Harbor Freight tubing notcher

[Owen]

I need to get a tubing notcher now and Harbor Freight has two of them with basically the same specs, but one is $30 more. Anyone know why?

I'd rather have one with a 2.5-3" pipe capacity though, but I won't be using this thing very often so I don't want to spend $$$.

Owen

 

[Owen]

Harbor Freight tubing bender

I've heard that HF benders, the big orange ones, end up kinking the tube. But have also heard of ways of avoiding that.

I want the 2.5-3" capacity bending shoes of the more expensive model but they never have those in-store. Anyone know if I can buy just the bending shoes from HF or elsewhere?

Owen

 

[outlawbob]

bender

the big orange bender will flatten the pipe as it bends it, if a pure curve is not all that important then it will do, if you want nice tubular bends, you need a hi dollar bender.

 

[Owen]

Thanks, some people have been able to avoid the kinks by sliding a slightly larger steel tube over the pipe (where, I forgot).

 

[Satatic]

Thanks, some people have been able to avoid the kinks by sliding a slightly larger steel tube over the pipe (where, I forgot).

I've heard to fill it with sand.

 

[Owen]

OK, so anyone know if the larger shoes are available for sale individually to use with the smaller bender?

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

Thanks, some people have been able to avoid the kinks by sliding a slightly larger steel tube over the pipe (where, I forgot).

HF orange is PIPE bender not a tubing bender and they recomend sand inside in the instructions.

 

[kartracer55]

I've heard to fill it with sand.

Slightly damn sand... thats how you have bend square tubing too

Jim

 

[JasonK]

I ahve a 12 ton orange bender, I bent some 3/4 pipe for a go kart frame with some sucsess. I found it extremely dificult to bend twice onthe same pipe. Ended up cutting each bend and rewelding them.

 

[krooser]

Are you buying a NOTCHER or BENDER?

 

[Elroy]

Are you buying a NOTCHER or BENDER?

Now there is someone who is paying attention. So what is it a notcher or bender?