Harbor Freght Pipe Bender

Matt_Meiser · 10-26-2006, 08:08 AM

A few of the projects I want to do involve bending up some tubing--a brush guard for my JD 4110, bumper for my Mule. I've read conflicting advise on the $69-on-sale Harbor Freight pipe bender. Now I understand that its not going to bend muffler pipe, nor do I want it to, but how does it work on say 1/16" or 1/8" wall tubing?

What other alternatives are there without spending big $$$?

Berniep · 10-26-2006, 08:28 AM

I did a little research a while back and found out that you really need a bender that has dies that support both sides of the pipe to get good quality repeatable bends. This is the cheapest ready made unit I found Model 3 tubing bender by JD2
at about 300 bucks for the manual bender plus anywhere from 115 to 300 dollars for a set of dies for one size pipe. The price varies depending on the minimum thickness and what radius you want. If you do a search for "diy tubing bender" you will find people who have made their own with purchased dies and even some who have made dies from pulleys and such.

psj12 · 10-26-2006, 09:22 AM

I found a 16 ton and 12 ton hydraulic bender at HF that are advertised to bend exhaust pipe and solid square or roud stock. they are 159.99 and 74.99 respectively.

AlanB · 10-26-2006, 10:19 AM

When you use the words tube, you exclude yourself from the HF pipe bender.

Water pipe, Yes, does fine, a tubing bender is a different animal though.

Best I have seen or heard of is the stuff from Williams Low Buck tools. Plug that into google and it will bring him up. He also has a very easy to read explanation of why, and what is the difference. His stuff is top notch. I want the tubing notcher in the worst way, just do not want to spend the money.

Anyway, I have the bender from "lockdown securities" who have changed names dozens of times (it seems) I forget what they are called now, and actually, I think I bought it before they were lockdown securities. I have the square tubing 1" die for mine and it works well, but gives you a suck bend.

My dad has one made in Ocala Fl, I cannot remember the name, but it is a dude, and bends tubing really well. I can run down the name if needed.

A Hossfield is the real deal, just bring money.

Matt_Meiser · 10-26-2006, 11:12 AM

I noticed the Low-Buck 3/4" tube bender on Williams' site. That might be sufficent for most things I would likely want to bend. Too bad its not 1" which I'm certain would be good for me.

3/4 Lowbuck Tubing Bender

RonMar · 10-26-2006, 01:05 PM

The harbor freight bender works OK on thick wall pipe such as .125 wall 1" and heavier wall 1 1/2" and 2". I have even used it to do some small(nothing greater than about 30 degree) bends on 1" .125 wall box tube to make a spray tank trailer frame and arched rails which also worked OK. Anything thinwall is going to wrinkle the skin on the inside of the bend radius as the dies are not a tollerance fit to support the sides of the tube and force the stretch/compression of the inner and outer radius sidewalls that are required for a smooth bend. I was going to experiment with a tube packed with sand, but havn't got around to it.

HomeBrew2 · 10-26-2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonMar

... I was going to experiment with a tube packed with sand, but havn't got around to it.

Me too, on both counts. Maybe this current topic will be incentive for one or more of us to try this weekend

AlanB · 10-26-2006, 01:27 PM

If you are willing to go to that effort it will work.

Brownells gunsmithing supplies has some lead type stuff that melts at like 150f. You melt that stuff and pour it in, bend it around anyway you want, heat it back up and pour it out.

It is really neat stuff.

On the cheap note, if you know anyone in the hospital supply section, the stuff that is in the package around the radioactive isotopes is supposed to be the same stuff.

I clicked on that link above, I think I have the model 1 and that is the newer updated one, I have the one that HF copied and you can get now for about $70.

Here is the lowbuck I was mentioning / speaking about. Goes up to 1 3/4 or so.

Williams Lowbuck Tools, Inc. Tubing Bender

Matt_Meiser · 10-26-2006, 01:40 PM

I saw that one. It is a little more than I want to spend. I did a Google search on 1" tubing bender and stumbled across this auction on Ebay:

eBay: Compact Metal Tube Bender - Bend 1" Tubing (item 160042118059 end time Oct-25-06 12:27:54 PDT)

Shipping is pretty expensive, but then I found he sells the dies separately, which look like they would fit this bender at Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=44094

The HF bender is on sale for $49.99 or something like that. With shipping, the dies are under $200. He sells different die sets up to 1-1/4.

AlanB · 10-26-2006, 01:59 PM

That is the bender I have (the one on e-bay) I know that business sold and moved around a couple of times. Maybe it is one of the "old" guys.

I can bend the 1" square tube, but when you went bigger you needed their #2 I think it was, that had the ratchet type deal leverage multiplier like was shown earlier. The U part was bigger then the original.

While it may look identical, I would be careful that what you are seeing on e-bay is not the #2 with the bigger U piece and the dies are sized accordingly and would not work in the HF one.

Having to jog my memory some here, but these guys are the one's mine is from.

Shop Outfitters Metal Bending Tools Tube and Pipe Bending

Good stuff.

