Bender plans???

[Millerluck]

I would love to make a tube bender.

The kind that bolt to the shop floor and you pull a big arm to bend the tube.

http://www.vansantent.com/images/prod_model3Bender.gif

Then I could make some roll bars.

Why are the dies so much for these things too?
Its just a slug of big round stock with a groove in it then a piece sawn out.

http://www.vansantent.com/model_3_bender.htm

Larry Miller

[ September 14, 2003, 07:12 AM: Message edited by: Millerluck ]

[Desert Beast]

i wouldnt think it would be that hard to make one. i just bucked up and bought one, but theyre pretty simple. but the benders are only about 300 bucks. its the dies that kill ya.

[timmirvin]

Will these also bend square tubing?????

I don't ever remember seeing one for square tubing, or the dies, for that matter????

[Tad]

Originally posted by timmirvin:
Will these also bend square tubing?????

I don't ever remember seeing one for square tubing, or the dies, for that matter????Yep, here is the one we use for the roof racks...

http://www.shopoutfitters.com/Products/tdr.htm

...the problem I find with most of these is they don't get you capacity much beyond 1 1/4", but they are easy to use and pretty consistant.

Here are some other links I have been hanging onto...

http://www.pro-tools.com/

http://www.rockthis.org/tech/homebuiltbender.asp

[ September 15, 2003, 05:49 AM: Message edited by: tadsal ]

[FSJ Thing]

Ghetto Tube Bending! I saw it on Jesse James' show. You cut the shape of the bend out of wood, then heat up the tube or pipe with ox/acet and then holding it with welding gloves, you push it against the wood jig! then you hose down the entire garage to keep the fire from spreading! I think this is how I'll do it.

:D

[racer32]

i built a bender for 1 3/4" .095 wall tube for my racecar. i'll try to get some pics of it up. total cost for materials was about $35 and i used the jack out of my Harbor Freight pipe bender. it made some nice bends....

[dnixon]

Originally posted by WagoThing:
Ghetto Tube Bending! I saw it on Jesse James' show. You cut the shape of the bend out of wood, then heat up the tube or pipe with ox/acet and then holding it with welding gloves, you push it against the wood jig! then you hose down the entire garage to keep the fire from spreading! I think this is how I'll do it.

:D I saw that for how he was shapping a frame for a bike but i wouldnt' do it for something that is supposed to save your life. When you heat up metal to bend it you are GREATLY changed the composition of the molecules in the metal. And making it very brittle unless you cool it down VERY slowly allowing the molecules to realign themselves. When you heat it the carbon moves around and creates stress concentration points inside of the metal do to it clumping together. It also makes for a STRONGER metal becuase these clumps of carbon don't allow the molecules to shift and bend as easily as it did before... BUT
you pay for it in impact resistance. Just food for thought. Since the duty of the Roll Cage is to absorb impact in a roll over. smile.gif

[timmirvin]

Thanks Tadsal really appreciate the sites. Will help alot after Sherman is up and ready!!

[Rockwagon]

A buddy and I have just ordered the MB 105 HD from pro tools. We got the 1 3/4" die and hope to add more acc. later I hope it is worth the money!!!!!!!!!!!

[Millerluck]

Ok I'm gona make my own bender.

Thanks for the sights Tad.

I see how it works.

Lever it some move up a notch, lever it some more....

Pretty simple.

I just don't get why the dies are so much $$$$$?

Larry Miller

[Shake N Bake]

Miller - I liked your idea so much - I built one as a test bed. Dies are darned expensive, so we 'ghetto fabed' a die (10 pieces of 1/4" plate cut, welded and bolted to make something that looked like a die) to see if it would work. Version 2 will be built once I can find some dies that don't cost an arm and a leg.

