tips for bending J rail?

[Gone Kayaking]

Perhaps it's in one of the resto entries, but try as I might I couldn't find a post / tips on how to bend the j rail for the edge trim without warping it. Can someone run down the tools and steps for me?

[Redwings]

I'm going to just try to jump in here. Our compact had very sharp bends to go around with the j rail. It looks like your Aquadream's bends are pretty gentle. You may get a bit of warping but as far as function goes, the rail will still act as a drip rail even if it may be a tad bit warped. We just started attaching ours on the bottom, and when we came to the bends we would anchor a screw, then bend the channel to the next anchor point, and put in another screw. (Of course with the requisite butyl tape underneath.)

I look forward to hearing other people's advice!

[Gone Kayaking]

Thanks Diane, I've also heard heating it to soften helps, but looking for experience from others, we'll be taking that on this Sunday.

[julieb]

Gone Kayaking, how did your j rail turn out? I'm getting ready to put mine on and worried about bending it too. Anyone with more advice??

[neilandramona]

you can body work this with a door skin hammer a nd a small toe dolly.Remember alum. is soft it dont take much.

[universalexports]

I have NEVER bent any J-molding, so this might not work,

however by looking at it, I think the same process as bending tubing will work provided you also attach a piece of tubing inside the J of the J-molding, and use something like a big pulley off a car motor,

I have done this with 3/8 and 1/2 inch tubing to get smooth bends, you wrap it around the groves of the car pulley and bend it around,

I would think this same principle would work for J tubing.