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what pipe benders are people using?

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:20 pm
by auspwr
hey guys,

looking into buying a pipe bender, so what types are you using?

im in melbourne so if your from meblourne where you get yours from?

price of the unit?, what does it looks like?, how well does it work? (picture of bend), what sizes does it do? just the normal facts.

if anyone could give me a hand, would be awesome.

cheers daniel

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:30 pm
by jimbo jones

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:07 am
by bigcam
i have the pro tools 105, it will bend up to 3" depending on the die set you are using, the bender isnt all that expensive but the dies are about 500 a pop, it bends perfectly and can do 180 degree bends for shock hoops etc. is is very similar in operation and design to the JD model 3 bender.

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:56 pm
by lump_a_charcoal
I think there is one for sale in the for sale section here...

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:33 pm
by auspwr
bigcam,

did you buy your bender from the states? or is there a wholesaler in oz.

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:26 pm
by bubs
auspwr wrote:bigcam,

did you buy your bender from the states? or is there a wholesaler in oz.
If you look in 1 of the older dirt comp mags there was a place is SA advertising as a dealer.

I have a JD2 Model 3 from pete at OPW

Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:35 am
by bru21
bubs wrote:
auspwr wrote:bigcam,

did you buy your bender from the states? or is there a wholesaler in oz.
If you look in 1 of the older dirt comp mags there was a place is SA advertising as a dealer.

I have a JD2 Model 3 from pete at OPW
Same here bubs.

I was going to go for the model 4 but ended up buying the 3. Very happy with it so far. 200% easier than the speedwerx to use as It works in the horizontal plane - very important when doing roll hoops by your self.

Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:52 am
by brooksy
Hydro Model 4 JD2. Absolutely effortless except for viewing the datum mark for the bends on the dies above 1.75". The 2.5" die is almost impossible to see your set-up mark on the die.


brooksy

Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 1:10 pm
by bigcam
bought mine second hand, has seen alot of use, seeing the mark is a challenge sometimes but i found if its difficult and critical then using some tape to mark the tube then sliding in the die til it stops (gently) works well too. as for local dealers for protools, an email to them should clear it up but i would think if buying new the JD from OPW would be very close in price, they are local and i have only ever heard good things about the service from pete, if i didnt find the one i had cheap at the time i would have gone to OPW.

Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:42 pm
by kinglakekustoms
Just ordered the Pro Tools bender last week :armsup: , was $1500 to my door , including a die set of my choice and all the other goodies that come with the package, cant wait to see how it works.
I think there prices just went up, best bet is to just email Pro Tools if going that way, they are very easy to deal with.

If ordering anything from the states might be best to hold off untile the dollar rises again.

Muzza

Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:04 pm
by bigcam
what die did you get muzza? i have a 44.5 and 32mm.

Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:45 pm
by bubs
brooksy wrote:Hydro Model 4 JD2. Absolutely effortless except for viewing the datum mark for the bends on the dies above 1.75". The 2.5" die is almost impossible to see your set-up mark on the die.


brooksy
after doing some 180* 1.5" dom hoops this week I want that hydro :lol:

as everyone who buys these tools will under stand, it is the dies which are the killer

Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:33 pm
by ian1974
Iam going to have a go at making this tube bender... air hydrolic ram

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

Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:12 am
by bru21
bubs wrote:
brooksy wrote:Hydro Model 4 JD2. Absolutely effortless except for viewing the datum mark for the bends on the dies above 1.75". The 2.5" die is almost impossible to see your set-up mark on the die.


brooksy
after doing some 180* 1.5" dom hoops this week I want that hydro :lol:

as everyone who buys these tools will under stand, it is the dies which are the killer
How long is you lever bar bubs? I have been bending a bit of 44mm 2.6 wall DOM no worries.

I find it easier without hydro as it allows for springback and the bends are exact

Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:33 am
by ofr57
with the jd2 and alike is there any problems with doing more than one bend on a single plain ... EG. the pipe twisting between bends

Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:04 pm
by bru21
ofr57 wrote:with the jd2 and alike is there any problems with doing more than one bend on a single plain ... EG. the pipe twisting between bends
no the tube doesn't twist. speedwerk did on my 2" die and the follower bar can track out of line. I always work out each bend as I go as Its far more accurate as you don't get accumulative error. use a plane of bend clamp and an angle meter

Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:22 pm
by WICKED
bru21 wrote:
bubs wrote: after doing some 180* 1.5" dom hoops this week I want that hydro :lol:
How long is you lever bar bubs? I have been bending a bit of 44mm 2.6 wall DOM no worries.

