tubing bender
- Thread starter JOHN
- Start date
Bondo
Well-known member
Ayuh,.... I've got one of the cheapies outa a $2. wrench bin, with no movin' parts,...
It works just Fine for any tubin' bendin' I've had to do,.....
Rookie2
Well-known member
any of newer kind with a sliding shoe that walks the line around a mandrel are good. I wouldn't get any more than 3 line sizes in one because they kinda get in your way when your bending in close quarters or smaller lines. IMO. ebay has a million of them.
thank you! any suggestions? this one ok? http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/700x700/909/9094243_700x700.jpg
Grigg
Well-known member
I've bent a lot of tube and having a good one size fits ONE bender sure helps get clean crisp bends right where you want them.
These are the ones I have and like a lot.
Imperial, Eastman, Weatherhead, Ridgid, and Swagelok in no particular order.
Swagelok is the best of the best and priced like it... the older Imperial ones are my next favorite. The best of any brand have a movable latch for holding the end of the tube, one example below does not have that feature.
These are the ones I have and like a lot.
Imperial, Eastman, Weatherhead, Ridgid, and Swagelok in no particular order.
Swagelok is the best of the best and priced like it... the older Imperial ones are my next favorite. The best of any brand have a movable latch for holding the end of the tube, one example below does not have that feature.
Stooge
Well-known member
looks like the one i have, although i think i picked it up off of tooltopia but im assuming those ones are all the same, just different names. it works for me, easy to use, gives good results and was cheap. i would buy one again if i couldnt find it, my only complaint is the handles just feel too loose and makes trying to line up the tubing in your hands a little clumsy. there could be a rememdy but i dont use it often enough for it to bother me.
Ridge Runner
Well-known member
454ragtop
Well-known member
I do a ton of work with tubing, have a whole bunch of dedicated size benders, but I also have this one http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KIRV7M/?tag=atomicindus08-20. I've tried a bunch of these multi size benders, and IMO this is the only one to get, works unbelievably well. If I couldn't have my Imperial Eastman benders, this is what I would have. Does 3/16, 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8.
Jim
Jim
Chevy-SS
Well-known member
Good info here. I've been struggling with a cheapo bender, trying to bend 3/8" fuel lines. Drives me crazy. I definitely want an upgraded tubing bender. 
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Chevy-SS
Well-known member
This is the style I currently have, and it does NOT work for me..... at least, not on 3/8" steel fuel lines.
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HAP
Well-known member
The Swagelok's are really nice!
JoeFin
Well-known member
Chevy-SS
Well-known member
I'm at the point where I'm so frustrated with trying to bend lines, that I am willing to spend the money to get something that WORKS. Which Swagelok are you using/recommending?
Thanks
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dr_clyde
Well-known member
Swagelok is the berries, but you will pay for it. A 1/2" tube bender is like $360. For just 1/2".
I would get Ridgid. I use them for the odd sizes at work for bending swagelok and tylok.
I would get Ridgid. I use them for the odd sizes at work for bending swagelok and tylok.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
How well does it work on steel tube ?
Chevy-SS
Well-known member
Yeah, steel is the culprit. Alum & copper are no sweat. It's the steel lines (like 3/8" fuel line) that are so damn hard to bend without kinking................
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
The Ridgid 600 Series look like the way to go. Not cheap (3/8" bender - Amazon $152), but they claim to do stainless and titanium non-annealed (hard) tubing !
astroracer
Well-known member
I did some test bending on some 1/2" hydraulic line with a Harbor Frieght hand bender I've had for years. It works real well on the softer stuff but this hydraulic tubing kicked it's ***... As seen here...
I found a nice bender at Speedway http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Tubing-Pipe-Bender,9848.html ON SALE for 140.00 with 7.99 shipping! It is missing one of the tube clamps. Easy enough to make out of some 3/8ths steel. ANYWAY.... After setting that up and running a few test bends in steel and aluminum tubing I am very happy with the machine.
With all of the dies it came with I think it was an excellant deal!
Here is a 90 degree in some 1/2" aluminum tubing alongside the original test piece.
Here is a 90 in that same 1/2" steel line...
Much improved wouldn't you say? The radius is about 2 1/4" which will work fine for my application. That is probably most of the issue with the old hand bender. To short of a radius (you can see it is much smaller) which flattens out the tube.
Mark
I found a nice bender at Speedway http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Tubing-Pipe-Bender,9848.html ON SALE for 140.00 with 7.99 shipping! It is missing one of the tube clamps. Easy enough to make out of some 3/8ths steel. ANYWAY.... After setting that up and running a few test bends in steel and aluminum tubing I am very happy with the machine.
With all of the dies it came with I think it was an excellant deal!
Here is a 90 degree in some 1/2" aluminum tubing alongside the original test piece.
Here is a 90 in that same 1/2" steel line...
Much improved wouldn't you say? The radius is about 2 1/4" which will work fine for my application. That is probably most of the issue with the old hand bender. To short of a radius (you can see it is much smaller) which flattens out the tube.
Mark
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454ragtop
Well-known member
It works excellent on steel, even stainless. The only soft tubing I've ever worked with is 1/2" aluminum, that Robinair bender only does to 3/8". I know it's hard to believe a plastic bender can work as well as I say, but it really does. I suspect anyone who tries it will be as amazed as I was when I first got it. I found mine at a swap meet, seller didn't want to negotiate on the price, told me the same thing, "Once you use it, you'll see what a bargain it is." Turns out he was right, and even though I now have a bunch of pro dedicated size benders, I still use the Robinair on occasion.
Jim
Chevy-SS
Well-known member
Well Jim, you sold me, especially after you said it would bend steel tubes.
I just ordered one on Amazon ($30 total, including shipping). I have a few pieces of 3/8" steel fuel line laying, so I will put this thing to the test as soon as I get it and I will post pics here in this thread. -
dr_clyde
Well-known member
If you use the appropriate bending device, filling things with sand is not needed.
Yep. That is old school. Packed some tube full of glass bead when doing lines for my friend's old Mercury years ago. Had the coil shaped lines extending downward from the master. Heated steel line with a rosebud on the oxy/ace torch, and formed it around a 4" diameter pipe. Worked like a charm. Mind you, this was in the old days when pre-formed lines were scarce if available at all.
Chevy-SS
Well-known member
Jim sold me on this bender. I bought one and tried it out today.
This frakkin' bender rocks!
It is a true bargain. I bent 3/8" hard steel fuel line and the 90 degree bend is like a work of art, very smooth, with not a hint of kink. 
I LOVE this bender. Thanks Jim
Close up of the bend. It is PERFECT!
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454ragtop
Well-known member
Jim sold me on this bender. I bought one and tried it out today.
This frakkin' bender rocks!
I LOVE this bender. Thanks Jim
Close up of the bend. It is PERFECT!
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It's amazing isn't it? Hard to believe a plastic bender could work this well. Glad your experience mirrors my own.
Jim