I understand what you are saying and understand the difference in material ( kinda ) but the principal behind the benders seems the same to me. In fact it seems that a hydrolic benders could bend stronger stock than a lever action bender.

Please, could you explain the difference in how the machines operate. I think the lever operated machine may be able to bend at slightly more than 180 degrees and also due to the setup can handle longer stock but you could mount the hydrolic bender on its side to overcome that limitation.

Just curious... I've considered fabricating a small bender for the shop that could handle solid core stock up to 1".

Philpom