I find it easier without hydro as it allows for springback and the bends are exact
Have you ever seen Bub's? The lever would be as tall as him! :finger:

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:36 am
by Fathillbilly
this is what i have been using for the last 7 years.

really there is nothing to say

http://www.ercolina-usa.com/megabender.htm

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 1:12 pm
by bubs
WICKED wrote:
bru21 wrote:
bubs wrote: after doing some 180* 1.5" dom hoops this week I want that hydro :lol:
How long is you lever bar bubs? I have been bending a bit of 44mm 2.6 wall DOM no worries.

I find it easier without hydro as it allows for springback and the bends are exact
Have you ever seen Bub's? The lever would be as tall as him! :finger:
not quite, almost :finger:

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:07 pm
by booflux
Same as Bubs but I havent actually used it yet :D

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:47 am
by A1
Fathillbilly wrote:this is what i have been using for the last 7 years.

really there is nothing to say

http://www.ercolina-usa.com/megabender.htm

We purchased a 050KD Economy Top Bender , and recently also got the 2 axis positioner http://www.ercolina-usa.com/maca40p.htm these machince are Swheeet :D and just in time for my needs :twisted: all I need is to buy the Tube kit as we currently have the Pipe kit set of dies .

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 11:37 am
by AFeral
I'm about to buy a Pro tools bender from the states. I've done a fair bit research they seem to be the best on the market.

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 12:09 pm
by Slunnie
bubs wrote:
auspwr wrote:bigcam,

did you buy your bender from the states? or is there a wholesaler in oz.
If you look in 1 of the older dirt comp mags there was a place is SA advertising as a dealer.

I have a JD2 Model 3 from pete at OPW
Do you know what wall the JD2 model3 will do in 2" or is it more a matter of how strong you are?

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 12:19 pm
by lump_a_charcoal
Do most of the hydraulic die type benders deform the pipe?

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:48 pm
by Bush65
Slunnie wrote:
bubs wrote:
auspwr wrote:bigcam,

did you buy your bender from the states? or is there a wholesaler in oz.
If you look in 1 of the older dirt comp mags there was a place is SA advertising as a dealer.

I have a JD2 Model 3 from pete at OPW
Do you know what wall the JD2 model3 will do in 2" or is it more a matter of how strong you are?
I have a JD2 Model 3. I found Pete at OPW great to deal with.

The different dies are made in for different radii bends. The tighter the radius, the greater the wall thickness needed to avoid buckling.

The dies I have are the tight radius 1-1/2" and 2" but I haven't bent any thick wall 2" yet.

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:30 pm
by sudso
Has anyone tried bending thick wall high tensile pipe in any of these benders? If so does it work ok?

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:15 pm
by bubs
Slunnie wrote:
bubs wrote:
auspwr wrote:bigcam,

did you buy your bender from the states? or is there a wholesaler in oz.
If you look in 1 of the older dirt comp mags there was a place is SA advertising as a dealer.

I have a JD2 Model 3 from pete at OPW
Do you know what wall the JD2 model3 will do in 2" or is it more a matter of how strong you are?
On paper it should, I have done 1 3/4" 180* before, the biggest problem I find is spring back after about 130*

i dont have 2" dies yet just 1.25" 1.5" and 1.75"

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:51 pm
by yimmy
i made this tube bender with the plans off www.gottrikes.com, it takes a time to make but i think it's worth it, steel was about $150, i got the air/hydraulic ram from harbor freight $198 inc postage. dies from pro tool usa 1'1/2 inch and 1'3/4 x 240 degree (so you can bend 180 degree) $1000 inc postage.

Image

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:35 pm
by ian1974
yimmy wrote:i made this tube bender with the plans off www.gottrikes.com, it takes a time to make but i think it's worth it, steel was about $150, i got the air/hydraulic ram from harbor freight $198 inc postage. dies from pro tool usa 1'1/2 inch and 1'3/4 x 240 degree (so you can bend 180 degree) $1000 inc postage.

Image
doing the same...what did you use for the pins?

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:58 pm
by yimmy
i just got some bright high tensile bar, cut to size and machined a concave in one end (for grip). you only need 1" od x 9" long and 7/8" od x 10" long, the rest of the pins come with the dies. i payed $15 for the bar at my local machining shop