Tube bender where to buy what do you have

[striker]

Hmmmmm, that looks better value.

 

[chevy2]

Hmmmmm, that looks better value.

It might initially until you look at the spec,
On 1.5" and above it only bends to 60degrees,

The first time you need to do a 90degree bend you'll wish you never bought it.

 

[PhillipM]

Wonder what it actually bends to when it's 2.5mm wall and CDS or T45 then...

 

[chevy2]

Wonder what it actually bends to when it's 2.5mm wall and CDS or T45 then...

Yeah with those or 4130/moly which spring back that figure may be as low as around 50degrees?

As i said earlier, unfortunately tube bending and cheap dont mix.

 

[striker]

Well spotted chevy2! I never checked the specs...

 

[Psychosaffa]

are there any other recommendations on a affordable bender? the frost one lookes great, but ill need tighter bends to do a exo cage for my hilux.

 

[Shox Dr]

Build your self a Gottrikes.com bender, Frank the owner sells the plans for about $15. Then buy the required dies from Protools

 

[whensparksfly]

ive since bought a hilmor hydraulic bender im looking for a 45mm die for it thought

 

[vitara_mad]

Ok, you'll need a rotary type bender, a bit similar to a copper tube bender that pulls the tube around a former with a guide that runs around the outside,
The type that pushes a hydraulic ram in the centre of the former with a die either side will only do the softer seamed chs type tube, all other types of tube will collapse in the bend area,

Unfortunately tube bending and cheap dont mix,
You'll need something similar to the JD squared or Stakesys machines to do cds or t45,

I use this one on cds and other seamless tubes.

do you have any info on how to operate 1 of these benders as I have the chance to buy 1 but not sure how it all works ive used other benders before but this seems a lot different. also what would be a good price to buy 1 of these well used but with quite a few dies with it. thanks

 

[monkeymark]

Build your self a Gottrikes.com bender, Frank the owner sells the plans for about $15. Then buy the required dies from Protools

Has anyone gone down those route?

 

[Shox Dr]

Has anyone gone down those route?

Thousand of people. I bought the plans for the dims, and built a traditional type bender.
Pictures here

 

[chevy2]

do you have any info on how to operate 1 of these benders as I have the chance to buy 1 but not sure how it all works ive used other benders before but this seems a lot different. also what would be a good price to buy 1 of these well used but with quite a few dies with it. thanks

I have instructions (somewhere) for the red tube bender i put a picture up of,
prices vary not by only the machine, obviously condition plays a big part as do the number of formers, size and whether the formers are cast or billet.

 

[Henrik]

I'm currently agonising over whether to treat myself to an "Affordable Bender" from the US. There's a deal on ebay for it with a full set of dies (that works out around £600 at the current exchange rate - that's including customs and shipping (or so it says).

What's got me umming and ahhing is that I'd want to bend exhaust pipe too to make it pay for itself which means a mandrel realistically. I was thinking I could add a second frame similar to the standard one sticking out at right-angles with a bar attached in the middle to hold a mandrel. But I'd also want tighter radius bends as the standard dies are 7" CLR and on exhaust pipe I'd want to go up to 2". I think it would be a good basis and lend itself to doing what I want with the additions I'm thinking of but it's all extra stuff I'd have to make or buy with no 100% guarantee it'll ever do just what I want.......

I just need to see a dip in the dollar's value to persuade me.

Iain

Hi Iain,

did you ever get one of them "affordable benders"? They do look like just the ticket for a hobbyist.

I'm looking to bend car chassis tubing only, myself.

 

[ibrooks]

No - I'm still dithering as I don't have anything on that requires it at the moment. Should probably just be shoving some pounds in a jar every week and when the times come it'll have built up to enough to get the JD or "pro" one from somewhere like Stakesys.

Iain

 

[Gareth0123]

You'll not go wrong at all with JD2. I've had mine for 5 years now and love it. I have a set of Ridgid Instrument (push) benders for everything up to 1/2" or 12mm. For everything of 5/8 or 16mm and above I have and use the JD2 (draw) bender.

 

[ukracer]

 

[Shox Dr]

It was looking (all be it boring) interesting up to the tube bending

 

[ukracer]

It was looking (all be it boring) interesting up to the tube bending

WAs the tube bending not god then??

 

[Shox Dr]

WAs the tube bending not god then??

No. That setup is no different to the cheap pipe kinkers on ebay.

 

[ukracer]

No. That setup is no different to the cheap pipe kinkers on ebay.

I wondered how it was different thanks for confirming it lol.