Good idea we found from the testing - 1/2" mild steel plate is good. Hi-Lift jacks make great 'rams' for tube bending. And 2" 5/16 wall pipe is too much for the 1/2" plate frame :D

Andy

[Tad]

Originally posted by Millerluck:
I just don't get why the dies are so much $$$$$?
Well, neither do I.
I have a really nice Hosefield bender at work I salvaged from a school shop that was closing down.
Can't afford the dies and it is capeable of doing 2 1/2" .125 wall tube.

Any body got some spares laying around?

[timmirvin]

Trade ya..... :D

[Torque]

www.lindsaybks.com (http://www.lindsaybks.com)
Click on the link then click on 'land of gingery' scroll down and click on building a pipe bending machine.He ends up building his dies out of hardwood sandwiched between mild steel.

[tuck]

racer32, I have a harbor freight bender, and I'm really interested in how you modified yours. I would love to see pics, heck, I could probably drive out there and check it out some time if you wouldn't mind.

[tuck]

Originally posted by Torque:
www.lindsaybks.com (http://www.lindsaybks.com)
Click on the link then click on 'land of gingery' scroll down and click on building a pipe bending machine.He ends up building his dies out of hardwood sandwiched between mild steel.the wheels in my head are turning for sure.. anyone have the plans yet? ...

[Zac]

so does anyone know where to get the cheapest dies?
Zac

[Green Giant]

Here is another link: Metal benders & notchers (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=156&catalogId=4006970&storeId=6970&langId=-1&PHOTOS=on)

[Wagillac]

Originally posted by tuck:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Torque:
www.lindsaybks.com (http://www.lindsaybks.com)
Click on the link then click on 'land of gingery' scroll down and click on building a pipe bending machine.He ends up building his dies out of hardwood sandwiched between mild steel.the wheels in my head are turning for sure.. anyone have the plans yet? ...</font>[/QUOTE]How much pressure could the wood handle before cracking around the bolts? Im not saying it wont work just thiking. If the wood could handle it this would be a very cheap way to make a bender. The only things you need is a drill, welder, somthing to cut the steel and access to a wood lathe.
Some one needs to try this!

Evan

[ September 19, 2003, 03:04 PM: Message edited by: Evan FSJ ]

[tuck]

Originally posted by Evan FSJ:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Evan FSJ:

The only things you need is a drill, welder, somthing to cut the steel and access to a wood lathe.
Some one needs to try this!

EvanDrill- check
Welder- check
Plasma cutter- check
Wood lathe- will a metal lathe work?

[Wagillac]

Originally posted by tuck:
Drill- check
Welder- check
Plasma cutter- check
Wood lathe- will a metal lathe work?[/QB]I would think a metal lathe would work fine, in the picture the guy was using a metal lathe.
You need to get to work tongue.gif . I dont think you realy would need the plans even, you will be beefing every thing up a ton any ways.

[Merc69]

Don't have time to make a bender. I live about 80 miles from the JD2 facility. Ordered and picked it up a week later. I do need to get more dies though, I have 1" and 1.5" right now. 1.75" and 2" and even a square die should be in the near future.

A friend bought one recently and they have cheaped out on the degree wheel though. Glad I bought mine when I did :D

[Tad]

Originally posted by Merc69:
A friend bought one recently and they have cheaped out on the degree wheel though. Glad I bought mine when I did :D Never used one (any bender) that was without it's own little quirks.
Something to be said for the old school stuff that was made (no, I ain't telling my age) way back when.

[racer32]

tuck-
here's a couple pics for ya and if you want to get a better look i'll email you my #. the reason i built this bender was for my racecar cage. i saved about 100 lbs of weight using the tubing versus pipe. if i were to build a cage for my jeep or another off road project i'd probably use pipe....

http://myweb.cableone.net/irace32/bender1.jpg http://myweb.cableone.net/irace32/bender2.jpg

[tuck]

Racer32, you're the man! How did you build your die? I would love to build something just like that since I already have a HF pipe crusher.. my email is stucker@academy.cc

send me an email and I'll give you a call

[racer32]

roger ;)

[RustyJeep]

I'd love some measurements/drawings or whatever of your setup too, as I also already have a Harbor Freight crusher smile.gif You can shoot me an email at rustyjeep@chartermi.net

[jeepzilla47]

definately send some info this way!! got the same pipe crusher also!!!!!

jeepzilla47@yahoo.com

[racer32]

alright! looks like there is some interest. i'll round up some dimensions asap and get them out to you guys...
give me a couple days....

