# feasibility of a DIY Roll Bar
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive
**Created:** [April 8, 2009, 5:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829 "2009-04-08T05:40:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 5:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/1 "2009-04-08T05:40:53Z")
Ok, so we all saw the thread where the dude built a horrible looking roll bar.
Seems to me, that with a harbor freight, welder, and a bunch of pipe, you could build one DIY style.
Is it feasible?
Would it be safe?
Lets make some assumptions here.
- Average at-home welder
- Materials are to the proper specification
- Builder is following some sanctioned club’s(scca,nasa,etc…) guidlines.
Also, keep in mind this is a roll-bar, not a full cage.
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### Author:  [@sureshot007](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/sureshot007)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/2 "2009-04-08T05:48:10Z")
It’s much easier and safer (maybe even cheaper) to just buy a bolt in roll bar.
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### Author:  [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 5:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/3 "2009-04-08T05:49:15Z")
unless they don’t make one for your car…
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### Author:  [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/4 "2009-04-08T05:51:21Z")
Don’t ruin your Z
You were just trying to sell it now you want to put a roll bar that can’t be removed in it…
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### Author:  [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/5 "2009-04-08T05:52:56Z")
no, not wanting to. Just a thought, seriously.
But the thread from yesterday has me wondering if people ever do this as a DIY.
edit: I don’t even own a welder anymore. I sold it before I moved(bad judgment call) ☹
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### Author:  [@fairgentleman\_Z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fairgentleman_Z)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 5:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/6 "2009-04-08T05:54:39Z")
A pipe bender is not a tube bender. There will be noticeable differences in the bend quality.
A proper weld is a proper weld, there should be no grey area. If you have to question it, chances are it is not done correctly.
Material is pretty straight forward.
Even building a full custom cage buying a premade main hoop from a reputable company is a good idea.
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### Author:  [@Silver](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Silver)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 5:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/7 "2009-04-08T05:56:59Z")
I’m all for DIY projects, but this is an area you probably just shouldn’t mess with.
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### Author:  [@sureshot007](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/sureshot007)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/8 "2009-04-08T05:57:02Z")
Bars and cages should never be a DIY for the average person. You should always leave that in the hands of a person that has experience. You may never need it, but when you do, you will be grateful that you paid an experience person to fab it.
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### Author:  [@POOPRA](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/POOPRA)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/9 "2009-04-08T05:57:13Z")
You need expensive tools to make any part of a cage. Benders, notchers, and a good welder are needed. Crappy HF tools will yield crap results.
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### Author:  [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/10 "2009-04-08T06:00:32Z")
yeah, I wasn’t really sure what the capabilities of the HF benders are.
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### Author:  [@Haenszel](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Haenszel)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 6:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/11 "2009-04-08T06:03:09Z")
talk to mike at innovative. His cage guy does really good work, and is VERY VERY inexpensive.
I’ll cost more in tools/materials to build it than this guy charges, thus saving yourself the time and having it done by a true professional who knows specifics about certain sanction’s rules.
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### Author:  [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 6:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/12 "2009-04-08T06:06:28Z")
i have a HF bender, i used it to make the strut bars… it made OK bends, but i really made sub 45 degree bends with it…
you would need to spend the ~ 4-500 bux on a j2 bender to be able to make a good cage bend…
and then you are already into the price area of somebody making one for you…
doesnt your Z have factory roll over protection anyways?
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### Author:  [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/13 "2009-04-08T06:27:29Z")
I am not putting a roll bar in my car. For several reasons.
That was not the point of this thread
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### Author:  [@Haenszel](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Haenszel)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 7:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/14 "2009-04-08T07:44:22Z")
what?
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### Author:  [@psychopjv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/psychopjv)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 12:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/15 "2009-04-08T12:26:31Z")
> [@Haenszel](#):
>
> talk to mike at innovative. His cage guy does really good work, and is VERY VERY inexpensive.
>
> I’ll cost more in tools/materials to build it than this guy charges, thus saving yourself the time and having it done by a true professional who knows specifics about certain sanction’s rules.
not gonna lie i laughed.
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### Author:  [@turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbo_ls1_ss)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/feasibility-of-a-diy-roll-bar/65829/16 "2009-04-08T12:28:29Z")
> [@psychopjv](#):
>
> not gonna lie i laughed.
me too…
Victor Puglia Jr. and Jason Vitez do great work. I’ve had great experiences with both. I’ll get some close-ups of the TIGs when i get a chance