Im in the market for a tubing bender for building headers, and some other stuff. Mostly 1 1/2" tube. I see this model for sale for $300.00, and then the die sets are 2-300$ for each size. Does anyone own one of these, or have you used one??? If you have any other advice on what do look at let me know. Id like to spend$800 or so ready to bend 1 1/2" tobe 180 degrees. ROB
The rockcrawler types really like it. I haven't used one myself but it's on my list of tools to get one day. Check www.pirate4x4.com/forum for lost of info. You can use google to search the site without paying to be a member. Also look at bending 101 and the notching tech. http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/ Then you can get really high tech and get the bending software to layout everything http://www.2020softwaresolutions.com/prod02.htm ** I am not affiliated with any of these people or places, I have just researched the **** out of this **
we own one and highly reccomend it. We've got the 1", 1 5/8", and 2" round dies and are going to get the 1" square die. Very well built, easy to use, and it makes GREAT bends I've seen the other ones and the bends they make and they just don't stack up in my opinion. Nothing else in the price range touches it. I don't know what to think of the hydraulic attachment, it would be handy but not sure it's worth the money sorry for the non-traditional examples, it's the only thing we've bent for! We also did a lot of 1" tubing for the can-back bed cover, and some exhaust systems, etc.
I had an early Series 1 JD2 and the only problem that I had was getting them to send me the correct dies when I added sizes. I now have a Pro Tools unit which is mechanically similar to the JD. We use it to bend everything from 1" to 2" in several radii. I have the air over hydraulic attachment and it makes life easy. We mounted the bender on a roll around cart and we can just roll it up alongside the jig. It is also convenient when we are doing bends with long "tails" as we can roll the car into an open area of the shop to allow the tubing plenty of room to swing. Roo Man
Are you guys telling me that those low-dollar benders will bend (example) 1 1/2" dia. tubing with a 16 ga. wall without flattening or wrinkling it ? Especially the short radius bends that headers more than likely require ? I'll believe that when I see it.
Nope, but they'll bend roll bar tubing better than a lot of more expensive benders. They WILL do a decent job on typical exhaust tubing (16-18 ga) but only if it's packed full of sand first.
I've got a Protools 105, a similiar design to the JD2. It is an invaluable tool. I've done everything from roll cages to tubular crossmembers. Haven't ever used it on thin exhaust pipe, but I don't see why it wouldn't work well on that stuff either. As for the HF version like I have one, works so slow, is hard to get a predictable, and repeatable bend. And on thin stuff it prefers to kink it.
I know it's not a true mandrel bender but I have a pro-tools unit that works great. I bend frames for re***bent bicycles regularly and am very happy with the results. I have found the screw that you tighten the tube in the dies to be the biggest problem along with making sure to grease the inner die.
we sell jd2 benders and i have used it alot on the race car it makes excellent bends for roll cage and structural tubing i have used other models and brands all similar jd2 is the best seller but you will not like it for the headers the jd2 can bend thick pipe has truble with thin pipe all dies have min. thickness for the radius you are trying to bend check out the dies section at are web site TRICK-TOOLS.com or call 641-628-3279
I have been itchin to buy one for a while now and I'm glad the price has dropped dramatically. 2 years ago, it was $800 just for the base bender. http://www.jd2.com/
I believe the HF tool you posted is a pipe bender, not tube. They are not the same tools. Remember pipe is measured by its i.d and tube by o.d. Using a pipe bender to bend tube will kink because it's the wrong tool.
I bought mine 14 years ago (model 2) and it works awesome. I have pretty much every size die from 3/4" all the way up to 2". I still use it without any sort of power add on and it is very easy to use. I have built over one hundred complete roll cages,a couple of dozen complete IMCA mod ch***is, as well as hundreds of IMCA modified bumpers. I have also built a couple hundred "Eleanor" roll bars for '65-'70. Mustang fasbacks. I have used it on .058"-.095" chrome moly with good luck. (you will need the "anti-springback attachment" for chrome moly) It works well with as thin as .060" mild steel, but then some times the bends will start to kink on the larger sizes with tighter radii. For the price I would put it up against a Hossfeld type bender any day.
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