Tube Benders

[SSDDBRONCO]

Hey all i was wondering what kind of tube benders you guys are using for your roll cage and everything else you do. Harbor Freight sell some but i dont know if they are strong enough to bend a roll cage.;D
Thanks for posting
Ok then forget the damn cheap harbor freight bender. I will spend anywhere from 300-500 for a tube bender and anything else i need for cutting the edges of the tube. Now give me some good tube benders.

 

[ned72]

don't get the ones from harbor freight they suck. they can bend tube but you have to do things like heat the tube. put sand in it so the bender doesn't kink the tube. your best bet is to just spend like 300 and get a good bender. i learned that the hard way

 

[Skiddy]

yep what Ned said, they will kink your tube

 

[grant_71]

the JD2 is a good one, my dad bought one for his shop so i snag it when ever i need it, i bent my cage with it and also a brushguard for a bulldozer.

 

[rcmbronc]

I use a pro-tool model. The JD-2 is also real good. Dont buy a cheap one, you will hate it.

 

[grant_71]

Might also look at these....

http://www.gottrikes.com/Tube_Bender.htm

 

[grant_71]

yep what Ned said, they will kink your tube

And if anyone knows about tubes being kinked it would be Skiddy.....

 

[bax]

I also have a JD 2 I am always looking for more dies. Bender is a good one. It's easy to use and not to hard to duplicate bends. I wish I could of afforded the hyd option.

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

ok then forget the damn cheap harbor freight bender. I will spend anywhere from 300-500 for a tube bender and anything else i need for cutting the edges of the tube. Now give me some good tube benders. ;D

 

[Skiddy]

And if anyone knows about tubes being kinked it would be Skiddy.....

and how did i know someone would go there;D

 

[BanditBronco]

i have the got trikes plans and they are very detailed plans but for the average person they can also be very confusing! i still have not started my bender yet but all the ones that i have seen built look awesome. The only reason i went with a vertical bender is that it is portable unlike a horizontal where it has to be bolted down

 

[scbronco]

Might also look at these....

http://www.gottrikes.com/Tube_Bender.htm

x2 i built a gottrikes bender, and it has been great, total of $400 dollars invested, and that included a good die from pro tools... fun rpoject to build, air over hydraulic, super easy to use, and it will bend some steel... i love it, i would have never spent the 800 bones to buy a similarly equipped unit from one of the vendors... do your self a favor, and get a copy of bend tech pro from 2020ssi.com. its a great cad style program that lets you build tube structures, and print cutting and bending instructions. they have 3 or 4 different packages ranging from ~150 to 400 bucks. i have the 400 dollar one, and it is way more than i need, but it has made all of my projects cheaper, easier, and faster, plus i know my geometric quality is spot on...

 

[scbronco]

oh yeah, checkl out www.offroadfabnet.com its a great fabrication message board, that can teach anybody a ton...

 

[KyleQ]

Might also look at these....

http://www.gottrikes.com/Tube_Bender.htm

We bought the plans, got some hard parts from them and did the rest.



Our first fab project- turned out sweet.

 

[66ALRIDE]

Check out JMR. http://www.jmrmfg.com/category/featured-tools/

 

[fungus]

We bought the plans, got some hard parts from them and did the rest.



Our first fab project- turned out sweet.

I think I just found my bender when I'm ready to spring for one! That thing is saweeet!

 

[Slim]

ok then forget the damn cheap harbor freight bender. I will spend anywhere from 300-500 for a tube bender and anything else i need for cutting the edges of the tube. Now give me some good tube benders. ;D

You will be hard pressed to find a good bender + Die + Bender base + Notcher for less than $1k.

JD2 or Pro Tools bender is $400-$500 (may or may not include stand)

Stand/Base = $100

Die = $300-$400, depending on size.

Notcher = $200

Not many to be had used either.

 

[rcmbronc]

Here is the one I have. I also intalled the JD-2 air/hyd ram for it. The JD-2 ram has air return which works good. This one would also be good.

http://www.pro-tools.com/105.htm

http://www.jd2.com/shop/custom.aspx?recid=1


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

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

what do you guys think about the jd model 32. Is it worth the hundred buck or the jd 2 is good enough??:?

 

[ITOWU2]

I've got the JD32 with the 2" die and the "notch master". Both work great. I've bent .120 wall 2" tubing only up to 90* so far but did it with ease. I did add a longer handle to make it easier.
Wes