A good bender is goina be my next purchase (after the plasma cutter around the 20th). I'll probably get to order this in late Oct. Anyways...started searchin' now since I've decided what plasma cutter I'm goina get later this manth.

It's between the JD Squared Model 3 or the Pro-Tools Model 105.

I'm leaning towards the PT105 but am kinda hoping info comes out on the 105 SB (Super bender) before I need to make the purchase. They both seem about equal. They can both do 180* bends.

Once again...
What do you guys use, how you like it, what would you suggest, and why?

Oh yah, I'll aslo need a good notcher. The kind you feed the pipe in not set and drill the notch. Any recomendations there???

Thanks Yaul!

 

Pro-tool 105hd full hydro here, love it.

 

Man I wish I had the dough for a bender!

 

I'm in the process of putting together a JD2 full hydro setup. I kind of got locked in since I have arm drawings for the JD2 that I'm having cut out of 3/4" eventually. I got impatient and bought the arms along with the dies and am giving their regular arms a go.

 

Same here but no hydro yet, works great so far.

 

how hard is it to make a manual bend? anyone bending chrommoly 2 inch dia. .120 thickness?

 

Wow, chromo, I dunno, that stuff is def. tougher. I do know, I had to put a 4 degree bend in some .350 1.5" chromo links with a pipe kinker, and had to get them mofo's cherry red and even so it was a chore to even get 4 degrees..

 

I'm assuming you guys are using tube bending dies? What size would be good for making sliders and maybe a roll bar?

 

Is there anything else that will give you the quality/strength? Not really

It depends, some guys like to use 1.5" and some like 2" and some, like 1.75"

 

Can you start off with the 105 mechanical version and later upgrade to the hydro? Or do you need a whole new set-up to go hydro?

 

If it is anything like the JD2, yes you can convert it to hydro.

 

The 105 comes in the 105 and the 105hd models. The HD model can be ordered or upgraded to full hydro. The plain 105 model can not.

 

JD 2 here....luv it

 

Where are you getting this info from?

 

I thought I read that on their site but what it actually says is that the HD is required for the 2" dies. :pat:
"Special Heavy Duty Bender with 5/8" thick main arms
required when using 2" diameter dies"

Thanks for helpin' to clarify!

 

+1 for the JD2 model 3.Great bender. IDK about a notcher, I have never seen the need to use one. All my notching is done with a portable bandsaw to make an angled end notch. With a little practice you can get things to fit perfect and it is alot faster. +plus save some money

 

The ONLY difference between the HD and non HD models is that the HD comes with 5/8" thick backing block arms. The main die drive arms are still 1/2". On the standard 105, all arms are 1/2". The hydraulic conversion will fit both the standard and HD versions.

 

Another JD2 model 3 owner here, no problems with it. Bought it with the idea of borrowing a different sized die from a friend who has a JD2 too.