Searched a bunch of bender threads. How does this look? (1 Viewer)

[wspastorbryan]

Here's my issue... I'm selling my custom bumpers (not on here, on CL) and would like to get a bender, but the dies are crazy pricey. I found this... Looks to be a copy of the jd2, but cheap die sets.

Woodward Fab WFB2 - Woodward Fab Manual Tube and Pipe Benders - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Woodward Fab WFBDT-2-6 - Woodward Fab Bender Dies - Overview - SummitRacing.com

I don't really want to build one because I'd rather just start bending. I've got to get my fenders looking good while my neighbors still halfway like me. And eventually I want to cage and chop it, so having my own bender would be nice. I don't want to skimp $100 now and regret it later, because I may only need a couple dies.

 

[murf]

I hear this Bender is cheap....

 

[murf]

Sorry for the highjack, I dont know the answer to your question of which is better but I would like to ask if you could post up a link to your CL ad or to a website you have to see what you make and what you can offer.

I get clients that ask for bumpers sometimes and I'd rather keep it in the club if possible.



Murf

 

[Tools R Us]

Here's my issue... I'm selling my custom bumpers (not on here, on CL) and would like to get a bender, but the dies are crazy pricey. I found this... Looks to be a copy of the jd2, but cheap die sets.

Woodward Fab WFB2 - Woodward Fab Manual Tube and Pipe Benders - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Woodward Fab WFBDT-2-6 - Woodward Fab Bender Dies - Overview - SummitRacing.com

I don't really want to build one because I'd rather just start bending. I've got to get my fenders looking good while my neighbors still halfway like me. And eventually I want to cage and chop it, so having my own bender would be nice. I don't want to skimp $100 now and regret it later, because I may only need a couple dies.

Some things to think about: When the project is done, how much are you going to use it? Do you have the other items needed to do fab work, grinders, notcher, saw, etc, etc? Do you have a level place to solidly bolt it down, with enough area to swing tube?

Have done a bunch of research, some CAD drawing, etc, on benders. IMHO, would want it to be vertical, portable, air/hydraulic and would build it (it's not that big of a deal). The one you are looking at appears to be a Chinese knockoff of a JD2 bender, I have seen several reports of failure/breakage on them. If I were to buy one, it would likely be Pro Tools, good die selection, the easiest die design to make stuff for (including the whole bender) and it you shop well, can be had at about the price of the import that you are looking at. If your plan includes selling it when the project is done, one of the more popular benders (Pro Tools or JD2) will likely have more value?

Yes dies are expensive, the one that you linked 2" x 6" is a serious piece of kit. To make one, would start with a blank ~12" OD and 3" thick (have you priced 12" steel rod lately) then is machined, etc. I'm looking to buy one in the same size.

Do you really need a bender for one project? There are some in the club, would seam that the bribery needed to use one would be cheaper than buying it for one project?

 

[Cdaniel]

This guy will help you bend tube for a reasonable fee:
Skip's buggy & fab shop home
He has dies up to 2" O.D.
When I built my cage, another guy, myself and Skip split the cost to buy the 2" die for his bender. Good deal for all around.

Tooling to do tube work adds up fast.

PS Bryan, this guy is just around the corner from you too.

 

[leftarmtan]

jd2 is worth it imo.I got mine in the mid 90's and have never had a single problem.knowing you can get a part or die tomorrow,or in five years if you need it would be a question with a knock off.Die sharing is an option too if you have a popular bender.

 

[wspastorbryan]

I looked at the Model 32 as well because it bends super thick stuff and a lot of forum members recommend those. As it is now, I have front and rear bumpers on my cruiser and my expedition to build, sliders on the expedition and a cage on the cruiser. Also tube fenders. So I think it would be worth it to own one just for that.
After I prove myself to be a good bender, I'd like to make a 80 tube fender kit... but that's a few years down the road. I do have some 80 parts to bribe for borrowing though...

 

[wspastorbryan]

I can just justify it to the now if I sell my other bumpers. And I have most of the other tools I would need to do everything I need with a bender.

 

[Cdaniel]

One of these things is a must for tube work
Northern Industrial Tubing Notcher — 2in. O. Dia. Capacity | Tubing Notchers | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[brittan]

Have bender, can be bribed...

 

[wspastorbryan]

Sounds good. What are your cross streets what parts from an 80 would you need, or other goods?

 

[Kurtis]

I ordered up a JMR and die. I ended going with the JMR since it can use both pro tools and JMR dies and with the JMR dies it will do 2" .250 wall. I picked up a air/hydro cylinder for it to. Probably overkill for my needs but I liked JMRs die capacity and the fact it can use the less expensive and very common pro tools dies. I bought it to fix a mount a broken shock mount for my rail and ended up making a bumper for the front of the 60 right away to. Vertical is defiantly easier if your limited to your shop space. I'm working on a vertical setup for it but for what I have built horizontal works fine.

I bought the 240 degree die. You can do most stuff with a 120 but the 240 is nice for hoops, stingers, and swing outs.

 

[wspastorbryan]

That thing looks sweet for the money. And which one uses the Pro Tools die? They have several benders. I like that it's shipped in bare metal to save cost. I can do black and lime green...
Found some dies here.
http://www.rockbuggysupply.com/
And here was the bender in my price range.
http://www.jmrmfg.com/featured-tools/jmr-sportsman-tube-bender/
$249+ most likely some crazy shipping is a good deal for a tool that I'm going to use a ton. I just emailed them to get some more info. I just bought a LOAD of crap for my Expedition project, (Not long travel... Ford) So I'm low on funds. Got to sell some more crap first.

 

[wspastorbryan]

Here's the email I got back.
Thank you for your interest in our product. It does not include a stand, we do offer a powder coated stand for $95. It must be bolted to the floor. While our bender does have the same hole alignment at the Pro-Tools benders, and some people have had success with their dies, we cannot guarantee any results with them. If you have any more questions, please email or call us at 805-239-5972.

Thank you.

 

[Kurtis]

I built a stand that works in my pickup receiver but I also bought a air/hydro ram. There are 2 companies Swag off road and Sams racing that make a mount for the 80$ hf ram. I'm thinking about picking one of those up and then mounting mine vertical.

JMR's dies are nice. They are heat treated same as the bender and supposedly do up to 2" .250 wall and I want to say they have dies up to 2.5". He told me I could even bend solid 1.5 with my 1.5 6" radius 240 degree die. I'll probably go with the pro tools die when I pick up a 1.75 and 2" die just for cost sake. If I had money to burn I would buy all JMR dies. 1.5 is what I bend the most so I went with their die for that size. I wanted the cleanest looking pipe for my rails and the capability for .250 wall in that size. .120 wall is enough for anything Ill do in 1.75 and 2".

 

[wspastorbryan]

I really just wanted to get one, so I just ordered a JMR since I got a little cash from my rear axle. I'm going to make a stand, and maybe borrow a die. Kurtis, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Tools R Us]

Tube Bender, Notcher, 1.5" Die

 

[wspastorbryan]

Funny. The JMR was cheaper (got it on sale), and I was going to hold out for the 32 if I went with JD Squared. I liked that it could use pro tools dies too. Still happy with my purchase.