How do I form half inch Chrome moly tube into a four foot hoop?

What you really need is a set of rollers. You mark the tube to the proper circumference, then keep rolling it untill the 2 marks line up

- then cut at the marks and wel.

Clare, I was just looking for a way to do it at home since it's hard to get to the welding shop during business hours. I could jury-rig a set of rolls using freehand ground hard rubber wheels to fit the pipe. Do you think hard rubber wheels would work?. Thanks, Dan

Yes, hard rubber wheels would work. Might take a bit longer, as you would need to limit the amount of deflection due to the resiliance of the rollers.

Hi Dan,

Should be no problem at that large of a diameter. There will be some flattening but you would probably need a caliper to measure it. Check out the link,

This is a handwheel I fabricated from 3/4 stainless tubing. The finished diameter is around 12 inches.

Be sure to overlap the ends so that the joint will have the correct bend radius. There will also be a little springback. Your hoop will come out slightly larger that the plywood form.

Tom Lipton