You just named every size of imperial bender in my toolbox including the 1/4” which I used for my transmission vacuum modulator hardline along with the 1/4” hardline for my radiator overflow tank plumbing. 3/16” brake lines and 3/8” and 5/16” for fuel lines.
Glad to hear someone else has the same style tool .... you did not mention if it was the one you go to. As a retired carpenter I own 10 different saws & 6 different hammers .... They all have their uses depending on the job. Back on topic. I have done some minimal research on using electrical conduit to make a frame for a convertible top. Without the proper bender, A trick is to use sand to fill the tube. I have a bag of play ground sand from tractor supply & cost $4. The idea is you fill the tube with sand, tape off both ends. Now you can bend the tube around some pipe & the sand inside will not allow the tube to kink. That's the theory anyways. I would think this method would help with tighter bends ..... The tool like mine the width is 2.5" .... this will limit how tight you can make the bend. They do sell narrower benders specifically for tight bends.
I have several benders. The one I use the most for brake lines though is my home built tight radius bender. I made it specifically to bend lines immediately after the flare nut. I put clearance in the tool so the nut fits under the retaining arm, and the nut sits against the die. For my second favorite would be the small Eastman 367-RH
The bender “Rice and Beans Garage”posted the link to would be an absolute dream to have. Wish I knew that existed before attaining all my others.
You can buy a conduit bender for not much money and then it is easy to bend the conduit to make emt frame for the convertible top https://www.menards.com/main/electr...it-bender-head/mf5074/p-12148367798117847.htm
Dang. I’m in the market for a new bender. I have this type and does great but not for tight bends next to a fitting. Will look up these suggestions
i have a rigid brand 3/16 bender works well , a generic black fiber reinforced plastic 3/16-3/8 bender works well . 2 pair of the bending pliers from matco 3/16 and 1/4 work great you can make a radius right at the flarenut makes exiting the m/c really clean and bend touch ups on longer runs a snap , however one of my favs a friend i worked with said "try this" is i lil blue 1/8-1/4 bender that makes great bends and is nice n small for getting into tight spots and has a lovely smaller radius ,asked him where he got it https://www.harborfreight.com/1-8-eighth-inch-to-1-4-quarter-inch-tube-bender-94571.html yeah for 9 bux EVERYONE should have one (thank you chris) not kidding ,, flare tools i have a regular matco old scool double flare tool ive made literally thousands of flares with had it since the 90s , however if ya got the space the eastwood vice mount flare tool is the mack daddy , and koul tools maks a set of nifty burnishers that you can perfect the seat of your flare with if your really a nutcase lol fabricator john miss you dad
Once you use one of these Mastercool flaring tools... yul never go back! A little bit cumbersome if yur on yur back, but the flares are perfect every time! Also forms bubbles at the ends of hard line for hose connections. Only problem... is all yur friends will want to borrow it...! https://www.mastercool.com/product/72475-universal-hydraulic-flaring-tool-set/
I've had two of those.... Broke the first one by my own stupidity.... Tried to straighten and re-bend a piece of 3/8 stainless tube I had bent the wrong direction.... Promptly ordered a replacement.... Between the two of them have had one for about 40 odd years.... The broken one still works for the smaller sizes.... LynnW
They are possibly the worst tube bender made. I bought one to do the brake and fuel lines on a 57 Fairlane, the bends are nasty and you need hands like Andre the giant to use them. I gave them away.
I got suckered by one of those too. It was advertised as tight-radius, but is no bettter than the radius on the simpler, cheaper tool Anthony owns in post #39. I no longer use it, but use my post #39 one frequently for normal-radius bends (it does 3 or 4 different tube sizes without changing anything). Cheers, Harv
yep, done the same and bought one like #39 too and have found it really good but the bend radius isn't as tight as it could be. Works for me though.
That's the same one I have. Think I paid $5 for it at a garage sale. Works fine for sweeping bends, not so much for anything tight or over 180*.
The HAMB strikes again and I learned something!! These things are sweating and putting a cramp on my back to the road timing. I thought I may have to take them to a brake shop to have them bent because I have nothing in my tool arsenal to replicate. Now I have to find one that will bend right at the nut. Tried a tight bend over a file handle and it wasn't even close before it kinked. I have the Eastwood flaring tool. Wish I had that before. It has saved me a lot of money on therapy and alcohol but, the dies make it so you can't flare within 2-1/2" from a bend. So the bender on the far left - do you put it next to the nut and roll or twist the handle over? As you can see I need to get the line to what looks like 145 degrees over on itself.
I also have several tubing benders. How well they work depends on if you are working on the bench or on the vehicle. But for tight radius bends on 3/16" and 1/4" tubing I like this one I got from Jegs. It has two pin positions and the not in use roller is self storing. There number is 80880. Most likely a like unit is available elsewhere.
Good info to know. I kinked my share of tubing. IMHO lots of guys can figure out how to bend it but you still have to figure out how to make it look great. Like, try stainless on a 6 -2 setup or three webers. I love the good stuff. It's no wonder you see flex tubing and rubber hose a lot. I have decent benders but don't get enough practice and have ruined a bunch of tubing to prove it. Would love to be able to do some parallel coils and such. But then again, I first need to find a Hiborn setup for a yblock first!
If anyone is looking to buy one of those really nice flaring tool sets, be advised that they come in different stages of completeness. So when you see one cheaper somewhere, it may not have as many flaring blocks. Some also have blocks to make the "push on" type flares like the ones used on modern fuel injected cars. They can also be used for making tight and easy fuel pump connections coming out of a gas tank, even though you use other mechanical connections at the carburetor. I'd buy the more complete set and pay the extra cash. Even though EFI is not Hamb friendly, it has been used by the OEMs for about 40 years, and if you own any of those "newer" vehicles, you may need to repair them as well as Hamb era vehicles.
Yes. the far left one can be placed right on the nut. It is difficult to use with stainless or higher quality steel tube, bit works well on that nicop stuff. The second from the right is one I made for exactly what you are up against. The tool is clearanced to get the nut into the centerline of the radius. The finished outside of the bend is as close as 1/2” from the back side of the nut.
a few years ago, i broke down and bought a cheap tubing bender/flaring tool from summit, i think. prior to that, i just bent 'em by hand!
@los Control, the trick to using sand in the tube or pipe you're bending is to pack it tight. Cap one end, add some sand, stand the tube upright and bang the capped end down onto a 2 x 4. Add more sand, do it again and again until your tube won't take any more sand. I've done this with larger diameter pipe, heated the area I want the bend in dull red and bend it around something stationary, trees, telephone pole, fence post. There is a certain amount of beer drinking involved with this method also.
I use a ridge bender (the flip flop type) for large tubing and a small die cast bender for smaller tubing. I use grease on the tube it helps a lot on bigger tubing.
Just be aware, although it does indeed produce a perfect flare every single time, it is of no assistance in reminding you to put the tube nut on first.
No kidding. I have consecutive “oh crap” moments. Cut, flare forget fitting. Cut, flare, forget fitting. Dang, now go get more tubing.
Maybe the tool you used? I’ve used that one onset a few trucks for 3/16th and 1/4 inch lines. I’m definitely not in line to get body slammed by Hulk Hogan. I was going to bend a line just to see/show, but all I have a two sticks of 5/16ths that I don’t want to mess up.
The Jalopy Journal
