Tube bender questions?

McCracken

McCracken

Logan Can't See This
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Location
With your mom at a nice seafood dinner
I couldn't find one nearby so I figured I'd go out on a limb and just buy one so I don't have to worry from now on.

I looked at the JD2 and the Pro-tools. The Pro-tools is $683 for the Heavy Duty model and the the JD2 is only $295. I figure I can build my own stand and handle and save a few bucks.

Anyone here with an opinion on the 2?
 
wow, that is good. looks like it's neck and neck.

any opinions on quality between the 2? ease of use? I used my buddy's mechanical bender and it was fairly simple but I don't know what kind he had.

edit: btw, I know this is a dumb question but does 1 die come with the bender? I know with the JD2 it does.
 
Yeah, both of those benders are about the same price and quality. The dies are extra. My 1.75" die was about $270 shipped.

:beer:
 
I have the JD2, Yager has the Pro-Tools, both look about the same quality. But I need a new follower die, mine got scored, took me almost 2 months to get one for the JD2. They are a much smaller company then Pro-Tools, IMO Pro Tools have better and faster service.
 
It took two weeks to get my die from Pro-Tools. :beer:
 
The pro-tools dies are cheaper and the PT hd's bender main arm and follower arms are far stronger as well. It's a pretty easy choice unless you have one or two friends with jd2's already and you can trade dies...
 
Here's my stand. Pro Tools brings the beef with the HD model.

aimg.photobucket.com_albums_v214_nhodierne_MVC_009F_2.jpg


aimg.photobucket.com_albums_v214_nhodierne_MVC_010F_2.jpg


:beer:
 
The one I had was one of the originals, no replaceable inserts, I sanded it, Took a dremal to it for as long as we could, kept gouging the tube, finally broke down and bought a new one, $40 IIRC but took 5-6 weeks to get, it does have the replaceable inserts now.
 
orangecherokee said:
I couldn't find one nearby so I figured I'd go out on a limb and just buy one so I don't have to worry from now on.
I looked at the JD2 and the Pro-tools. The Pro-tools is $683 for the Heavy Duty model and the the JD2 is only $295. I figure I can build my own stand and handle and save a few bucks.
Anyone here with an opinion on the 2?
Click to expand...

there are benders in your back yard

Tube Tek benders, in Asheville, I just picked one up last week

http://www.tubetek.net/

It looks exactly like the JD-2, Cliff the guy that builds them and sells them, has been a machinist for 30 years, all the componets are made from the best materials, and all arms are 3/4" thick, all parts are cut using a CNC machine, washed, then baked for hardness, it is super nice

he makes all kinds of dies from 1" to 2" tube and square,

here is the best part, It costs $430 including a die of your choice, I got a 120 degree 1 3/4", and a degree ring

It is sweet, I upgraded mine first thing, I purchased a air over hydraulic cherry picker cylinder from Northern Tool, and made a bracket to mount it to the bender, no hand cranking at all

here is the run down

sweet bender, with die of your Choice $430
air over hydraulic cylinder from Northern Tool $159

$589 and you are set, and you can pick up replacement parts or dies, followers whenever, he's in Asheville, he has a web site

funny thing is, he told me since 2006, he has sold over 150 of these benders, most all going to the west cost, I am only the 2nd person from NC to purchase one
 
guffey24 said:
there are benders in your back yard
Tube Tek benders, in Asheville, I just picked one up last week
It looks exactly like the JD-2, Cliff the guy that builds them and sells them, has been a machinist for 30 years, all the componets are made from the best materials, and all arms are 3/4" thick, all parts are cut using a CNC machine, washed, then baked for hardness, it is super nice
he makes all kinds of dies from 1" to 2" tube and square,
here is the best part, It costs $430 including a die of your choice, I got a 120 degree 1 3/4", and a degree ring
It is sweet, I upgraded mine first thing, I purchased a air over hydraulic cherry picker cylinder from Northern Tool, and made a bracket to mount it to the bender, no hand cranking at all
here is the run down
sweet bender, with die of your Choice $430
air over hydraulic cylinder from Northern Tool $159
$589 and you are set, and you can pick up replacement parts or dies, followers whenever, he's in Asheville
Click to expand...

