Bending conduit

[phylodog]

Was wanting to make one of these

You can buy them but I'm not about to spend the kind of money they want for one. Sounds like the conduit idea isn't going to work out, back to the drawing board I reckon...

 

[drop45]

You don't have to go 360* then, all you need is an arch; even easier. However from the photo it looks like they bent square tubing. Dude this should be a piece of cake for you to make. Don't give up.

 

[Lectric102002]

I have a 1/2 inch bender if you want to borrow it. But, as CM said, EMT only comes in 10' lengths.

 

[TheEngineer]

Is that a hunting blind?

Theres no need to bend full hoops...bend 1/2 or 1/3 sections and assemble them. It would also be easier to takedown and transport

 

[HeadlessRoland]

Was wanting to make one of these.
You can buy them but I'm not about to spend the kind of money they want for one. Sounds like the conduit idea isn't going to work out, back to the drawing board I reckon...

Any reason you couldn't just do it as hex? Four forty-five degree bends and some skinning/straight framing and you'd be done. Or is the arc/circle for the added internal volume? Or to make it look like a haybale or something?

You come down and do the math, horn will lay it out and I will attempt to bend.
It is near impossible to stay on track and keep something like that straight. Might be fun to try though. Who is buying the beer???

If I could do math, I'd be a millionaire.

 

[chezuki]

Hay Bale Blind

 

[phylodog]

I'm not giving up, just gotta find a different option. I thought conduit would be cheap and relatively lightweight. Chances are it'll be assembled and disassembled once a year. We really need it more to move across an open field than we do to hunt out of and after seeing someone using one on a show it appeared light enough to fill that role nicely. If we could get it where we need to go and hunt out of it as well, that would just be icing on the cake. It'll have to look as much like a round bale as possible to avoid spooking the big boys, they're pretty smart and even more weary.

 

[phylodog]

Hay Bale Blind

Great link, thanks Chez. Wonder what they thing weighs?

 

[Fargo]

Was wanting to make one of these

You can buy them but I'm not about to spend the kind of money they want for one. Sounds like the conduit idea isn't going to work out, back to the drawing board I reckon...

Just make it an octagon. Turkeys probably would think the baler operator was drunk that day and geese are nowhere near that bright!

 

[TheEngineer]

I'm not giving up, just gotta find a different option. I thought conduit would be cheap and relatively lightweight. Chances are it'll be assembled and disassembled once a year. We really need it more to move across an open field than we do to hunt out of and after seeing someone using one on a show it appeared light enough to fill that role nicely. If we could get it where we need to go and hunt out of it as well, that would just be icing on the cake. It'll have to look as much like a round bale as possible to avoid spooking the big boys, they're pretty smart and even more weary.

Can you make an octagon out of PVC pipe and eight 45deg elbows?

If the octagon isn't round enough, you could "round it off" with 1/8" or so round bar on top of the straight sections of PVC...or you could use sixteen 22.5deg elbows for a more round shape, but those suckers are expensive compared to a standard 45deg

 

[phylodog]

Might be able to. Gonna make a trip to the hardware store and check out some options.

 

[TheEngineer]

Damn...beaten out by Fargo

 

[littletommy]

Yeah, I'm thinking PVC might be the ticket, cheap and easy. You can use 45 degree elbows and assemble the thing in the field. Plenty of strength, and plenty of options for making the thing whatever size and shape you want. Easier to haul in a truck bed, too.

 

[churchmouse]

View attachment 31048

Any reason you couldn't just do it as hex? Four forty-five degree bends and some skinning/straight framing and you'd be done. Or is the arc/circle for the added internal volume? Or to make it look like a haybale or something?



If I could do math, I'd be a millionaire.

Do this with half inch PVC or next up (3/4") and use fittings at the corners.
I have seen many awnings/canopy's done that way.
No glue just push together. It will work.

 

[Rookie]

I'm betting 1/2 inch pvc would have enough flex to make an arch/circle. Get two, glue them together with a coupler and give it a shot. Use a heat gun to make it more pliable.

 

[Rookie]

Hay Bale Blind

Crap, didn't look at the link. Yup, pvc will bend. You want to make it lighter, i could weld a lightweight frame (mild steel) for you.

 

[88GT]

The PVC pipe is a common "building" material for inexpensive green houses, cold frames, and even chicken runs. I see no reason why "hunting blind" couldn't be added to the list.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Can you make an octagon out of PVC pipe and eight 45deg elbows?

If the octagon isn't round enough, you could "round it off" with 1/8" or so round bar on top of the straight sections of PVC...or you could use sixteen 22.5deg elbows for a more round shape, but those suckers are expensive compared to a standard 45deg

THIS! I had a similar need with PVC and I found it was easier to go octagon with a bunch of couplers than trying to work with curves.

 

[chezuki]

Nice! Then it will blend right in with all those octagonal hay bales you always see...

 

[Cameramonkey]

How many animals recognize angles vs curves? Or are you hiding from two legged animals? And for that matter, as I look at the original photo, how many bales of hay have windows? How are windows any less of a giveaway than lack of a constant arc?

You can also use closed cell foam to make spacers to create an arc profile between the pipe and the cover.

Now you understand why the factory model is so expensive...