tubing benders

[Robber80]

i saw some posts a couple days ago about some tubing benders, i just want some links and stuff so i can see where to buy, or what i really want. just some sugestions on what to buy. obiously not wicked expensive but somethign that does the job right. 2" .120 is what i will be bending.

[fsjeep]

I saw that post as well, when I was searching a while ago i came across this site
http://www.lindsaybks.com/dgjp/djgbk/pipe/index.html

not sure how strong it would be but it looked easy enough to build

[robselina]

The jd2 model 3 bender and the protools bender were the two favorites when I looked in to them.

[HeepofaJeep]

yup. If you are going to buy, I hear their prices will soon be increasing due to the rising steel costs. rockbuggysupply.com has some good prices.

[Desert Beast]

i got the jd2 from Van Sant (http://www.vansantent.com/model_3_bender.htm) good price and they were the only ones that could get it to me w/ 2 weeks. the factory said it would take 4 to 6 weeks to get one. and van sant was the cheapest on shipping also. add another $150 or so for shipping. these things aint light.

[Merc69]

Unfortunatly a proper bender for tubing that we would need for a rollcage etc. is not an item you can buy for a one time use like a rollcage. The base cost is around $300.00 for the bender, degree wheel and stand. Then the die sets can run around $200.00 a set. Of course there is a learning curve (no pun intended) so figure on some wasted steel. Of course there is the shipping costs to think about. I was fortuante in that I live within 2 hours of the JD2 facility and picked mine up myself.

If you are thinking about just a cage, find a local fabrication shop, price it out with them. Just have them fabricate the cage and supply it unwelded to you. Might save a little in the long run.

But if you want to have the tools that you can make things later and can justify it that way and have the needed cash...I say go for it.

[243]

Please explain why the HF pipe bender kinks tubing whereas the JD2 bends it correctly. They appear to operate in the same manner. I don't need to buy either but I do want to understand why one works and the other does not.

[Robber80]

merc69 i see what your saying but theres a lot of stuff i'd do with it. but mainly i only would need one size and thats 2inch for the dies cause thats what i'd do everythign with.

so what do you guys think, the JD2???

[TexasJ10]

David, I think the big difference between the pipe bender and the tubing benders is the way the die sets work. With a tubing bender the die set is two pieces, with one stationary inner die and a second die that is drawn around the outside of the tube being bent. As it is moved around the outside it forces and stretches the tubing into the inner die, avoiding kinks.

The HF pipe bender simply pushes the tube upward into a set of widely spaced rollers. It has one curved die that is attached to a hydraulic jack. As the jack moves upward the tubing is being forced against the rollers which tends to kink thin walled tubing. The HF bendes work ok on pipe because pipe is thick walled.

[ May 18, 2004, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: TexasJ10 ]

[243]

So there is not out support on the HF pipe bender...starting to make sense to me now.

Do muffler machines had inner and outer dies because they deform the inner side of the bends too.

[jode]

Originally posted by 243:
So there is not out support on the HF pipe bender...It's more than that though...
a tubing bender basically pulls a piece of tube along the die...it rolls it on there...starting at one end of the bend and rolling along...

...the HF bender starts in the middle and just rams the bend into the pipe. That is what kinks it.

[mountainlander]

www.mikegreen4x4.com (http://www.mikegreen4x4.com)

ProTools bender works well, and is relatively inexpensive. Been part of 3 cages and tube buggy bent with one set up with hydro.

[Merc69]

JD2 has been making the bender for some time and I believe makes them for other vendors that sell it as their own. For me it was simple...JD2 is 2 hours away and I have to work in the area often and can stop in and pick up dies or the bender like I did a year ago.

I started with a 1" round and a 1.5" round now I have a 1" square and a 1.75" round. Next is a 2" round...after I chop a top :D

Remember to check out a tubing notcher. I have a JD2 and it has served well. Now I am looking at the M-Tech HSN-501i. Very cool unit $285.00 plus $30.00 shipping.

Is thing is addictive.

[Robber80]

i can't find a JD2 i can just find the JD3. that what i probably want? also i'm guessing i have to mount it to the floor, but i figured since i'm not going to spend the money for hydro how doyou guys usually mount them for manual operation? do you guys make stands of some sort or just mount it to the concrete??

[Desert Beast]

rob, JD Squared (JD2) is the company that makes the bender, the model 3 is the one that we are talking about. i just drilled 2 holes in my buddies driveway and put 2 anchor bolts in it (i think thats what theyre called) then i just bolt it down when i need to use it. you can also make something that will go into a receiver on a truck.

[HeepofaJeep]

Well, I am buying my bender tomorrow. total cost including shipping will be $615

That is the HD bender, and 1 die for 1.5" PIPE.

Please don't get into Pipe Vs. Tube, I am a plumber and I know it.

Edit: that is a Pro tools bender. The Pro tools and Jd2 seem to be comparable, but I have heard? of the Jd2 dies scoring (note: no experience on this, it is really just hearsay on my part) I really just wanted to give you an idea on price.

[ May 18, 2004, 10:50 PM: Message edited by: HeepofaJeep ]

[Merc69]

I was in Ocala, FL today and stopped in at JD2. Checking on something else and should have checked about 2" dies as the prices are going up. Nice to have that place so close.

[Robber80]

thanks guys i think i'm deffenelty going to get the jd3 and the 2 inch die. thanks for all the help guys. this was the info i needed, i didn't want to get into building benders to work right, and filling with sand stuff like that.

[Achilles]

Which would be better for fabing functional bumpers pipe or tubing.

[Sbonley]

There is a unit on the market that I have seen reviewed in some of the magazines and TV shows called the Tube Shark. It is usually advertised in the magazines. It is compact and fold out of the way when not in use. It looks pretty good but I have no actual experience with it.

[Desert Beast]

ya the tube shark is sweet. but it costs $3000+.