I'll be the first to ask a question and try to get this rolling.I am looking at getting another tubing bender,
all I have is a pipe bender and it's a ...well it works but
not so good it's way slow and not to precise.
I have decided to go with a JD Squared JD Squared
model 3 bender.Is this a good product or are there others out there.I am looking for entry level,simple and cheap bender.
Thanks
Doug

I don't know much about tubing benders but the JD Squared unit looks much better that the Williams Low-Buck units for about the same money. Somebody else makes a bender like the JD unit but their name escapes me right now.

What size dies do you think are best for 4x4 fabrication, 1-1/2" and 2" (round)?

Matt

I like the Pro-Tools bender: Pro-Tools.com. I've only fooled around with them, but my neighbor has the hydraulic "One Shot" bender. It's a very nice tool.

Mike

Ooooh, or there's this option if you are mechanically inclined: Homebuilt bender.

Very cool.

Mike

Ah this new forum is a good idea <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
The pro-tools bender is definitly another option to check out.
Thanks <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
Doug

I'm a 1/4 owner of a JD2, so it works for me. However, there was a HUGE thread on Pirate about the JD2 Dies having tons of problems... I'd search PBB before making a decision.

My buddy bought a JD2 last year and we have found that the only minor issue is keeping the die follower sprayed with lubricant for every bend.....as the tube is formed around the big heavy "die" there is a tearing/sliding motion with the follower as it glides around the OD of the tube. When the follower gets bad tear marks in it they in turn rough up future bends. The follower is a small piece....about the size of a pack of cigarettes. If somebody could supply some surface hardened followers then the tearing prob would go away. Other than that, the bender worked nicely. I bent my own exo with it.....getting them bends in the right spot is TIME COMSUMING. Measure twice bend once. I don't see any big deal about hydraulics.....unless production work is involved. It was about $450 for the bender and 1 die......(1.75x.120x5.5 I think)

The one shot, homebuilt and Williams are all limited to dies that can only bend up to 90 degrees. Try building a shock hoop with that?
I use a Pro tool (full hydraulic) at work and a US Tool and Die bender at home that I added hydraulics to.
In order to get a clean 180 bend you have to get a 240 degree die.
I would never spray any sort of lube on either the main die or follower die again, what you should do is clean to tube well before putting it in the bender. When I first got my US bender I lubed the follower die and found that the lube itself worked like glue for holding anything that might jamb up and gouge the work piece and die.
If you do get a gouge in the die using a drum sander can remove it, weld a big groove in and resand.

Anyone who bends tube knows that when dies are new, tube will get stuck, knocking the holder pin out will free the tube. Make a few hundred bends and the tube will come out with a slight shake.

SD

Interesting point. Come to think about it, I've never bent any tube beyond 60 deg. next door.

Looks like the consensus is the JD2?

Mike

Thankyou all,
So it seems like a very good deburr/polish of the guides/dies is in order to help the "wearing in"
process.
Thanks again.
Doug