Tubing Benders and Notchers?

[PilotAustin]

What kind of benders and notchers do yall use and what are your thoughts on them?

[it usually runs fine]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...N%3DB003BZQVMWThis is what alot of guys here have. It takes a little longer than a jd2000000, but I have helped with some very nice cages. The guy I helped has one for 1 1/2 and another for 1 3/4. He paid like $250 for his though.

[SB406]

Pro Tools Model 105HD. Air over Hydro. I'd never waste my time with anything less than air over Hydro in a small shop. Since I don't have to pull on a handle, it doesn't need to be mounted to the floor. I have mine mounted to a 16" wheel, and I can move it around.
I'm not sure which model my notcher is. I bought it used. Prior to buying this one, I used a modified HF notcher for a couple of cages.

[rstrucks]

At home I use the Model 3 JD2 manual bender along with a TN-100 notcher. At work we use the Model 32 JD2 hydraulic bender and the Notchmaster.

I like both of them as they are essentially the same thing. The Model 32 can bend heavier wall tubing and it's easier to operate. Like SB406 said, not having to mount a hydraulic bender to the floor is really nice. I have also used a cheapo tube notcher with decent results. You can also use a chop saw to get real close to the correct notch most of the time. A flap wheel equipped grinder works too, just takes longer.

[ATL ZJ]

I prefer doing 75% + of my notches with a grinder or chop saw especially if the notch is in a bend or a compound notch that meets a node. But for plain 90 degree and simple angle notches a notcher really shines.

[paulkeith]

pro tools 105 HD manual. lots of pushing and pulling. for notching i used a grizzly something thing off of amazon for a few years, since stepping up to the plasma i use a 1.75" pipemaster, quick plasma, and flap to clean and bevel. probably 4-5x faster than the notcher.

[CrawlerReady]

pro tools 105 HD manual. lots of pushing and pulling. for notching i used a grizzly something thing off of amazon for a few years, since stepping up to the plasma i use a 1.75" pipemaster, quick plasma, and flap to clean and bevel. probably 4-5x faster than the notcher.

This is exactly how I do it. Pipemaster and plasma is awesome.

[ATL ZJ]

definitely have a quench bucket handy if you plasma notch or grinder notch. makes it MUCH easier to handle the material for cleanup and fitment

[paulkeith]

As a disclaimer, flash cooling steel will harden and embrittle it....BUT, we are probably not dealing with temperatures high enough to cause problems. In either case, I had always heard to avoid it doing it.

In my experience, my plasma puts so little heat into the tube anyway that I can handle freshly notched cuts pretty quickly. Cleaning the notch up with the flap wheel probably puts just as much heat in.

IMHO.

[ATL ZJ]

Can't be any worse than dropping parts in the snow working outside in 25 degree weather good to know though, for more critical parts. For tabs and gussets, etc. I could care less about the minimal strength loss.

[CrawlerReady]

I never flash cool any welds, but here and there I'll flash cool tabs I cut and hit with a grinder.

[zjfabn]

I picked up a model 3 from m-tech supply. It's been in the garage 7 years.. It's nice, I don't need a gym membership.
I also use two angle grinders to notch. I cut a V as close as I can to where it needs to be notched then I flap disk it round with the other grinder. Unless you have a plasma, I found this to be the best method.

[SB406]

I used to do the chop saw notch thing. I also tried the print out paper jobbies. Both methods worked fine. Then I discovered the notcher. One note- Good hole saws and a powerful drill make the difference with a notcher. I run Lennox hole saws. I only plasma notches when they're wierd/ beyond the limits of my notcher.

[paulkeith]

i got tired of listening to the drill press scrape away with the notcher. i used lenox hole saws and still sat there for what felt like 10 straight minutes. with a plasma + flap, i'm done so much faster.

[zjeepin]

www.tubetek.net

This is the bender I use.. Its a local one man that manufactures these things. He uses alot of common sense designs that really reduce cost..plus he doesn't advertise so that keeps his cost down too. He also has a bracket he sells to mount the harbor freight air over hyd cylinder to his bender so you can have air/hyd for less than $200.. FWIW I am very impressed with this bender, especially for the price..

[PilotAustin]

Thanks for all the input. Soon to be building the contraption below!!

Ill be looking into the tubetek one for sure. Always love to help out small businesses. As for a notcher, still undecided. Ill be aquiring a plasma soon so more than likely be notching with it.

[cklanish]

I have a jmr sportsman with air/hydro conversion and a junk hf notcher to work right but since I got my plasma and bend tech pro I use the templates and my plasma to notch.