Metal benders

[dieselman321]

Hey guys,

I've been doing manual bending without a bender for a while now for offroad stuff. I'm getting to the point now where I need to upgrade to an actual bender. What do you guys think about these? http://www.metalbendingtool.com/rhino-bender/rhino-bender

I've found JD2 benders, but apparently the customer service isn't too good from what I am reading.

I noticed that they were American made, and lifetime warrantied. I've considered the harbor freight benders, but I'm not too big on Chinese tools and heard all kind of horror stories about them not bending straight or busting, with no customer service available.

I was looking for some truck stuff at www.barnonediesel.com and saw they had Howron Benders, but for cheaper than Howron.

Anyway just looking for some tips or advice, since I'd rather buy a quality tool that will last me a long time. I figured someone here had maybe used one.

Thanks!

 

[Bugsbunny]

I had the Harbor Freight unit, and it worked just fine. Eventually, I sold it on Craigslist because I just didn't use it enough to justify the space it took up (My garage is really full).

 

[dieselman321]

Was it not a compact bender? I've been looking around for a brake line bender and the compact one at the link above looks to be a nice unit. I think I may just have to tell the wife I need 2 of them. One for big stuff and a small compact one for smaller stuff. Lol don't know how well that is gonna go.

 

[brian90505]

A tad overkill for brake lines

 

[dieselman321]

I don't mean that big one. I was gonna use the smaller compact one. That big one is for rock sliders and bumpers and such.

 

[csp]

What kind of material are you looking at bending?

The first link is for flat stock and/or solid rod material. The mention of JD2 benders infers tubing benders, and the HF bender is for pipe.

 

[dieselman321]

Ah yeah good point. So do you think I need something more like this since I just want to bend 2" tubing? http://www.metalbendingtool.com/brute-bender/brute-bender

 

[dwp99]

In 1989 I bought a bender that all the Chinese Benders are copied from today made by a company called Lockdown Securities. That company made and advertised a bender for $249.00. Lockdown has chanced their name to Shop Outfitters and have improved their benders http://shopoutfitters.com/. Their Price has gone up considerably.

The one you ask about in your first post is similar to the Lock down one and best of all is American made.

Another one to consider is the Hossfeld bender. This is the original bender and there are so many dies for this thing you can form metal in just about any way imaginable.

Troy over at Swag Offroad has taken the Harbor Freight tubing roller and made some modifications for it. http://www.swagoffroad.com/. He manufactures and sells a variety dies also.

For brake tubing I'd consider hand held benders that are specific for the tubing you are bending. the 3 in one are nice but you can not end the tight radius' you can with the size specific ones.

 

[bauschracing]

Check out the PRO_TOOLS benders. they have a web site and have specials all of the time. The dies carry a lifetime warranty. I bought plans from "got trikes" and welded up a air over hyd. bender. Used the pro_tools dies. My racing partner bought the pro_tools manual bender and is real happy with it. They are in Tampa.
Mike

 

[Regnar]

"Got Trike" plans are worth it. I will never go back to manual bending. It does take up a little more room but you dont have to bolt it down to the floor.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NfJIFK2gaXY

 

[KMinAF]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=164243&highlight=BENDER

I modified my HF pipe bender to use on tubing. Other than being a little slow, it works great.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I have a hossfeld which is what many of the others either copied or modified their designs from. For 2" you're definitely looking at hydraulic power. That ramps up the price considerably. Dies are expensive, even used.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I have a hossfeld which is what many of the others either copied or modified their designs from. For 2" you're definitely looking at hydraulic power. That ramps up the price considerably. Dies are expensive, even used.

I have the Hossfield and am looking for a 1" tube die hard to find any decent price, best so far is american bender.

http://www.americanbender.com/

by the way I had them make me a follower for a die I had and it was a perfect replacement.

 

[willymakeit]

Try [email protected]. I bought a set of plans frm him [havent built yet] but seem to be a very well thought out bender. air over hyd. and you dont have to bolt it to the floor.

 

[brawls43]

I built one with Frank's plans on Got Trikes, and recently got some more dies from Pro-tools for it. It still works great 4 years later. Love the air over hydraulic.

 

[CarterKraft]

JD2 Model 3 if your a tight ***, model 32 if you want to step up a hair.
You can pay for the bender in one project and a die every other.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

I'll also mention the gottrikes.com plans from Frank, great stuff in there. Very easy to make with some pretty basic tools, and very beefy. Do a google search and you'll see tons of happy campers.

 

[dieselman321]

Hey guys,

I appreciate all of the advice. I went ahead and purchased the Brute, and the Mighty Mite package from the site I listed. Hopefully the wife is happy that I can make her stuff now, lol.

Thanks again.

 

[metal1313]

great now i want one

 

[dieselman321]

I am pretty excited to get mine. Early Christmas present!

 

[metal1313]

let me know how you like it. the only bender i have any experience with is a hossfeld with the full kit. i want but i cannot ever afford that

 

[saabman]

I have a JD-4 with electro hydrauylics and it works very well. For any bender, expect to pay much more for your set of mandrels (over time) than the cost of the machine.

 

[sparkey]

I picked up a JD Model 32 last year, it's a nice bender for a reasonable price, have had no problems thus far. I didn't opt for the hydraulic setup, probably next on my list.

 

[theknurl]

I've been looking around for a brake line bender

look for a Rigid #456 Tri-Bender
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/456-Tri-Bender/EN/index.htm

or the individual size ones;
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/400-Series-Lever-Benders/EN/index.htm

i have both, once you get used to the steel single sized ones you won't use anything else

you'll need a double flaring tool too

 

[dieselman321]

I ended up getting my benders and dies in today. I've only practiced a few bends, but the quality is amazing, and the bends are really easy, even on the bigger stuff. I'm gonna have to watch the videos and see what all I can do. The place I bought my benders from sent me an arrival email and they offer 5% discount pricing for any referral customers, so tell them James Edwards sent ya and they'll fix ya up.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[steel 35]

Can't wait to see your how too, my cheap ones didn't come with a video.......

 

[dieselman321]

But I have been very happy with my purchase.

 

[dieselman321]

Finally getting recovered from the holidays lots of traveling as usual lol. New years was fun this year. Anyway I decided to try my hand at making some decorative stuff so I bought a hinge/scroll kit and another video. When I get some practice down I'll see if I can get some pics up.

 

[rmuell01]

I built one with Frank's plans on Got Trikes, and recently got some more dies from Pro-tools for it. It still works great 4 years later. Love the air over hydraulic.

Does Frank include the dimensions in the plan to make your own dies?

thanks

Rob

 

[dieselman321]

The guys I bought my benders from have one.

http://www.barnonediesel.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=34&product_id=66

 

[Lobzik]

I'm doing a bending machine itself.
http://www.chipmaker.ru/topic/10066...l__äåëàþ òðóáîãèá__fromsearch__1#entry1583342