be the purchase price of a used S.
Titanium tends to be brittle and is difficult to bend.
I would venture a guess that the cost of a custom totally titanium system would be at least $8000 to $10,000 in labor if you can even get the stuff. I had some titanium welding done a couple years ago and it was over $50 an inch. At that rate, welding the little section of tubing with 4 welds in this picture could cost over $500 for the labor.




Have you looked into Inconel? http://www.burnsstainless.com/TechArticles...el_article.html

If you look around that site you will find some good information.

Let us know how you proceed.