# Tubing Bender thoughts/Recommendations? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [December 1, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176 "2014-12-01T07:35:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/1 "2014-12-01T07:35:25Z")
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. [https://www.jd2.com/p-32-model-3-bender.aspx](https://www.jd2.com/p-32-model-3-bender.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![focusinprogress](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/focusinprogress/32/7227_2.png) [@focusinprogress](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/focusinprogress)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 9:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/2 "2014-12-01T09:00:33Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![cougarspeed](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/cougarspeed/32/7468_2.png) [@cougarspeed](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cougarspeed)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 9:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/3 "2014-12-01T09:13:20Z")
Haven’t used one but the JD2 was what I intended to purchase before I had a shop to my cage. ---
**Author:** ![fairgentleman\_Z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fairgentleman_z/32/7263_2.png) [@fairgentleman\_Z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fairgentleman_Z)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 9:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/4 "2014-12-01T09:23:17Z")
[http://www.gottrikes.com/tube\_bender.htm](http://www.gottrikes.com/tube_bender.htm) [http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/376183-homebuilt-tubing-bender.html](http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/376183-homebuilt-tubing-bender.html) Uses pro-tools series 105 dies. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/5 "2014-12-01T14:11:30Z")
I have this one and it’s awesome: [http://www.probender.com/probender/drupal/product/pro4-le-hydraulic-tube-bender](http://www.probender.com/probender/drupal/product/pro4-le-hydraulic-tube-bender) ![http://www.probender.com/probender/drupal/sites/default/files/IMG_9268.1.jpg](http://www.probender.com/probender/drupal/sites/default/files/IMG_9268.1.jpg) 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… ---
**Author:** ![bamfapotamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@bamfapotamus](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bamfapotamus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 7:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/6 "2014-12-02T07:18:01Z")
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 [http://metal.baileighindustrial.com/pipe-bender-rdb-125](http://metal.baileighindustrial.com/pipe-bender-rdb-125) [http://www.bend-tech.com/](http://www.bend-tech.com/) ---
**Author:** ![focusinprogress](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/focusinprogress/32/7227_2.png) [@focusinprogress](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/focusinprogress)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 7:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/7 "2014-12-02T07:38:23Z")
[http://buffalo.craigslist.org/tls/4750409108.html](http://buffalo.craigslist.org/tls/4750409108.html) ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 8:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/8 "2014-12-02T08:32:51Z")
> [@focusinprogress](#): > > [http://buffalo.craigslist.org/tls/4750409108.html](http://buffalo.craigslist.org/tls/4750409108.html) 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. ---
**Author:** ![juicedz4](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/juicedz4/32/5051_2.png) [@juicedz4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/juicedz4)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 9:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/9 "2014-12-02T09:22:22Z")
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](http://www.speedwaymotors.com/3rd-Generation-Hydraulic-Round-Tubing-Bender-and-5-Die-Set,20066.html) Dan ---
**Author:** ![focusinprogress](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/focusinprogress/32/7227_2.png) [@focusinprogress](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/focusinprogress)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/10 "2014-12-02T10:57:31Z")
> [@juicedz4](#): > > 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? [3rd Generation Hydraulic Round Tubing Bender & 5 Die Set](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… > **[Eastwood Pro Former Metal Tubing Bender](https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-s-pro-former-tubing-bender.html)** > > Hydraulic ram power helps you bend steel tubing easily 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. ---
**Author:** ![juicedz4](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/juicedz4/32/5051_2.png) [@juicedz4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/juicedz4)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 11:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/11 "2014-12-02T11:09:29Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![RTrac1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rtrac1/32/6312_2.png) [@RTrac1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RTrac1)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/tubing-bender-thoughts-recommendations/271176/12 "2014-12-03T16:58:38Z")
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