[Midnightwagon]

do a write up for all of us, that looks like a great design there. good work!!
Jeremy

[ September 23, 2003, 02:27 AM: Message edited by: Midnightwagon ]

[Tad]

Make that at least 4 of us with the same HF pipe crusher. Thanks racer32.

[Zac]

I cant see the pics. But I would definately like the plans also
please
rraney@earthlink.net
thanks
zac

[jode]

Holy snkikes! That thing is phat! I got the same ?? as Tuck, how the heck did you form/fab that die?

Count me in as interested in the plans :D

Also, mind if I "drop by" for a little bending some day? I should have my Millermatic 175 by the end of the month :D :D

[tomd]

Is the die just a piece of bent tube/pipe sliced in half with bracing?

That looks remarkably similar to the one my friend bought to build his circle track car's cage, too bad it was for 1.75"

[racer32]

Jode-
sounds good bro- just give me a call.

cheep-
yep it's just a piece of pipe sliced in half and braced and "masaged" a little with a torch...

[tuck]

Racer32... the suspense is gonna kill me...

I have a digital camera, a tape measure, and a car. I might be able to travel out your way, snap some shots and take some measurements one of these days if you need help.... :D

[racer32]

tuck my man i'll email my # to you. i kinda spaced doin that. you are more than welcome to come on out and see it in person..

all-
i'm going to measure the whole thing and hopefully have some autocad drawings done in the next week with a write up. i can export a .bmp or a .jpg out of autocad and paste it into a word doc or something for those who do not have autocad...

[ September 26, 2003, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: racer32 ]

[HeepofaJeep]

Do you happen to have any pictures of the tubing you bent? I think that is a really good idea!! the more pictures you could round up the better!!!

[flyboy]

I saw one the other day that was fabbed out of a hydraulic log splitter.He turned the ram so the control was on top and used pieces from a pipe bender and bought a die for round tube. It worked really well.

[irbob]

racer32...u really r da man. That is exatly what I've been looking for. Can u please put me on the list for plans, pix or whatever u come up with? Thanks

[racer32]

sure thing bob :D

[Horny Toad]

Autocad plas would be cool!! Could print out sheets to use as template for metal!!

Thanks racer32!!

HT

[Rhino Racer]

racer32...the bender looks like it belongs in a race truck. Can I have the cad drawings?

My mail is: ambientl@telnor.net

[Elliott]

Originally posted by racer32:
tuck my man i'll email my # to you. i kinda spaced doin that. you are more than welcome to come on out and see it in person..

all-
i'm going to measure the whole thing and hopefully have some autocad drawings done in the next week with a write up. i can export a .bmp or a .jpg out of autocad and paste it into a word doc or something for those who do not have autocad...Please e-mail a copy of that in Word form if you get time.
Thanks,
Elliott

[billyrb]

Racer32, if you would, shoot me a copy of those plans in CAD? My email address is ryan@bilsonassociates.com

Gracias!

[youngjeeper]

racer32, send the .jpg, or .bmp file my way.

youngjeeper@mail.com

[GaWag]

I wan to be on the list too please.

Steve

[Wagillac]

I would like a copy aswell if your e-mailing them out. tempestman@comcast.net

[garoo_one]

garoo_one looking for one as well garoo@vianet.ca

[racer32]

sorry guys for the delay. between trail rides with the Idaho FSJ clan and fixing old worn out appliances at my house, i haven't had time yet. i will get the drawings done this weekend i promise!

