This is What needs to be modified to make a HF bender work right

[MaxxXJ]

This post is for those who can't afford a JD2, I'm not saying you should build a cage, this is just what needs to be done to fix its kinking flaw

Ok so I know everyone will flame this thread about how these are the most worthless POS pipe/tube kinkers in the world and that no one should trust the bends... Ok well I'm poor and can't afford a JD2, my brother and I split costs on a HF bender, it bent like crap at first it kinked and dented everything I tried to bend...

Well I did a google search and found a super easy quick fix for it. I was skeptical at first but I was more than impressed once it bent a great 90 degree bend with no kinks or flattening of the pipe

Anyway... So I drilled a hole in the die, then i bent some flat strap the width of the die like this and drilled and welded a bolt to the top

Then I cut 3 strips of pipe/tube that would fit around the pipe/tube being bent. You use these at all 3 contact points 1 at each roller and 1 in the middle for the bolt that holds the pipe in the die. This is to keep it from denting at the rollers and the middle is to keep the pipe/tube in the die and not pop out and kink.

Here is the result of almost a full 90 degree bend out of this POS HF bender

This is to show it didnt flatten out and egg shape

Hopefully for those who can't afford an expensive bender but still want the chance to learn with a cheap bender making bumpers roof racks etc... This is a much cheaper option than buying a jd2 and having to sell your soul for 1 die.

 

[bails85]

Pics of tube being setup in bender before being bent?

 

[MaxxXJ]

Ill snap some for ya tomorrow morning When I get to the shop

Also, here's a video that I didnt make but where I got my idea from
http://youtu.be/ZlSnVSrWg0M

 

[CobraMarty]

Have you ever tried to fill the tube/pipe with sand and cap it and then try and bend it?

 

[MaxxXJ]

Have you ever tried to fill the tube/pipe with sand and cap it and then try and bend it?

Nope, the problem is that it won't stay down in the die, once it gets bent so far, it slips out of the die, whichs causes the top to flatten and kink the pipe, sand could help but this way is faster than filling with sand, tack the caps on the ends, bend it, grind the caps off, dump the sand... This way is just slide the pipe in, put the 1/3 sleeves Into position, snug down the bolt, Get to bending.

I did learn that after it starts to bend, go back to the bolt in the middle and snug it down again, once it slips into the die it loosens up a little

 

[MaxxXJ]

Pics of tube being setup in bender before being bent?

 

[AJTorris]

why the piece of tubing on the rollers?

 

[MaxxXJ]

why the piece of tubing on the rollers?

To keep it from denting your tube it's a wider footprint basically

 

[mako my day]

Thanks for this, looks good.

I thought you were going to post a pic of a trashcan.

 

[garrett83]

That's pretty cool you got it to work. Do you still have to pry the tube off the die?

 

[MaxxXJ]

That's pretty cool you got it to work. Do you still have to pry the tube off the die?

I did notice it was stuck a little bit but nothing I had to pry, I'm going to round the edges to see if it keeps it from sticking, just a thought, I was using schedule 40 pipe, not tube, the OD's are different than tube and that could be why yours sticks.

Someone might be able to help me out here but I couldn't find any information as to the difference (other than OD/ID and seam vs seamless) between tube and pipe, I use seamless pipe and haven't had any issues.

 

[garrett83]

http://www.zookpower.ca/forums/showthread.php?4593-Pipe-VS-Tube-Tech

Some light toilet reading material.