10-26-2006, 08:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Matt_Meiser Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 83	Harbor Freght Pipe Bender A few of the projects I want to do involve bending up some tubing--a brush guard for my JD 4110, bumper for my Mule. I've read conflicting advise on the $69-on-sale Harbor Freight pipe bender. Now I understand that its not going to bend muffler pipe, nor do I want it to, but how does it work on say 1/16" or 1/8" wall tubing? What other alternatives are there without spending big $$$?

10-26-2006, 08:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
Berniep Gold Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Greensburg IN Posts: 498	Re: Harbor Freght Pipe Bender I did a little research a while back and found out that you really need a bender that has dies that support both sides of the pipe to get good quality repeatable bends. This is the cheapest ready made unit I found Model 3 tubing bender by JD2 at about 300 bucks for the manual bender plus anywhere from 115 to 300 dollars for a set of dies for one size pipe. The price varies depending on the minimum thickness and what radius you want. If you do a search for "diy tubing bender" you will find people who have made their own with purchased dies and even some who have made dies from pulleys and such. __________________ Bernie

10-26-2006, 09:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
psj12 Silver Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maryland, tractor in OK Posts: 133	Re: Harbor Freght Pipe Bender I found a 16 ton and 12 ton hydraulic bender at HF that are advertised to bend exhaust pipe and solid square or roud stock. they are 159.99 and 74.99 respectively.

10-26-2006, 10:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
AlanB Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clarksville, TN, USA Posts: 2,030	Re: Harbor Freght Pipe Bender When you use the words tube, you exclude yourself from the HF pipe bender. Water pipe, Yes, does fine, a tubing bender is a different animal though. Best I have seen or heard of is the stuff from Williams Low Buck tools. Plug that into google and it will bring him up. He also has a very easy to read explanation of why, and what is the difference. His stuff is top notch. I want the tubing notcher in the worst way, just do not want to spend the money. Anyway, I have the bender from "lockdown securities" who have changed names dozens of times (it seems) I forget what they are called now, and actually, I think I bought it before they were lockdown securities. I have the square tubing 1" die for mine and it works well, but gives you a suck bend. My dad has one made in Ocala Fl, I cannot remember the name, but it is a dude, and bends tubing really well. I can run down the name if needed. A Hossfield is the real deal, just bring money.

10-26-2006, 11:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
Matt_Meiser Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 83	Re: Harbor Freght Pipe Bender I noticed the Low-Buck 3/4" tube bender on Williams' site. That might be sufficent for most things I would likely want to bend. Too bad its not 1" which I'm certain would be good for me. 3/4 Lowbuck Tubing Bender

10-26-2006, 01:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
RonMar Veteran Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Port Angeles WA Posts: 1,862	Re: Harbor Freght Pipe Bender The harbor freight bender works OK on thick wall pipe such as .125 wall 1" and heavier wall 1 1/2" and 2". I have even used it to do some small(nothing greater than about 30 degree) bends on 1" .125 wall box tube to make a spray tank trailer frame and arched rails which also worked OK. Anything thinwall is going to wrinkle the skin on the inside of the bend radius as the dies are not a tollerance fit to support the sides of the tube and force the stretch/compression of the inner and outer radius sidewalls that are required for a smooth bend. I was going to experiment with a tube packed with sand, but havn't got around to it. __________________ Ron

10-26-2006, 01:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
AlanB Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clarksville, TN, USA Posts: 2,030	Re: Harbor Freght Pipe Bender If you are willing to go to that effort it will work. Brownells gunsmithing supplies has some lead type stuff that melts at like 150f. You melt that stuff and pour it in, bend it around anyway you want, heat it back up and pour it out. It is really neat stuff. On the cheap note, if you know anyone in the hospital supply section, the stuff that is in the package around the radioactive isotopes is supposed to be the same stuff. I clicked on that link above, I think I have the model 1 and that is the newer updated one, I have the one that HF copied and you can get now for about $70. Here is the lowbuck I was mentioning / speaking about. Goes up to 1 3/4 or so. Williams Lowbuck Tools, Inc. Tubing Bender

10-26-2006, 01:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
Matt_Meiser Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 83	Re: Harbor Freght Pipe Bender I saw that one. It is a little more than I want to spend. I did a Google search on 1" tubing bender and stumbled across this auction on Ebay: eBay: Compact Metal Tube Bender - Bend 1" Tubing (item 160042118059 end time Oct-25-06 12:27:54 PDT) Shipping is pretty expensive, but then I found he sells the dies separately, which look like they would fit this bender at Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=44094 The HF bender is on sale for $49.99 or something like that. With shipping, the dies are under $200. He sells different die sets up to 1-1/4.

10-26-2006, 01:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
AlanB Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clarksville, TN, USA Posts: 2,030	Re: Harbor Freght Pipe Bender That is the bender I have (the one on e-bay) I know that business sold and moved around a couple of times. Maybe it is one of the "old" guys. I can bend the 1" square tube, but when you went bigger you needed their #2 I think it was, that had the ratchet type deal leverage multiplier like was shown earlier. The U part was bigger then the original. While it may look identical, I would be careful that what you are seeing on e-bay is not the #2 with the bigger U piece and the dies are sized accordingly and would not work in the HF one. Having to jog my memory some here, but these guys are the one's mine is from. Shop Outfitters Metal Bending Tools Tube and Pipe Bending Good stuff.

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