Tubing Benders???

Anyone ever built one/Bought one?

I am working on building this one.

http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/tube-bender/tube-bender.html

Just curious on anyone elses thoughts

We have two benders in our shop. They both came from JD2. For the price it is not worth trying to build one.

I have built one, and bought a few, I own several now. Yours looks like it will work.

pipe bender out of car parts

i remembered hearing of this out of horse backstreet chopper. http://www.thefont.info/tubebender/tube_bender.htm

google tubing bender out of brake rotor.

Here is one I built a while back

RPM said:

We have two benders in our shop. They both came from JD2. For the price it is not worth trying to build one.

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I have thought about the jd2, but how hard is it to bend something with that? What are the limitations? Have you put it through its paces?

I was mainly going the route I am because I wanted one that is hydraulic and affordable.

Bonehead said:

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I remember seeing you put pictures of this up earlier, looks great!! How well does it work? Where did you get your dies and cylinder?

Jimmy Wallbanger said:

i remembered hearing of this out of horse backstreet chopper. http://www.thefont.info/tubebender/tube_bender.htm

google tubing bender out of brake rotor.

Click to expand...

This is kind of interesting, not sure what to think of it.

That's not a bender, this is a bender:
http://tubularfab.com/gal2/main.php?g2_itemId=1440&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Just kidding - that is one massive tube bender you built. Looks like it could convert into an engine hoist with some hitch pin changes!

The one linked above is what I use most of the time. In that pic i'm bending 4" OD x 1/8" wall on a 6" centerline for a retro truck project I worked on a few years back.

I bought this one and have been very happy with it.
http://toolsplus1.com/eztube.htm
Bender with air over hydraulic foot pump and half dozen dies will do most anything I work with. Way cheaper than Mitler Bros too.

Jim

I've been using a JD2 for about 5 years and added the air-over-hyd assist after about a year. They offer square tube dies as well as round, makes it more versatile.
I also use Bend-Tech Pro 3D stand alone software to design my projects.
http://www.2020softwaresolutions.com/prod04.htm Check their demo.

Here is another one of mine. This one is antique, but works well. Photobucket would not let me turn it, so just crank your head over.

Neverdone said:

I remember seeing you put pictures of this up earlier, looks great!! How well does it work? Where did you get your dies and cylinder?

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It works fine. The dies came from speedway, and the air over hydro, cylinder came from china, (HF). I blew up the first ram, but they replaced it.

i have a pro-tools 105 manual bender.most of my projects i use it for are 1" and smaller chromoly tubing,and it works great.i have bent .120 wall 1 3/4 making pre runner bumpers and cages ect.and built a wake board tower for my buddies boat out of .120 1 3/4 aluminum.its a bit of a work out bending the big stuff,id convert it to hyd. if i did alot of it.heres some of the atv chassis ive done with it.

Neverdone said:

I have thought about the jd2, but how hard is it to bend something with that? What are the limitations? Have you put it through its paces?

I was mainly going the route I am because I wanted one that is hydraulic and affordable.

Click to expand...

With the JD2 model 32 we bend 1/4" wall 2" DOM, using hydraulics.

Bonehead - what's that machine in the background of the last pic? Looks like it's foot foot pedal operated, maybe for forming sheetmetal?

TubularFab said:

Bonehead - what's that machine in the background of the last pic? Looks like it's foot foot pedal operated, maybe for forming sheetmetal?

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It is a treadle hammer. Like a power hammer, that is worked with your foot.
It still wears you down, but you get to work the metal with both hands, while you pedal.

Neverdone said:

I remember seeing you put pictures of this up earlier, looks great!! How well does it work? Where did you get your dies and cylinder?

Click to expand...

That one sort of reminds me of my engine hoist, gives me an idea where I can get a decent hydraulic ram from.





This one looks very simple, but gives me an idea....

HI
you should look at http://www.gottrikes.com/Tube_Bender.htm
this is a very handy bender I built one and love it. It was the third type I built and the one I kept. One thing to look at is if you can bend past 90 degrees most of the ones shown here have a problem doing that!
also shown is one of the first bender I built and why I sold it.

have fun
Tom