The bottom tube

The bottom tube needs two bend an the ends. So I started looking for a half decent tube bender for 19 mm tubing. It proved nowhere to find. 15 mm was abtainable, for 40 euro's. And a 22 mm version for 100. Way to expensive to try.

So I dedided on a different approach. I delved into my scrap metal box and found a metal ring of about 100mm diameter. Using this and some wood I made a crude bending rig for use on the milling table.

It proved perfect on the first try. No kinking of the tube at all.

After that I had to turn down the inserts, as the tube sizes I work with do not have a sliding fit. I use 22x19mm, 19x16mm and 16x13mm for the frame. At the middle sleeve the 19 mm has to be turned down to about 18.7mm, and the inserts are turned from 16 mm to 15.7.
An insert.
Turning down the 19 mm tubing.
The middel connection, still without the sleeve.
The frame ready for skinning.