tube bender

[N-Smooth]

looking to go in on a bender with a few friends. the only one i've ever used is a jd2 model 3. i'd be happy to get one of those but i'd also like to hear opinions on others. i'm not interested in hydraulic cause of the $$$. i'd also like to know where you guys bought your benders from, if there is anyone local etc.

here is the best deal i have found so far on the jd2 m3
medford tools link
$295 for the bender with a degree ring and handle.
$265 for a 1.5" die
$70 for shipping
-------------------
$630 total

 

[sixstringsteve]

Check out Goose's bender. It's the gotTrikes.com bender. You build it yourself and it's supposed to be amazing. Goose bought the parts from me when I got too burnt out to build it myself.

http://www.gottrikes.com/Tube_Bender.htm


The best part is that it bends vertically instead of horizontally, which saves a ton of shop space.

 

[STAG]

I have the JD2 model 4 and love it, but its hydro only...

 

[N-Smooth]

i saw that in his build thread the other day. i could be interested in something like this if it really is less than $100 for the supplies like they say. i like that the ram can be used manually or with air/hydr and vertical has always interested me. do they make their own dies or use others? it doesn't really say.

Check out Goose's bender. It's the gotTrikes.com bender. You build it yourself and it's supposed to be amazing. Goose bought the parts from me when I got too burnt out to build it myself.

http://www.gottrikes.com/Tube_Bender.htm


The best part is that it bends vertically instead of horizontally, which saves a ton of shop space.

 

[N-Smooth]

it looks like most people are saying the materials cost about $260. that's kind of a downer when the jd2 is $295 but vertical and air/hyd would be awesome. i'm sure drilling all those holes would suck though...

 

[sixstringsteve]

you can buy the plates pre-drilled, but that's more $$$.

 

[STAG]

Fwiw couldn't you mount the JD2 model 3 vertically with a 90 degree mount?

 

[N-Smooth]

you can buy the plates pre-drilled, but that's more $$$.

yeah, it's $300 and it only comes with the stuff that needs drilling.

Fwiw couldn't you mount the JD2 model 3 vertically with a 90 degree mount?

i don't see why not. i had no idea that air/hydr rams were so cheap either, if i could add it to a jd2 for ~$100 that seems like a no-brainer. i guess i could basically get a jd2 and make a mount similar to the gottrikes one and run air/hydr and that would keep me from having to drill a bunch of big holes and buy pins and all that.

 

[sixstringsteve]

do they make their own dies or use others? it doesn't really say.

They use Pro-tools dies


* sorry, I missed the part about not wanting to do hydro.

 

[I Lean]

If you're looking at the Model 3, also look at the Model 32. I haven't looked in a while, but when they first introduced it the price difference was only $50 or something. Not too much more money, but a lot beefier bender.

If you already have dies for a Mod3 though, I don't think they're interchangeable.

 

[benjy]

Started with a model 32 mounted to the garage floor. I really didn't mind manual bending at all, but when we moved I didn't want to mount it in the new garage floor, so i picked up the air/hydro kit from swag offroad. It was super easy to assemble, and now I don't have to worry about running out of space, I can roll it out on to the driveway to bend if I need the space

 

[Herzog]

Here ya go. Model 3 with a haborfreight hydro ram stuck to it. Got it on sale for $70 and used some scrap steel to get it together.

Can't go wrong with the model 3. I made a mount to a receiver hitch for it (because I didn't have the space to floor mount it) and used it that way for a long time before turning it hydro.

 

[N-Smooth]

i built a receiver mount for my uncle's model 3 back in the day, it worked pretty well. right now i am leaning towards a model 3 or 32 and adding hydro, maybe even making it vertical. i'll talk to my buddy about it since it will be going in his shop. thanks for the opinions guys

 

[Venture13]

JD benders are very effective. The dies cost more than the bender sometimes.. Having full hydro gives the option to have a moving stand. Always lube those dies with WD40, keeps gouging down and streak marks away..

 

[I Lean]

JD benders are very effective. The dies cost more than the bender sometimes.. Having full hydro gives the option to have a moving stand. Always lube those dies with WD40, keeps gouging down and streak marks away..

I like to use spray-on white lithium grease instead--makes me feel like I'm lubricating it more. It also sticks better than WD.

 

[N-Smooth]

bringing this back! does anyone know of any deals? it looks like the jd2 model 3 and pro tools 105 are the same price and they seem comparable as well. i have $600 to spend

 

[airmanwilliams]

build a gottrikes.com one like what I have,you can do it pretty much out of scrap stuff alot of guys have. It uses the pro-tools 105 dies. 1tontom just used mine for his front and rear bumpers on his bronco and it did great.

 

[STAG]

contact Ilean, he may (or may not) be able to help you out now...

 

[airmanwilliams]

If you want to check it out im sure you could see it at toms place in west bountiful or I can pick it up and you can see it at my work in bountiful.

 

[N-Smooth]

i don't see how it would fit within my budget of $600. i can barely get the bender, handle, degree ring and one die for that price.

If you want to check it out im sure you could see it at toms place in west bountiful or I can pick it up and you can see it at my work in bountiful.