tube bender options...

[everythintech]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROUND-AND-SQUAR...603090461QQcategoryZ92083QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

OR

http://cgi.ebay.com/16-TON-HYDRAULI...602368253QQcategoryZ42147QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

how do you guys think something like that would work? i think i am going to use 2" tubing for the cage, need to research that..., but as far as the actual bender, will it work? i am fairly strong and on a very tight budget, but i want to start the serious mods for my truck. open to opinions....

thanx for your time
Chris

 

[tdavis]

That is not going to work to bend any HREW/DOM tubing (or pipe) and not kink it.

Reading the auction more carefully, you'll find this:

5/8" round or square solid rod capacity

which means the die sizes are listed for radius.

 

[trucku]

Harbor Freight ships a 16 ton to my zip in New York for 189.98. If your thinking of buying it go with Harbor Freight Not ebay. That way your covered by Harbor Freights warranty. Plus this ebay guy has bad rating and its 10 bucks saved. Buy yourself a 6 pack of beer with it..lol

 

[everythintech]

so i am lost now. the overall scop is to chop the back, build a cage and bumpers. i also plan to dovetail the back about 4-6" each side. oh yeah cant forget sliders. so i think i am getting a mig welder, and i am pndering the tube bender. i dont have a grand to through on just a bender, so i am looking at manual ones now i am open to all thoughts..... my brain hurts

Chris

 

[Blee1099]

Forget about those junk harbor freight benders.. Spend the money and get a good one like a ProTools. Just look at Section525's thread on sliders for a Toyota. He used the HF one and it kinked the tubing like crazy.

 

[bmxking5]

If you've got all that stuff planned for the Explorer (cage, bumpers, sliders, etc) it'll be worth the $$ to get a nice bender. You'll thank yourself in the end.

 

[section525]

Forget about those junk harbor freight benders.. Spend the money and get a good one like a ProTools. Just look at Section525's thread on sliders for a Toyota. He used the HF one and it kinked the tubing like crazy.

Most of what Ben is saying is true. However, I did not bend the tubing.


But yes, in my experience the HF bender sucks. The problem stems from a few issues. Such as, you're trying to bend tube with a pipe bender. You're using a modified 1.25" pipe die to bend 1.75" tube. Last being that it's Harbor Freight.

My suggestion is to do what I'm going to do and camp out in front of Tom's house for a weekend.

 

[trucku]

WOW nice stuff on pro-tools.com, but not cheap especially if on a budget.
Well there goes my purchase on HB...lol "no pipe bender for me"..

This one is nice...check out the vid

 

[section525]

WOW nice stuff on pro-tools.com, but not cheap especially if on a budget.

But think about all the new good friends you'll aquire after getting one! Plus, break it down by years of service. $700 and you'll use it the next 10 years. Only $70 a year.

 

[trucku]

But think about all the new good friends you'll aquire after getting one! Plus, break it down by years of service. $700 and you'll use it the next 10 years. Only $70 a year.

Your right I agree

They got number on Pro Tools that you call and they email you plans to build your own Budget bender.

 

[Brian1]

The Pro Tools 105 bender works great and is a perfect starting point. I have had mine for a few years now and today I just ordered another die for it (1.5"). Start off with the bender and 1 die and then when you start getting more projects you can buy more dies. Also IMO 2" is too big for an internal roll cage in an Explorer. I would go with 1.75"

 

[everythintech]

sweet thanx for the replies. so yeah i might just take a break and wait 2 months to play more with the ex. then do it right. man its hard with all the ideas flowing through my head to not go get a cheaper one, but i think i can manage....

 

[IZwack]

have u looked at the JD-squared Model 3?

 

[bmxking5]

I remember there being a few fabrication forums that had sections on benders. You can try to check on those and see if someone has a nice used one for sale.