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How to Center a Tube in a Press

Fabrication with tubing presents a whole set of challenges that don't exist with flat materials. The tubing can roll around on your work table, making it impossible to perform any precision fabrication on the tube. The solution is simply to render the tube square with the use of supports while you work on it. You do this by creating a V-shaped channel with supports so its cross-section looks like the letter "M." The tube then lays fixed in the crotch of the channel.

Things You'll Need

Angle or channel steer
bar steel
MIG welder
Cutoff saw

Instructions

- 1
  Measure an appropriate length for your tube brace that fits your press and cut a section of channel steel this length. Channel has an L profile.
- 2
  Cut two square pieces of steel flat bar, at least as thick as your channel material, and the same height and width as the channel.
- 3
  Lay the channel on your work table so it is balanced with the point of the L down ̵2; or in a V shape. Use a small level to balance the channel.
- 4
  Tack weld the square pieces to each end of the channel for positioning. Then go back and fully weld them in place.
- 5
  Cut additional square pieces of steel flat bar the same dimensions as your end caps and cut them diagonally.
- 6
  Weld at least one pair of the steel triangles along the center of your tube brace for additional stability. Now, you can easily clamp the centerline of the pipe to any working surface to bend it, drill it or mill it.

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