I like this post, thanks for letting us know! 3/4" arms sound beef and the price is right. Anyone else with input on this bender?
 
Be sure to go to Harbour Freight and get a laser for it. Its the laser they sell thats made for a saw. I put it on the die and aimed it at the degree ring and its a great marker.
 
Aggressive1 said:
Be sure to go to Harbour Freight and get a laser for it. Its the laser they sell thats made for a saw. I put it on the die and aimed it at the degree ring and its a great marker.
Click to expand...

great idea

I do however have a question for the experienced guys bending DOM

what is the average kickback for 1.75" DOM .120 wall?

say If I a trying to get a 90 degree bend, and the kick back is 4 degrees I need a 94 degree bend to equal 90 degrees
 
guffey24 said:
there are benders in your back yard
Tube Tek benders, in Asheville, I just picked one up last week
http://www.tubetek.net/
It looks exactly like the JD-2, Cliff the guy that builds them and sells them, has been a machinist for 30 years, all the componets are made from the best materials, and all arms are 3/4" thick, all parts are cut using a CNC machine, washed, then baked for hardness, it is super nice
he makes all kinds of dies from 1" to 2" tube and square,
here is the best part, It costs $430 including a die of your choice, I got a 120 degree 1 3/4", and a degree ring
It is sweet, I upgraded mine first thing, I purchased a air over hydraulic cherry picker cylinder from Northern Tool, and made a bracket to mount it to the bender, no hand cranking at all
here is the run down
sweet bender, with die of your Choice $430
air over hydraulic cylinder from Northern Tool $159
$589 and you are set, and you can pick up replacement parts or dies, followers whenever, he's in Asheville, he has a web site
funny thing is, he told me since 2006, he has sold over 150 of these benders, most all going to the west cost, I am only the 2nd person from NC to purchase one
Click to expand...

Good to hear he's back in business. There were guys on pirate that waited months to get their dies/benders and more that couldn't even get ahold of him to order one at all. I think the story was that he broke his back? It's the route I was planning on going but no reply to any emails. Anyway, I'd like to see it sometime in person.
 
It definitely appears to be both quality & beef.

90xj said:
That's a great deal guffey, i like the idea of supporting a local guy too.
Click to expand...

As do I, BUT...

his website is pure :poop: ! No mention of dies outside of 1.5"/1.75"/2"... like 1" round & square. No posted die pricing, which I've found usually means there are 3 different prices for everything...

I also like the idea of having a bender that MANY have locally (either JD2 or 105) should I need to borrow/rent a die for a couple bends/one offs... instead of having to pony up for a $250 die that'll get used once...

:popcorn:
 
guffey24 said:
what is the average kickback for 1.75" DOM .120 wall?
Click to expand...

Hey...I think it will differ with different benders. It depends on where the drawing die grabs the tube in relation to the holding die. Always best to run a test piece first until you know your machine!

Our Ercolina bender calls for 22* offset when programing a 1.75x.090 DOM bend! (It all has to do with the die travel, and the kickback figured for this tube) And thas a $30,000 bender!
 
Caver Dave said:
It definitely appears to be both quality & beef.
As do I, BUT...
his website is pure :poop: ! No mention of dies outside of 1.5"/1.75"/2"... like 1" round & square. No posted die pricing, which I've found usually means there are 3 different prices for everything...
I also like the idea of having a bender that MANY have locally (either JD2 or 105) should I need to borrow/rent a die for a couple bends/one offs... instead of having to pony up for a $250 die that'll get used once...
:popcorn:
Click to expand...

he started building these for the motorcycle guys, so all dies are available, he keeps about 6 of each size, until they sell, and then makes another batch

Cliff is a super guy, not much of a Internet guy, as the website shows, he is an old school kinda guy

oh and just so you know the JD-2 dies fit this bender
 
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