Fuel line bender

[8man]

Went to HF and picked up a cheap tubing bender to work on the fuel lines, 3/8 & 5/16 stainless. Well the HF bender broke before the first bend was completed. I knew it was cheap, but really!

Now I need a real tubing bender and a flare kit that will work on the stainless lines. So let's see the recommendations.

Thanks

 

[bobcatdan]

Lisle flaring kit and my hands, never saw a single reason for a bender for brake line.

 

[454ragtop]

I do a ton of work with tubing, best bender for that size lines would be an Imperial Eastman or Ridgid dedicated size bender, tend to be somewhat spendy. I have the Imperials, but for an excellent budget alternative I would recommend this Robinair bender http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KIRV7M/?tag=atomicindus08-20 I have one of these as well, and it is the only multi size bender I would consider, it really works well.
HTH, Jim

 

[n8n]

^ what he said. Imperial Eastman rolling benders are the Right Tool For The Job (tm) Dunno about Ridgid, but Imperial was what my grandfather used as a professional tubefitter.

 

[Alienbaby17]

I have an old tubing bender that I bought in the plumbing section of one of the big home improvement stores. I've used it for 20 years and have bent lines for probably hundreds of cars with it. It is definitely a much better tool than the cheapo ones they sell at the auto parts stores.

 

[kferguson553]

I do a lot of intrumentation at work. 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 tubing 95% of it is 316 the other 5% being alloy 20 and monel tubing. With this company we use imperial benders almost exclusively non roller the work great but can be a little tough. Roller benders are the best but not at all needed for regular ss tubing. Imperials are a good value and a good tool. In order of quality. Swageloc, Ridgid, Imperial. Again I stress fir automotive use you really don't need to spend the extra $ on rollers. They do leave a little scoring on the tube but comes off real easy with a scotchbrite or emery. Oh yea the tube we work with is .035-.065 thicker stuff is naturallly more difficult grease on the shoes helps. Most brake, fuel, and other auto tubing is .028 not real hard to bend. Start from the left and take off bend allowance and you do good.

 

[arms1970]

I do a ton of work with tubing, best bender for that size lines would be an Imperial Eastman or Ridgid dedicated size bender, tend to be somewhat spendy. I have the Imperials, but for an excellent budget alternative I would recommend this Robinair bender http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KIRV7M/?tag=atomicindus08-20 I have one of these as well, and it is the only multi size bender I would consider, it really works well.
HTH, Jim

Cant go wrong with rigid. I've got 1/4 5/16 3/8 1/2 6mm 8mm.