JD2 Model 32 vs Rogue Fab M601/605/625

[BarnBuiltBeaters]

Hey guys, I am considering buying a tube bender. I need to make crossmembers and may build a roll cage down the road. The two benders above seem like good options from forums I read and are at very similar price points (besides M625) when adding hydraulics and shipping costs. I do not need Hydraulics however I like the idea of not needing it mounted to a solid surface while bending.
For those of you with experience of one or both models what do you like? what do you dislike? Which model would you pick?


I tube bender is a big purchase and I cannot think of other ideas to use this for. What other projects have you used yours for? Post some pictures!

My other idea is to farm out the work to a shop. however, I am unsure of pricing and since I live in a rural area, I am not sure where the closest shop may be. Does anyone know of a website that will bend tubing to your specifications?

Thanks!

 

[zmotorsports]

I know you mentioned not "needing" hydraulics but I'd give it a serious consideration, just my opinion.

I have a much older JD Squared Model 3 that I purchased about 20+ years ago and used it for the first couple of years as a manual tube bender. I secured it with swedged fasteners that I installed in my shop floor and would mount/dismount it as needed. For smaller tubing such as 1" and under that I was using to fabricate sand drag chassis it worked fine but when I started bending larger diameter tubing for sandrails and rollcages it was not as convenient. I upgraded mine to hydraulics within only a couple of years of owning it and haven't looked back. I have it mounted on a roll-around cart that is easy to move from the storage bay to the shop when needed easily bends up to 2" diameter tubing. There are times I wish I had the Model 32 to get the larger pins but the 7/8" diameter pins have not failed me yet and the thing just keeps on working.

 

[zmotorsports]

As for pictures, here are a few of the chassis that I have built with my JD Squared tubing bender.

120" Mid-engine sandrail with Mazda 13B engine sprayed with NOS.










4130 chromoly tube chassis for GS1100 powered sand drag quad.


After paint and with chrome coming together on final assembly.


GS1100 powered sand quad in the background and my son's LT with extensive chassis mods performed with the JD Squared bender in the foreground.


Rock sliders for Jeep WJ.


Completed rocksliders ready to be sent out for powder coating.


Rear cargo area tube assembly for securing Hi-Lift jack and Powertank. Mac's Black Box resides under the tubing rack.


I am getting ready to use it soon on a small Radio Flyer wagon project for my grandson so it has been a well used piece of shop equipment over the past 20+ years.

 

[zmotorsports]

I'm surprised no one else has commented on the options as I know there are other forum members who have tubing benders.

I was using my JD Squared Model 3 bender last night so I thought I'd snap a few pictures of how I mounted mine to a roll around cart. I used locking casters to keep it in place while moving tubing around in it and also welded pegs off the pedestal in which to hang the various die sets on to keep everything together.


I also just use a magnetic pointer to indicate off the degree wheel with and it works pretty good but you do have to be careful not to bump it during a bend.







Reminds me, I've been meaning to tear it down and paint it for many years now and can't seem to find the time or make it a priority. Seeing it in these pictures really makes me want to push it to the top of the list, it looks terrible in bare steel.

 

[BarnBuiltBeaters]

It seems like everyone uses JD2 benders. so obviously they have to be pretty decent. I really lean towards going hydraulic as then it does not need to be mounted to the floor.
The Rogue Fab unit seems nice as it bends vertical which is a plus as much shop is smaller/full. Their dies seem cheaper and the overall package seems to be cheaper too.

Those pictures are impressive! How do you know what size tube to use where and what wall thickness?

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

I can't comment on the brands you mentioned as I use Ercolina's, but I have heard good things about both brands. As far as "other uses", once you have one and find how easy it is to bend tubing, you'll be making all kind of things that you didn't dream of doing before the bender came along!

 

[zmotorsports]

It seems like everyone uses JD2 benders. so obviously they have to be pretty decent. I really lean towards going hydraulic as then it does not need to be mounted to the floor.
The Rogue Fab unit seems nice as it bends vertical which is a plus as much shop is smaller/full. Their dies seem cheaper and the overall package seems to be cheaper too.

Those pictures are impressive! How do you know what size tube to use where and what wall thickness?

My last shop kept getting smaller and smaller as I purchased more and more equipment so the added benefit of not having the tube bender bolted to my floor any longer and on a rolling cart was that I worked with the door open at my shop when the weather was nice so I many times I would just roll the bender just outside the doorway to do my bending. This allowed me to have full range of movement without worry that I'd bump something or have to move vehicles or bikes around.

I can see where a vertical bender could be advantageous in some applications but I have no personal experience with a vertical bender so I can't really comment on their differences.

As for tubing size and wall thickness, much of it is a guestimate based on what kind of load and or characteristics you want. When I was building sand drag quads I wanted as light as possible without weak points so that is why I chose to go with 4130 chromoly tubing and could use thinner wall tubing and get the same strength as mild steel with thicker wall. For suspension design I generally chose based on what OEM was using and made alterations from there. Suspension components are a toss up because you want them strong enough to withstand not only the static and dynamic loads but also a bit of safety margin to allow for minor wheel strikes or impacts. However, if you use too strong of material or design the components to be too stout, then upon an impact the suspension won't bend but it will destroy the chassis. When I was building sandrails, sand drag quads and snowmobiles I generally designed my suspension components to be strong enough to handle the job but also they were to be the fusible link upon a hard impact as a suspension component can be relatively easily rebuilt/duplicated vs. a major chassis failure.

Others may have other takes on it but that's how I designed and built my chassis anyways.

When it comes to sanctioned racing such as NHRA or other, the sizes and in some instances even designs are dictated by the sanctioning body and must be adhered to. There will sometimes be some liberties given in the rules but generally are pretty well defined.

Hope that answers your questions.

 

[dv8customs]

I have the JD2 as well and mounted it vertical with a Harbor Freight ram on it. Only had a problem one time with it being vertical, I was bending a long piece and ran out of cieling height. Since it was only one piece I just laid the bender on its side and finished up that bend. It is a solid unit and I have never had an issue with it at all.

 

[BarnBuiltBeaters]

I can't comment on the brands you mentioned as I use Ercolina's, but I have heard good things about both brands. As far as "other uses", once you have one and find how easy it is to bend tubing, you'll be making all kind of things that you didn't dream of doing before the bender came along!

I wish I could think of those uses right now. It is a really big purchase for a tool I just cant picture myself using all that much, but when I need it, itd be nice.... Still trying to talk myself into it!

 

[zmotorsports]

I wish I could think of those uses right now. It is a really big purchase for a tool I just cant picture myself using all that much, but when I need it, itd be nice.... Still trying to talk myself into it!

I agree that if you don't have a specific need for at the moment then it's hard to justify and it may sit for a while. Personally I'd wait as I'm sure that you are just getting into fabrication that there may be other fabrication tools that would compliment the bender that you may need sooner rather than later. I would focus on them and then once you get to a point where you have a specific need for the tube bender and have the other complimentary fabrication tools the tube bender may be an easier decision.

Just my opinion on tool the purchase.