• RME Gear & Apparel

Bender Questions

grinch

grinch

inner city redneck
Location
Salt Lake City
OK Ok OK ..... I know this one has been done before but hay whats another go around the block... I am going to be purchasing a tubing bender this month and want to know peoples feedback about THIER benders....(Sorry I dont want to hear about your brotherinlaws friends).
I know the JD 2 is supposed to be the cats a$$.
Any others out there In that price range or cheapeer that anyone has and would suggest looking at...
I read past posts but I want up to date info as in how well the bender has held up. What you think about it now. ect.
Thanks
 
Caleb

Caleb

Well-Known Member
Location
Riverton
well, for what little I have used my JD2 I love it...wouldn;t have done it differently (except for Hydro which it will be getting eventually)...Herzog should be able to tell you how well it works too:rofl:

another bender to look at (which is similar in cost, maybe a tad cheaper...usually comes down to what vendor you want to deal with) is the Pro-Tools bender... www.pro-tools.com the 105HD is basically same as the JD2 but I think it comes painted which would be nice but not a big issue in my book...

another is the NE5 w/degree ring form www.mtechsupply.com, its supposed to be exact same as the JD2 but it has some bronze bushings that hold the bender together during dies changes (never had any issues with mine)...about the same price as the others...

IMO, you will be happy with any of them you get...I went withthe one I could get the quickest which at the time was the JD2...be sure to check out dies and such cause they cost almost as much as the bender so make sure they are competitive:D
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
I love my JD2 Manual. I'm into mine about $700-750 with 2" & 1 5/8" Dies. It's not fancy & does require a little work to use, but it's great. I haven't used any other brands, but for my needs, the JD2 is perfect.

Are you staying Manual or adding the Hydro?

Make sure you file a radius on the leading edge of the follower die, so there's not a sharp edge. If you don't do that, you'll gouge the follower die & tube. Marc Milner told me about that part.

Don't bother getting the degree ring, it's a waste of $120(??)

Do you have any specific questions? I'm sure we'll be able to help you out.
 
grinch

grinch

inner city redneck
Location
Salt Lake City
Im going manual.... Im not afraid of a litlle elbow grease and sweat...
plus i gotta keep the cost down. Im thinking my first dies will be 1.5 and 1.25
Most of the 1" I will do will be straight cuts and 1.5 is plenty big for cages... It seems to be the norm for the comp. rigs.....
 
grinch

grinch

inner city redneck
Location
Salt Lake City
Oh and thanks for the file trick Greg....
Thats one i didnt know... I have seen a few bendrs leave some pritty nasty gouges in tube.... sounds like a good preventative (or however you spell it)
 
James K

James K

NO, I'm always like this
Location
Taylorsville, Ut
oh, and mine is manual. the only time I have found that to be a pain is when working with a 12 to 15" stick of 2" :D . But hey thats what friends are for(grunt work) :rofl:
 
James K

James K

NO, I'm always like this
Location
Taylorsville, Ut
Greg said:
Make sure you file a radius on the leading edge of the follower die, so there's not a sharp edge. If you don't do that, you'll gouge the follower die & tube. Marc Milner told me about that part.



.
Click to expand...


good info I did not know that :cool:
 
Caleb

Caleb

Well-Known Member
Location
Riverton
Greg said:
Make sure you file a radius on the leading edge of the follower die, so there's not a sharp edge. If you don't do that, you'll gouge the follower die & tube. Marc Milner told me about that part.

Don't bother getting the degree ring, it's a waste of $120(??)
Click to expand...


My follower has a radius on one side, the other side is a sharp square...


yep, I was a sucker and got the degree ring...some people really like them but I have never been a fan of them...so IF you want a degree ring I will sell you mine for cheap:D
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
grinch said:
Oh and thanks for the file trick Greg....
Thats one i didnt know... I have seen a few bendrs leave some pritty nasty gouges in tube.... sounds like a good preventative (or however you spell it)
Click to expand...

I used my Dremel, but I only learned of the trick after a gouged up my new 1 5/8" die. :mad2:

I ground & polished that sucker till it was shining! I haven't had a problem since. Also, I use While Lithium Grease to lube it up & just drown the dies with it before every bend. Like I said, never a problem. :)
 
cyberduke

cyberduke

Hairy Bagel
Location
S. Jordan
Greg said:
Also, I use While Lithium Grease to lube it up & just drown the dies with it before every bend.
Click to expand...

Could you get away w/ just spraying the tube w/ some WD-40 where it's going to be in contact w/ the die? I saw it once on American Chopper.

Stop laughing at me.

-Earl
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
cyberduke said:
Could you get away w/ just spraying the tube w/ some WD-40 where it's going to be in contact w/ the die? I saw it once on American Chopper.

Stop laughing at me.

-Earl
Click to expand...

Probably, but the Lithium Grease seems to provide more of a cushion & seems to not run as easily. I haven't tried the WD40, but I'd be worried that it'll be too thin & start buggering tube & dies.
 
Caleb

Caleb

Well-Known Member
Location
Riverton
I used some spray lubrcant stuff but it ended up drying and getting all tacky...I now use WD and it has always worked fine for me...I have never gouged any tube or dies...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top