What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Looking for Tubing Bender

K5Devil

K5Devil

Devil Status
 Premium
GMOTM Winner
Joined
Aug 8, 2019
Posts
3,838
Reaction score
7,893
Location
Lake Havasu City
Anything new on the market? Really miss my old Baileigh we had at the shop. But that machine is $10k

I’m not afraid to go manual bender. But interested to hear thoughts and see what you guys are using.

Rouge fab? Wooodward?

What do you guys think of “affordable benders”?
 
I have a pro-tools 105HD with a Swag hydraulic conversion. Before that I had a regular 105 manual for over a decade.
@Desert_K5 had a roguefab but sold it because he didn’t like it.
Here is a current article about different benders, but it was written by the owner of roguefab.

www.roguefab.com

Best Tube Benders Compared | RogueFab

A mechanical engineer's honest comparison of every tube bender category: vertical benders, horizontal arm-frame, and bottle jack machines.
www.roguefab.com www.roguefab.com
 
I have the jd square manual, am going to update it with air over hydraulic, probably swag mount.
I am still learning, have made a few things for dune buggy. They came out ok, could be better. My nerf bars aren't exact copies of each other, but can only see it when they are off the car, or close measurements of ea.
 
Wes Harden said:
I have the jd square manual, am going to update it with air over hydraulic, probably swag mount.
I am still learning, have made a few things for dune buggy. They came out ok, could be better. My nerf bars aren't exact copies of each other, but can only see it when they are off the car, or close measurements of ea.
Click to expand...
Well shoot I’ll just come use yours then and forgo the purchase ;). The hardest part is keeping the tube level on a manual bender. A magnetic level works great but an adjustable table you can set the height for level works better. At least that’s what I always used paired with a magnetic level. That way as the tube comes out of its bend it can’t roll. Using the table as an out feed.
 
Ok then you can get/make the cylinder mount:pimp:. I might be bringing it from Cali trip depending on room.
 

Rogue Fabrication M625XD Bender Tradesman set

Finally got it all together. I have these dies: 1" - 3.5CLR 1.5" - 4.5CLR 1.625" - 4.5CLR 1.75" - 6.0CLR 2.0" - 6.0CLR It was a ton of work just getting it put together. Spent the day today, just finishing it up. I have their notcher also, will try to get that put together, and mounted on one of...
ck5.com ck5.com
20220522_190317.jpgI got the notcher also.20220528_142935.jpg
 
Last edited:
BoondocK5 said:

Rogue Fabrication M625XD Bender Tradesman set

Finally got it all together. I have these dies: 1" - 3.5CLR 1.5" - 4.5CLR 1.625" - 4.5CLR 1.75" - 6.0CLR 2.0" - 6.0CLR It was a ton of work just getting it put together. Spent the day today, just finishing it up. I have their notcher also, will try to get that put together, and mounted on one of...
ck5.com ck5.com
Click to expand...
Does that only bend vertically?
 
JD seems to be the popular ticket in recent yrs... but many seem to like the vertical benders too...

I run a Pro Tools 105HD.. manually... bent plenty of 2" with it.. heck, I don't even use the degree wheel... :haha: great bender and company..
 
K5Devil said:
Does that only bend vertically?
Click to expand...
Yes, I did alot of reading, and comparing, before purchasing.
They all have they're pro's and con's.
I like this one, because, it was built as a powered Hydraulic unit.
Plus, you can upgrade the hell out it, without having to repurchase anything.
 
BoondocK5 said:
Yes, I did alot of reading, and comparing, before purchasing.
They all have they're pro's and con's.
I like this one, because, it was built as a powered Hydraulic unit.
Plus, you can upgrade the hell out it, without having to repurchase anything.
Click to expand...
I’ve never used a vertical bender. This is the one we had at my old shop. Been kicking around the idea of building one like it.

Baileigh RDB-150 Tube and Pipe Bender

The RDB-150 bender features large capacity and an optional auto stop for fast, repeatable bending. The machine can make a full 180 degree bend with one stroke of the hydraulic cylinders.
www.trick-tools.com www.trick-tools.com
 
ryoken said:
JD seems to be the popular ticket in recent yrs... but many seem to like the vertical benders too...

I run a Pro Tools 105HD.. manually... bent plenty of 2" with it.. heck, I don't even use the degree wheel... :haha: great bender and company..
Click to expand...
I really like the way that bender looks. Is there any options to upgrade it to hydraulic? Good price too.

Edit: Looks like it can be upgraded that’s a pretty sweet tool.
 
K5Devil said:
I really like the way that bender looks. Is there any options to upgrade it to hydraulic? Good price too.

Edit: Looks like it can be upgraded that’s a pretty sweet tool.
Click to expand...


back 15, 20 yrs ago, it was the better choice.. they where a tad better than the JD offering, at that time.. JD's newer version is comparable apparently....

and tho I have no immediate plans to go hydro, yeah, the swag kit, homebrew, etc can all work with it...

back in the day, they would occasionally run buy one, get one free deals on dies... took big advantage of that a couple times... huge, with the price of those things...

doubt they do it anymore, but still a cool company...


full
 
I built mine using the tacacks cycles plans available online. Gottrikes.com
It uses the pro tools dies and a harbor freight air over hydraulic ram. Vertical bending which is nice since with the hydraulic ram you don't have to bolt the bender down. It just lives in the corner until I need it. Building it saved some money for sure but the real money is in the dies.
 
Fastereddie said:
I had mine on a stand like @ryoken on my old one. When I recently replaced the 20 yr old one, I got the swag hydraulic adapter and mounted it to and old engine stand. I love it.
View attachment 414464

View attachment 414463
Click to expand...



that's sweet.. I do have an extra engine stand kicking around..

but I've just never been able to justify the upgrade for the amount of tube I bend when I have a mountain of parts to buy...




funny thing is, my concrete is questionable. and the stock base, bending 2", was too much and ripping the anchors out..

had to make this big fishplate to get that under control.... made it 45 degree clockable while i was there...






full
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom