Looking for input on tubing benders… what do you guys have, have used, liked, hated, etc?
Been very seriously considering the JD squared Model 3 or Model 32. Primary use is going to be roll-bar/cage work, frame members, suspension, go-kart construction, etc; so square, DOM and Chromoly tubing.
JD2 is a fantastic bender, as is the pro-tools. factor in which dies you need and shipping to figure which of those two is the cheaper, as they are nearly identical. I once heard the pro-tools bender plans were shared for free and if you had the means could build the rig yourself and just buy the dies…not sure if that’s still true. I tried to buy a used JD2 model 3 over summer but they guy was asking more than retail for it with two die sets and an instructional DVD, and it had been in a damp basement and was surface rusted…tried making an offer and he didn’t want to budge.
Haven’t used one but the JD2 was what I intended to purchase before I had a shop to my cage.
http://www.gottrikes.com/tube_bender.htm
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/376183-homebuilt-tubing-bender.html
Uses pro-tools series 105 dies.
I have this one and it’s awesome:
http://www.probender.com/probender/drupal/product/pro4-le-hydraulic-tube-bender
Honestly though the bender itself will pale in comparison to the cost of the dies, and there arent many companies to buy those through. Basically JD2 or Protools… I have about 3 grand worth of dies and that just covers tube…
I Have the bailegh RDB-125 and I love it. but I think its way off your price point. JD2 makes some real nice stuff aswell. I would also recommend looking into bendtech software… it is cheap and easy to use and prints really really nice cut lists and even 1:1 scale prints (its way easier to use than solidworks for tubing and the price of a couple lengths of scrap tube)
also whatever bender you decide to get… make sure you invest in a decent way to notch, makes life way easier lol
Too bad I live in Salt Lake… lol!
I’m actually leaning more and more to the links that Fair Z posted… I’ve got the welder and Air… And for the same price roughly as one of JD2 or Pro-Tools ones I can have an Air/Hydraulic unit.
JD2 is nice, but the manual ratcheting is annoying. At least I thought so the one time I used it. Air over hydro is where its at.
The guy that did my cage had something like this that he modified to use a HF air over hydro unit. Im not sure where his originally came from. But this might be good at the price even if you just use the dies? http://www.speedwaymotors.com/3rd-Generation-Hydraulic-Round-Tubing-Bender-and-5-Die-Set,20066.html
Dan
I agree a air or hydraulic unit is where it’s at…
that link you posted, eastwood has an identical unit for half…
the problem is, it will only do 90* up to 1" tubing, then only 60* bends after that…
the beauty of the JD2, protools, and the one fairgentlemanZ posted is that they do up to 240* bends.
Noted. 60 degrees is def a deal breaker. The one my friend has could do up to 1.75" @ 90 degs, I just couldnt recall where he got it since I think its prob 10+ years old by now. I think for most things 90 degs would be plenty.
Dan
JD2 is decent. I have an old ass bender that is very similar (from the 70s or 80s) that works awesome with hydro. It can do 180° bends on 1.75" .120 wall with ease