Bending loads on aluminum tubes
Glad to hear, Jack. 2024-T3 should cost very little, if any more, than 6061-T6, and it is a helluva lot stronger. A good all-purpose aircraft alloy of WW2 vintage, and still hard to beat for all-round usefulness. I routinely form 2024, but you have to be careful to avoid sharp bends, such as when forming dural landing gear. A little heating, up to around 300 F. or so helps, but avoid going much hotter or you will lose strength, although the material will slowly age harden, and you can reharden it quickly if you really want to get into aluminum heat treating, which doesn't need high temperature anyway - nothing like those involved in hardening steel.