There is a very simple method that can be used to bend hard drawn brass tubing that is used for stuffing boxes. DO NOT ANNEAL THE TUBING BY HEATING THE TUBING & THEN PLACING IT IN COLD WATER! ONCE YOU HAVE ANNEALED HARD DRAWN BRASS TUBING THERE IS NO WAY TO REHARDEN IT. In fact brass alloys DO NOT respond to heat treating processes.

Cerro-Bismuth low melting temperature alloys expand as they solidify, pushing into every crevice & area. Cerrobend melts at 150* F & it can be poured into any size brass tubing that has been coated with mineral oil first. After it hardens the rigid walled brass tubing can be bent in any shape or form without crinkling. Reheating the brass tubing in hot water will melt the Cerrobend out for reuse. Tool makers have used this stuff for more than 40 years.

Jim Allen

Ive been looking for a way to create a smooth gradual s bend stuffing box for a rigger. Where can you find this material? Is it hazardous to handle?

It is available from McMaster-Carr. It is not hazardous to your health.

Anyone ever tried the spring benders for brass tube?



I have seen the Micro-Mark #60360 bender set at Hobby Lobby.

Of all the methods I have used, this has to be a contender for the
quick 'n easy way to master the brass. Cold bends can be obtained as
well.

Now, let's carry the idea farther forward and bend a stuffing tube
using a spring inserted inside the tube. Try making a bend with a
scrap piece of flex cable. If only a slight bend is required this can
work also. Hint: The flex cable must fit snug in the tube. If the
fit is not snug then wrap the flex cable with Aluminum foil and make
a snug fit.

Spring benders must fit tightly which will leave an imprint inside & outside on thin walled tubings that will match the windings of the spring used. Because the Cerro bend expands as it solidifies, even thin wall rigid tubings can be bent 90* smoothly without any crinkling or spring imprints. Try it, you will be amazed!

Simple - tape end up - fill with fine sand blasting sand - tape other end - bend till your hearts desire - no chemicals - no marks and smooth bends

Not rocket science to bend a stuffing tube - I did 4 this week alone

See, we learn stuff every day. That is the first time I heard of the stuff. But I do remember my first boss at a manual shop explaining how to bend tubing with sand, and heat if needed. My money says the cerro bend replaced the sand in most applications.

At least on this site there are no silly posts about annealing drawn rigid wall brass tubing & then re-hardening it by heating & placing it in cold water. LOL!

I found a pound of this "cerrobend" for under 20.00. Doesnt seem too expensive especially when you can reuse it, or cannot you?



Jim, I know it must be soft but is this stuff machine able?

It can be reused INDEFINITELY! No Annealing of the hard drawn tubing is necessary to make even 90* small radius bends of the type that might be used for engine water inlets or outlets. Once hard drawn brass tubing has been annealed it CANNOT be re-hardened by any method known to man. If I'm wrong, DO NOT quote from IMHO or EWSG sources. Show the technical data sheet for the process & I'll be happy to be corrected!