Tube benders
#1
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Tube benders
I wasn't sure to put this under tools of Fab. section but here is my question. I heard that harbor freight tube benders are terrible and actually damage the wall of the tube. Is this true? Planning on bending some DOM tube and I'm looking at benders. Prices go easily over a grand. Harbor freight has one for much cheaper. I know pipe benders won't work for this. But if its called a tube bender then I would think it should work. Would love your guys imput. Thanks
#2
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We just ordered a JD2 bender for the shop. We tried a Harbor Freight bender, and with some patience, it will work, but it's not practical if you are going to do a lot of bending. Plan on ruining some tube while trying to figure it out. If you have the money, I suggest getting a nice bender, then when you are done using it, you should be able to sell it for a good portion of what you paid for it. Good luck. We paid around $800 shipped for our JD2.
#5
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Just search JD2 on froogle or the web and youll find a million deals on them all about the same price. the dies are whats really expensive.
The JD2 itself if only like 295 right now I believe but youll need more
Ill be buying one soon if I dont go with a bit more expensive unit. Just have to decide what one I want but I know these are very popular and really nice benders
The JD2 itself if only like 295 right now I believe but youll need more
Ill be buying one soon if I dont go with a bit more expensive unit. Just have to decide what one I want but I know these are very popular and really nice benders
Last edited by fillsrunner4; 06-03-2009 at 09:56 AM.
#6
Pipe and tube are not the same. Easily researchable and covered.
Buy from tricktools.com
JD2 and a couple dies will run you $1K easily but worth it if you use it
Get hydaulic if you got the cash as pulling the handle gets old.
Buy from tricktools.com
JD2 and a couple dies will run you $1K easily but worth it if you use it
Get hydaulic if you got the cash as pulling the handle gets old.
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#9
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Just search JD2 on froogle or the web and youll find a million deals on them all about the same price. the dies are whats really expensive.
The JD2 itself if only like 295 right now I believe but youll need more
Ill be buying one soon if I dont go with a bit more expensive unit. Just have to decide what one I want but I know these are very popular and really nice benders
The JD2 itself if only like 295 right now I believe but youll need more
Ill be buying one soon if I dont go with a bit more expensive unit. Just have to decide what one I want but I know these are very popular and really nice benders
#11
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Thats pretty good. I was just going to ask about dies. What are the most common? If I'm getting 2" DOM tube then I would want a 2" die right. There isn't some wierd formula for it is there?
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No problem dude... You just kinda confused me. I thought I had put tube and didn't want to mislead anyone. Thanks for your guys help on this. If I am going to this at all I want to do it right. And using the right tool for the job makes the biggest difference.
#14
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I'm certainly no production fab shop, but unless you bend A LOT of tubing, I would save the money on hydraulic/pneumatic/air over/etc and get another set of dies. I have used the JD2 a couple of times, and the leverage it has is plenty. The time I needed to bend 2"x0.25" wall, everyone around who had converted theirs to hydraulic said it didn't have enough oomph to do that heavy a tube. With manual, you just put a bigger cheater bar on.
Yes, for 2", you buy a 2" die. Same die will bend all wall thicknesses for that OD. You need the EXACT die for the size tubing you're doing. For example, you can't bend 1-3/8" using a 1-1/2" die.
I saw one in the Summit Racing tools catalog that looked reasonably priced and came with 3 sets of dies.
Yes, for 2", you buy a 2" die. Same die will bend all wall thicknesses for that OD. You need the EXACT die for the size tubing you're doing. For example, you can't bend 1-3/8" using a 1-1/2" die.
I saw one in the Summit Racing tools catalog that looked reasonably priced and came with 3 sets of dies.
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Thanks TC that is most helpful. I'm only bending enough DOM for 2 4Runners. And not all at once. Cage, sliders, stinger for bumper, you get my drift. See as we are talking about Tube benders, what are you guys using to fish mouth your tube? Are you guys cutting in with a grinder at 90 degrees, a lathe, a drill press?
#16
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Tube notcher ... JD2 also
I'm using the Rigid bimetal holesaw blades and they seem to be holding up well. Just remember, the larger the diameter hole saw, the lower RPM you need (you want the same linear speed for the teeth) and some lubrication is good too.
I'm using the Rigid bimetal holesaw blades and they seem to be holding up well. Just remember, the larger the diameter hole saw, the lower RPM you need (you want the same linear speed for the teeth) and some lubrication is good too.
Last edited by tc; 06-03-2009 at 06:17 PM.
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Good to know. Yeah tapping oil always helps. And yes to make sure It's all cleaned off. before welding. A plasma cutter? That sounds pretty serious. Do you get good clean cuts?
Last edited by yodathespian87; 06-04-2009 at 07:23 AM.
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$90 to get a pneumatic over hydraulic cherry picker ram. then just fab up a braket into the nice portable cart you can now mke
Oh and another vote a JD2 model 3 Thats what I have always used. the most common dies for me are a 1.5x5.5 and a 1.75x5.5
Oh and another vote a JD2 model 3 Thats what I have always used. the most common dies for me are a 1.5x5.5 and a 1.75x5.5
Last edited by 4rnr; 06-06-2009 at 05:12 PM.