Affordable Bender?

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Looks like a nice bender for $300. I'm saving for a Baileigh myself.
 
I passed on a simialr one I could of had pretty cheap with dies, the deal killer for me was the 90 degree max bend. I guess its not a huge deal, but I want one bender that will work for any of my obsessions.
 
I just got a JD2 bender.
 
I got dies for 1" and 1.5" tubing.

I already figured out I can get a hydraulic pump and cylinder for under $100, rated for 2800 PSI. I may convert it sooner rather than later.
 
That bender had two major faults, the bend radius is large, meaning the arc it huge, and no 90 degree bends.
 
nat said:
I got dies for 1" and 1.5" tubing.

I already figured out I can get a hydraulic pump and cylinder for under $100, rated for 2800 PSI. I may convert it sooner rather than later.
Click to expand...

What are you planning to make out of it? Sliders? I want 1.75" roll cage, so it would be out for that, but I have some latent plans for quarter-panel protection that I might do earlier if I had access to a bender.
 
The cheapest way to get into a real bender, ie uses 180 dies and several size options,is to build it yourself. Several options out there. Several of the fabrication forums or Pirate 4x4 have links and plenty of people who have built and used. No matter how you cut it, dies are the big money. $200 + for 1 1/2 or 1 3/4". Several of the plans use HF jack or hyd pump and can be built for cheap if you have steel available.
Good luck.
 
build it yourself

I did build a bender identical to theirs. Plans are all over , look on welding web. I went to home depot and bought some pre bent conduit( conduit is sized internally) in desired tube sizes. Rip cut them in half ,sandwich inner section between 1/4 inch flat plates( shaped like triangles with the smiley face on the bottom) put sand inside as filler, also need a tube at the apex for the fulcrum of the die. There is a post on welding web on how to do this. I made my 1 1/2 inch die for less than 30 bucks and it works like a charm. Easier than sand casting your own dies and certainly easier than parting with the cash buying someone elses. :cheers:

I'll draw it out if you would like , but there are photos on welding web. It really works without spending an arm and a leg.
MLM
 
sketch of die

used google sketchup for first time, autro cad it aint but it will suffice I think . I qwill post link if I can find it.

first time posting a graphic, hope it works.
MLM:idea:
die.webp
 
cruiserorbust said:
used google sketchup for first time, autro cad it aint but it will suffice I think . I qwill post link if I can find it.

first time posting a graphic, hope it works.
MLM:idea:
Click to expand...

Just so you know. The pivot hole is always at the center of the circle that the bending portion of the die would have made if it were a complete circle.
 
It looks to me like the pivot hole is centered about the die radius in the drawing, the triangle point turns into a tab so that the pivot is concentric.

is the ripped conduit welded to the plates? alternatively could you lay out a hole pattern in arc and use bolts and sleeves to form the face of the die that contacts the inside quadrant of the tube? or cut fin ply to slip in between the plates?
 
Here's yet another using a brake drum. The split conduit die could be used on this too.
 
Uncle Grumpy said:
Here's yet another using a brake drum. The split conduit die could be used on this too.
Click to expand...

I always wanted to make a bender die out of BONDO. :eek:


I just had a thought, if the aluminum followers on my nice store bought bender can wear out, then whats the life expectancy of a die shaped with BONDO after bending some DOM?

Might work for some small tube like 1/2 to 1 inch like motorcycle frames are made from.

Im pretty sure it takes more force to bend good 1.5 - 2 inch DOM than it does to make a poser chopper out of 3/4 hrew that will never even pop a wheely cuz the sketchy geometry wont let you ride it hard enough to bend the bondo bent tube in the first place.

Thats just me tho.:meh:
 
I was thinking the conduit die would work with additional reinforcement and use the lugs on the drum to hold it in place. I'm only attempting one set of sliders. Don't look for me to try this anytime soon, I'm way behind on my mods.
 
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