Cheap benders, what would you recommend? (1 Viewer)

[CruisinMT]

Hey guys I'm lookin for a fairly cheap bender that I can use to make a frame for a custom soft top. I have looked at these and was wondering what you guys thought. If you know of any that are better for around the same price post em up.

12 Ton Hydraulic Pipe & Tube Bender

16 Ton Hydraulic Pipe Bender

Northern Industrial Hydraulic Pipe Bender — 12-Ton | Pipe + Bar Benders | Northern Tool + Equipment

Northern Industrial Hydraulic Pipe Bender — 16-Ton | Pipe + Bar Benders | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[bobm]

Cruisin MT, what size pipe and do you plan on doing more projects? Northern has a bender thats more expensive $500. Made by Jet. But if you have more projects or friends that need stuff bent. It would be worth buying the heavier unit.

Thanks Bob.

 

[CruisinMT]

Cruisin MT, what size pipe and do you plan on doing more projects? Northern has a bender thats more expensive $500. Made by Jet. But if you have more projects or friends that need stuff bent. It would be worth buying the heavier unit.

Thanks Bob.

Mostly tubing for soft tops similar to the besttop setup. My friend and I will be making some custom cargo racks too, and maybe finishing my roll cage. So nothing over 2". Would an air/hydraulic setup be more efficient and worth the extra $?

 

[bobm]

If you are not planning on anything heavier than that go with the 16 ton (Middle Ground) from Northern or Harbor they are basically the same.

Thanks Bob.

 

[Chop Shop]

I would suggest looking at one of the numerous threads that have beat this subject into the ground.

 

[fieldsken1]

the guy next door just brought an affordable bender for 299 with a die and it does work good. he used to build race cars also and he really liked this so i brought a 1 inch die for it and it does work good. he built an entire cage for a jeep with it

 

[zebrabeefj40]

I would not waste time or money on one of those benders linked in the first post. Start with a nice bender from JD2, Pro Tools or Tube Shark. Almost everyone who has purchased one of those tube kinkers has had to rebuy a better bender later. You can see most of the bender options here:
Tube Bending Machines, our Specialty, at Trick-Tools.com


Nick

 

[Chop Shop]

I would not waste time or money on one of those benders linked in the first post. Start with a nice bender from JD2, Pro Tools or Tube Shark. Almost everyone who has purchased one of those tube kinkers has had to rebuy a better bender later. You can see most of the bender options here:
Tube Bending Machines, our Specialty, at Trick-Tools.com


Nick

of course, cuz ya truly need a $1000 bender to make a soft top?

Just go tot he pawn shop and get a conduit bender if all that its needed for is some ol top bows.

 

[fieldsken1]

of course, cuz ya truly need a $1000 bender to make a soft top?

Just go tot he pawn shop and get a conduit bender if all that its needed for is some ol top bows.

i did not see where he wanted to make bows for a soft top. in that case i too would buy a conduit bender they are just fine for that since you are going to bend conduit

 

[zebrabeefj40]

of course, cuz ya truly need a $1000 bender to make a soft top?

Just go tot he pawn shop and get a conduit bender if all that its needed for is some ol top bows.

The OP also mentioned using the bender to make additions to his cage. For just bows and roof racks, I agree, a conduit bender is fine.

Nick