tubing bender

[fabjunkie]

How would this fare for bending up some HREW or DOM? I can't afford the $2k+ for a JD2, but would like to be able to bend some stuff up. How thick of tubing would I be able to bend with it without bending the bender itself? Would it do ok with some reinforcement?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38024

 

[MNorby]

That there is a pipe bender. Won't work too well for tube

Here is a discussion about it on pirate: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=484109

To each his own, I have made bumpers with one of those benders but it was also pipe i was bending and not tube. Tube is also measured OD and pipe is measured ID.

 

[wayne]

How would this fare for bending up some HREW or DOM?
Not very well. It can be done yes, but you have to modify the die by grinding it out. Even so you will waste plenty of tube messing with it. If you want to bend some Sch. 40 then you would do fine. It is a pipe bender and Sch.40 will work fine for cages and bumpers.

I can't afford the $2k+ for a JD2, but would like to be able to bend some stuff up.
Do you have everything to cut and weld? You can get a tube bender set up for under a grand. Just get the bender, 1 die, and a stand. You don't need the degree ring or any other fancy stuff to get started. Just figure out what size tube you need the most and get the die for it.

How thick of tubing would I be able to bend with it without bending the bender itself? Would it do ok with some reinforcement?

It does not need reinforced. It will bend damn near any thickness you throw in it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38024

Look in the backround of the first pic. We are actually in the process of building 2 cages. One for a 4Runner and one for my K5. More pics here.
http://imageevent.com/btsnpcs1990/truckstuff;jsessionid=9vazjzvy81.lion_s

 

[fabjunkie]

Look in the backround of the first pic. We are actually in the process of building 2 cages. One for a 4Runner and one for my K5. More pics here.

Thanks for the info. I actually have plans (blueprints so to speak) to build one like this. How much do dies run? I'll be getting my welder and torch in the next couple of months. I have the experience, just never had my own equipment. Always had access to the shops stuff.

But I'm confused. So you are using which bender for the cages? Tube or Pipe?

 

[wayne]

Using the tube bender. All the tube is 1.75x.120DOM. We got the pipe bender out just to see what it can do. The pipe bender will work to tweak some bends a little bit but does not do well making an actual bend. I am going to play with the pipe bender more when I have time. I don't have the correct die ground out yet. My cage will be mainly DOM but will have some pipe in it too. The pipe will be mainly for gussetts.

 

[wayne]

You can get a pacage here for $718 with a 1.75x120 degree die.

http://www.xtremecrawlers.com/catalog/protools-heavy-duty-fabrication-package-p-225.html

 

[Emmettology 101]

Pro-Tools is running a special on the 105K bender - LINK

you can get the bender, econo degree ring, stand, handle and a 1.75"x6"x120* die for about $530 plus shipping.

Bender comes unpainted and you have to weld the stand together..... Great people to deal with too!

 

[beastofablaze]

those things are EASY to build just need the hydros."referreing to Wayne's bender"

end comment

 

[wayne]

those things are EASY to build just need the hydros."referreing to Wayne's bender"

end comment

What is easy to build? The cage or the bender? Hydro would be nice.

 

[beastofablaze]

The bender.... that thing isn't hydro????