[Tad]

No problem racer32, we all have real lives and tons of stuff to do, thanks for the update.

[Horny Toad]

Cool. Can you shoot me a copy of the Autocad file when done? I use Autocad 2000.

cdwentland@cdwpls.com

Thanks,

Chris

[HeepofaJeep]

Any word? Not trying to bug ya, just curious.

[Woody Long]

Has anyone gotten those plans yet? I'd be verry intrested in them too.

[tuck]

http://www.blindchickenracing.com/tools/Tube%20Bender/Tubingbender.htm

here are some pretty detailed photos and measurements of a similar bender that uses pro-tools dies... really good, clean work..

[Wagillac]

BTT

[Rogue]

Originally posted by Millerluck:


Why are the dies so much for these things too?
Its just a slug of big round stock with a groove in it then a piece sawn out.

Larry Millercorrect me if I'm wrong but you are the guy that makes custom aluminum knobs right?
ok I'll admit Captain Obvious and Sergeant Smartass are on their way but...
how long does it take you to turn down an aluminum ( soft ) knob on your lathe?
how long do you thing it would take to turn out a hard steel die ( then cut in half ) on a much more expensive lathe?

[Rogue]

Originally posted by SLOwag:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by WagoThing:
Ghetto Tube Bending! I saw it on Jesse James' show. You cut the shape of the bend out of wood, then heat up the tube or pipe with ox/acet and then holding it with welding gloves, you push it against the wood jig! then you hose down the entire garage to keep the fire from spreading! I think this is how I'll do it.

:D I saw that for how he was shapping a frame for a bike but i wouldnt' do it for something that is supposed to save your life. When you heat up metal to bend it you are GREATLY changed the composition of the molecules in the metal. And making it very brittle unless you cool it down VERY slowly allowing the molecules to realign themselves. When you heat it the carbon moves around and creates stress concentration points inside of the metal do to it clumping together. It also makes for a STRONGER metal becuase these clumps of carbon don't allow the molecules to shift and bend as easily as it did before... BUT
you pay for it in impact resistance. Just food for thought. Since the duty of the Roll Cage is to absorb impact in a roll over. smile.gif </font>[/QUOTE]easy - SAND BENDING - there was an article on how to do it being passed around on this site - at least I think it was this site - all the practicality of being cheap all the advantages of being safe - happy bending

[Jeepasaur]

when someone gets the plans I would greatly appreciate a copy too....

--Bill

[tuck]

Originally posted by Jeepasaur:
when someone gets the plans I would greatly appreciate a copy too....

--Billif you follow the link that I posted it shows you in pretty good detail, and even gives measurements for a lot of things...

if you look at it for a few minutes you can figure it out... in my mind, the hard part is the die... Racer32 is the expert here..

[millertime]

Well if you still sending out those pics of the bende the cad ones im very interested too. mgd_mgd@hotmail.com thanks man

[ November 24, 2003, 12:52 AM: Message edited by: millertime ]

[Millerluck]

I got some steel this weekend and will be starting to make a bender. :D

I think some rollbars are gona be 1st on the list to make.

Later

Larry Miller

[hotrod3791]

Has anyone built the bender yet? I was just wondering how they were working and what you figured out for the dies.

[jeepcj559]

Use this site for your knochs

http://geek.casaforge.com/code/newform_m.php

[J10/J20 Project]

Hey All,
I'm also interested in the plans.

[wagon of death]

As for the heat bending. It can be done if you quench(cool) the metal with motor oil or just let it cool down naturally. This keeps it from becoming brittle.

[J10/J20 Project]

How good are the one's from Harbor Freight 35336-7VGA It is a 16 ton hydraulic pipe bender? $180.00
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?function=Search

[ February 11, 2004, 12:57 PM: Message edited by: J10/J20 Project ]

[skid2964]

Does anybody make a bender for exhaust pipe? in other words, one for up to 3" pipe?