Bender

retroedaddy

retroedaddy

Infidel
Joined
Apr 7, 2010
Location
Bahama NC
I want to get into bending Pipe,what's a good bender?I am wondering,is there one that can do Heavy wall for Roll Cages and stuff that will also do Exhaust Pipe?I have a lot of experience bending EMT as well as Rigid,with a hydraulic bender so I think I can figure it out if I can get a decent Bender.:Rockon:
 
JD2 and ProTools make fairly inexpensive, good benders. There are a handful of other companies that make benders of the same design, that are cheaper or offer different features, but those two have been big players for a while. I have a Protools 105HD and it does what I need it to. Typically you use tubing instead of pipe because of the die sizes. Roll cages are usually made of .120" wall tubing, so its not exceptionally thick. The benders I have mentioned may have maximum diameter limitations of around 2", so you may not be able to bend the size of exhaust tubing you'd like.

Here's the Protools webpage:
http://www.pro-tools.com/105.htm
 
Some of them go to 2.5 like the baliegh and JMR. But they say with the hydraulic conversion, but exhaust is light gauge I don't think you'll have a problem.

If I had the money I'd get either the JMR or Baliegh.

You can compare them here. Most aren't used for both cages and exhaust. I have a JD2 Model 3. I have a 1.5 Die set and I'm getting the 1.75 Die set shortly. Those are the most common sizes. See what people locally to you have. That way you could borrow die sets possibly.

http://www.vansantent.com/tube_bending_machines.htm
 
The info posted is great, I used a JD2 on my cage and was very impressed with it.

Just be careful not to get confused between pipe, conduit, and tube. Pipe and Conduit sizes are measured by the inner dia, Tube is measured by the outter dia. So a 1.5'' pipe bender wouldn't work on a 1.5'' piece of tube.

1.5'' Pipe with an 1/8 wall = ~1.75'' dia
1.5'' Tube with a 1/8 wall = ~1.5'' dia

If your going to get a bender, Save your money and get a decent one, Protools or JD2 and so one, The cheap northern tool or harbor freight pipe bender will kink your tube, Some guys make them work but its a pain in the butt.
 
Thanks a lot,that is good info.I have heard the same thing about the harbor freight one.Somehow I don't see myself packing every pipe I bend with sand to keep it from kinking.I will just save my money and get something decent.Thanks again.
 
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