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FortCollinsZJ
09-23-2009, 12:25 AM
For anyone shopping for a tube bender

I had shopped for quite some time looking for just the right bender, looking for the best bang for the buck, after discovering the Gottrikes bender, I. knew it was the right choice for me.

I bought plans for 17.00 and got to work.
I spent around 130.00 for material, cut and drilled it all at home using only a good smaller drillpress and a 14" chop saw.

I then bought a HF air/hydro ram for 80.00 and needed only a die to get to work. This bender used ProTools dies. Tim Green has the best pricing for these dies I was able to find, he is a vendor for them on Pirate.

So for considerably less than a bought unit, I now have a bender! I have used it only a hand full of times but it works awesome! A freind of mine has a JMR bender, and it is a PITA to get tube into by yourself, my verticle bender makes it alot easier to load the tube.


So for any of you that might be looking to buy a bender, just look around first and see if you want to make one as I did.


Oh and Cody, this ones for you!


http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa231/NEILZJ/Tube%20Bender/Image007.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa231/NEILZJ/Image004-3.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa231/NEILZJ/Image005-1.jpg

grandf4
09-23-2009, 01:36 AM
That looks slick. Do you have any links for where you got the plans and dies?

Thanks

FortCollinsZJ
09-23-2009, 01:49 AM
Here are the plans to buy:
http://www.gottrikes.com/Tube_Bender.htm

And here is the best place to get dies, VERY good prices, you find it cheaper, he'll match the price.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=797473

zj95
09-23-2009, 01:53 AM
Mind telling us how much total project cost was? looks awesome. great job

FortCollinsZJ
09-23-2009, 02:07 AM
Well let me break it down, the only thing I forgot the exact total of was the damn steel, but I am within 10-20$


Plans: 17.00

Steel, includes all the cold roll plate, aswell as the 2x2 structural: 130+/-

Bushing kit from the plans site: 50.00 shipped ( he had a sale for the summer for 40$ instead of 60$ now)

Air/hydro ram form HF: 85.00 out the door (used a coupon and saved 15%)

Grade 8 1" bolt 12" shank: 14.00

Grade 8 7/8" bolt 12" shank: 11.00

I paid 235.00 for my 1.5 die shipped. Great deal! I have been borrowing a friends 1.75" die untill I buy my own.


So total I am at 222.00 for the bender WITHOUT the Air/Hydro ram.

With ram and 1.5" die= 542.00, so just under or colse to 550.00 for a bender with a air/hydro setup AND a die!

MoonWorks
09-23-2009, 08:35 AM
I've looked at those and have pretty much decided that I'll be going that route as well. That way you can easily take it to friends houses, move it if it's in the way, etc since it's portable. Plus its a good bit cheaper.

DJJordache
09-23-2009, 09:32 AM
nice setup!

canadian_driver
09-23-2009, 09:39 AM
i like. what limitations does a vertical bender have compared to the horizontal type

rstrucks
09-23-2009, 10:02 AM
Very cool. I like how small it is and that is has some wheels.

zj95maxx
09-23-2009, 10:15 AM
i like. what limitations does a vertical bender have compared to the horizontal type

A vertical style bender has very limited "kickout" to the side compared to a traditional bender.
It is very space friendly.
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This way you can run a 20 foot piece of tube from the door of your garage, to the bender, and bend away without having to worry about the tube hitting much.

Chances are the biggest thing you are going to bend is going to be a B pillar, or a A pillar running from the front of the jeep to the D pillar of the back of the jeep.

vertical benders are also easier to level.

I have found that with horizontal bending, unless I am using a POB(plane of bend) tool, the weight of the tube makes it hard to get the tube "eye level". If the tube was vertical, it would be much easier to get it level just by eye level.

Here is an xtreme 4x4 you can watch that talks about tube benders. It is a good watch if you are curious.
[URL]http://www.spike.com/full-episode/fabrication-beginner/33770 (http://www.spike.com/full-episode/fabrication-beginner/33770)

1fox2go
09-23-2009, 01:35 PM
Maxx how much was your bender for compairison

zj95maxx
09-23-2009, 01:44 PM
I have everything pictured here

http://www.vansantent.com/images/deluxekit.gif
On the site it is 429.95 for the deluxe bender.Includes Model 3 Bender with degree ring, floor pedestal, magnetic base pointer, and handle.

I have the 1 3/4 die with a 180 degree max bend and a 5.5 CLR. It is listed for 300 on the site, but I for sure didnt pay that much. I think it was 250 back in the day.

I got it all from a vendor though, so that saved me a bit.

grandf4
09-23-2009, 08:58 PM
Is this the ram you used? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94562

What radius dies do most of you guys use?

And I read somewhere that you can use a 1.5" die with 1.25" and 1.75" tube, is this true?

zj95maxx
09-23-2009, 09:01 PM
well. I don't know where I saw it, but if you have a 1.75 die. You can take a piece of 1.75 tube, bend it to the extent of the radius, then cut the tube in half, sand the edges down so its smooth, put the cut tube around the die, and then you can bend 1.5 inch tube.. I have never done it though.

I have a 1" die and a 1.75 inch die.. they are $$. Most people will either have a 1.5 or a 1.75 to start with, depending on what you like better. I am a fan of the 1.75".