Custom Bent Aluminum Exhaust

[Bluzboy66]

Hey Guys,

Here's my first Tech Tip contribution to the MCMF. I simply cut a pasted from my other post in the Under Glass catagory where 'mademan' complimented me on my '69 Road Runner's custom aluminum exhaust.......

- The exhaust is aluminum tubing. I threaded an appropriately sized 'flatwound' bass guitar string through the tubing, bent to shape, and gradually pulled the bass string out as I went along. The possibilities are endless with this technique. I am a luthier (guitar repairman) by trade, and came up with the idea in my shop a while back. After I tried it, I was like "DUH!". Hey!.....you all heard it here first!

After the exhaust was bent to fit the model, I polished it on my bench grinder fitted with a flannel buffing wheel and some rouge. The two little exhaust hangers are stainless wire.

By the way, you can buy a set of Fender 'flatwound bass guitar strings at your local music store. They run about $15, but you'll have 4 different sized strings that'll fit an assortment of different sized tubing. Bass guitar strings also come in 6-string sets. For the uninitiated, that's SIX differently sized strings!

Mike

[VW Dave]

Great exhaust tip....pun intended. 8)

I love how model supplies can be discovered in lots of 'non-modelling' places.

[colonelron]

I use guitar strings for several other uses in models. I made friends with a local rock band and they give me their used strings- they change guitar strings every week, or before every show. I was getting them from a local music store but they caught on and started charging me for them. If you try to get them from a music store, don't go to the same one every week.

[James W]

That's a great tip on bending tubes!!! 8) I'll be trying it very soon. I also got some guitar strings from the music store waste basket. It never hurts to ask. I like to use them as choke cables and even threaded rod.

[SpreadAxle]

That is such a cool trick, and a fine model you have here.