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Tubing Bender

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Old 01-03-2009, 02:44 AM
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Default Tubing Bender

Has anyone used the cheap tubing benders (the $100) from Harbor Freight? Will they bend more than 2 pipes before breaking?? Just thinking about picking one up, seems like it might come in handy for a roll bar project and maybe a diy downpipe whenever I get to it.
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Old 01-03-2009, 05:41 AM
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just get their extended warranty.
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Old 01-03-2009, 05:47 AM
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didnt even know they rent those. I'll have to check it out
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Old 01-03-2009, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by matt-tastic
Has anyone used the cheap tubing benders (the $100) from Harbor Freight? Will they bend more than 2 pipes before breaking?? Just thinking about picking one up, seems like it might come in handy for a roll bar project and maybe a diy downpipe whenever I get to it.
As far as I know harbor freight sells pipe benders not tube benders. If you use tube the bender will crush the tube. If you want to make a rollbar out of pipe it's a good route, you can use tube with rather large wall thicknesses.

You can make a hydraulic tubing bender (with a die) for around $200
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Old 01-03-2009, 12:12 PM
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I've heard they're decent and some **** about filling the pipes with sand to keep them from crushing. Never tried it though.
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Old 01-03-2009, 12:35 PM
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I have one at my shop at work and it wouldent work for a down pipe or a roll cage, it crushes the tube.
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Old 01-03-2009, 02:16 PM
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ok, just making sure....here is the link to the one I am talking about.....TUBING BENDER LINK
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Old 01-03-2009, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by matt-tastic
ok, just making sure....here is the link to the one I am talking about.....TUBING BENDER LINK
Yup pipe bender. Not a tubing bender. Look up tubing bender.
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Old 01-03-2009, 03:46 PM
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do NOT build a roll bar with that crap! it will fail the very first time it has to work! seriously... get it to a professional with mandrel bender. it absolutely HAS to be mandrel bent!
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Old 01-03-2009, 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by matt-tastic
ok, just making sure....here is the link to the one I am talking about.....TUBING BENDER LINK
i have one of those and its nice. i "tried" to build a roll bar but the pipe but just crush, but i was trying to do a sharp right angle, which just isnt going to happen. i them made a style bar out of fence pipe and it went way better because i would bend a little, move it over, bend some more and so on. but that is never going to made a downpipe, it will just crush it, and it only goes up to like a 2inch pipe, maybee even less.
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Old 01-03-2009, 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by UrbanSoot
do NOT build a roll bar with that crap! it will fail the very first time it has to work! seriously... get it to a professional with mandrel bender. it absolutely HAS to be mandrel bent!
It does NOT need to be mandrel bent, but definitly not a pipe bender. There are cheap tube benders out there.
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Old 01-05-2009, 01:45 AM
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I use the Greenlee 882 fliptop for my roll cage bends... works great. Others without a shoe AND saddle will kink the tube.

Greenlee 882 Flip-TopĀ® Bender For 1-1/4", 1-1/2" And 2" Emt Conduit Without Hydraulic Pump : UPC # 15128 - Toolfetch.com


Heres one listed at a reasonable cost. GREENLEE 882 RAM 1 SHOT PIPE BENDER
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Old 01-05-2009, 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by iluvspd
I use the Greenlee 882 fliptop for my roll cage bends... works great. Others without a shoe AND saddle will kink the tube.

Greenlee 882 Flip-TopĀ® Bender For 1-1/4", 1-1/2" And 2" Emt Conduit Without Hydraulic Pump : UPC # 15128 - Toolfetch.com


Heres one listed at a reasonable cost. GREENLEE 882 RAM 1 SHOT PIPE BENDER
Jesus those are expensive, you can make a really cheap one with a hydraulic jack with air assist.
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