HF $89 Compact Bender vs $37 BN Hickey Bar

[keith204]

I'd like to bend rebar. And probably other stuff.

I see the Hickey Bar's about $37 and promises to bend up to 5/16 rebar. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L4ASFA2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Then I recall the HF compact metal bender for $89 which seems a lot more versatile for bending other stuff. I'm ok with $89.

Question: Is there anything the BN Hickey Bar can do that the HF compact bender can't?

 

[driftpin]

I have something similar to that used for straightening warped boards.

How-often would you be using the more-expensive HFT piece? This may-be a case of, "just as-much tool as you need." $ stays-in your pocket.

 

[keith204]

I have something similar to that used for straightening warped boards.

How-often would you be using the more-expensive HFT piece? This may-be a case of, "just as-much tool as you need." $ stays-in your pocket.

If it can be used for bending flat stock (which that seems to be the case) then I'd probably use it quite a bit.

From what I can tell, the hick tool doesn't have any advantages (tighter radius, etc)

 

[WisJim]

I'd seriously consider the HF bender but based on the reviews on their site, I would want to look it over before purchasing. Looks like it could be capable of a lot more kinds of bending stuff.

 

[metlmunchr]

I've had one of the HF benders for about 20 yrs. It's an extremely handy tool especially for flat stock. I also made some tube bending dies for mine, and it works really well for bending tubing up to 3/4 OD.

That said, I'm not sure it would work all that great for rebar. Any type of bending with tools like the HF or similar require a sliding motion across the dies. The deformations on the OD of rebar would likely chew up the dies pretty fast.

Don't know whether you plan to bend rebar in a shop or in the field, but the fact that the HF bender has to be solidly attached to the floor or some immovable object would be another strike against it if portability is an issue.

 

[keith204]

I've had one of the HF benders for about 20 yrs. It's an extremely handy tool especially for flat stock. I also made some tube bending dies for mine, and it works really well for bending tubing up to 3/4 OD.

That said, I'm not sure it would work all that great for rebar. Any type of bending with tools like the HF or similar require a sliding motion across the dies. The deformations on the OD of rebar would likely chew up the dies pretty fast.

Don't know whether you plan to bend rebar in a shop or in the field, but the fact that the HF bender has to be solidly attached to the floor or some immovable object would be another strike against it if portability is an issue.

Very helpful considerations. Thank you.

 

[619DioFan]

I have the floor mount HF bender. thing paid for itself the first time I used it . needed to make some oversized brackets and HD wanted 15.00 a piece for them ( already had the steel ) have made all kinds of brackets , gate latches you name it. works great. and I have used it to bend hooks on the end of rebar to use as hold down stakes.

 

[mc4life27]

I'd like to bend rebar. And probably other stuff.



I see the Hickey Bar's about $37 and promises to bend up to 5/16 rebar. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L4ASFA2/?tag=atomicindus08-20



Then I recall the HF compact metal bender for $89 which seems a lot more versatile for bending other stuff. I'm ok with $89.



Question: Is there anything the BN Hickey Bar can do that the HF compact bender can't?

I say get the hf bender. It does work with flat stock only up to so wide though but still there is a lot more can be done with it. A hickey bar is semi worthless except for rebar and for ridged conduit. I have one that used to make one bend in a 3/4 conduit and that was used that one time and that’s it. My vote is for the bender.


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[PugetDude]

I say get the hf bender. It does work with flat stock only up to so wide though but still there is a lot more can be done with it. A hickey bar is semi worthless except for rebar and for ridged conduit. I have one that used to make one bend in a 3/4 conduit and that was used that one time and that’s it. My vote is for the bender.


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^^+1 on this^^

 

[keith204]

Thanks for the counsel! I'll go for the HF one.

Would a conduit bender work for rebar? I imagine no, but I'd hate to overlook using something I already have. (1/2" Klein)

 

[cdods]

Thanks for the counsel! I'll go for the HF one.

Would a conduit bender work for rebar? I imagine no, but I'd hate to overlook using something I already have. (1/2" Klein)

I had about 30 bends in concrete project. A mix of 3/8 & 1/2 rebar. I did them by clamping it in a vice and sticking a pipe on the rebar to bend it around the edge of the vise. Worked well, but wouldn't have wanted to do a lot of 1/2" bends that way. The 3/8 was easy.

 

[mc4life27]

Thanks for the counsel! I'll go for the HF one.

Would a conduit bender work for rebar? I imagine no, but I'd hate to overlook using something I already have. (1/2" Klein)

Sure it would work but you would have very big bends and would be dealing with a lot of spring back on the bends. You can use a vise or even use a vise and a long piece of pips. Slide the rebar in the vise the pipe on the end that you need to bend and pull.


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[Fatboy148]

Sure it would work but you would have very big bends and would be dealing with a lot of spring back on the bends. You can use a vise or even use a vise and a long piece of pips. Slide the rebar in the vise the pipe on the end that you need to bend and pull.


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I have "Hickeys" (made by Bon Tool Co) and for making simple 90 degree bends in 1/2" bar, I use two (maybe 30") pieces of 1" black iron pipe more than the Hickeys. Slide your rebar into one piece of pipe till you get to the mark where you want to make your bend. Slide the other piece of pipe on to meet the mark and your other bar. Stand on one of the pipes and pick up the other at the end away from the mark to make your bend. After a couple it will be second nature. WORD!!!!! DO NOT get your skin anywhere near the rebar while sliding the pipes on or it will be very painful,