Guest Aguyandaredhead Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 I am not going to pay someone 2 times what I can buy a bender for just to bend a few of the tubes for my 240. I have built a few cages in my past and I have the ability to tig or mig it in myself so Damnit I'm gonna buy one. The question is Do I buy it and then after I am done with it try and get all my money out of it, or find like 3 people who are in somewhat close proximity to me and all go in on it together. I will need it for 2 weeks and then i'll be done. So if there is any interest lets hear it. It is either going to be a Pro tools or JD square bender with a 1 5/8" die so the price will be like 500.00 plus some freight. If anyone here has one they are done with Speak up if you want to sell it, I'm gonna buy soon.. Pro's and Con's Please. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 I'm going to try and make one. There's a guy at blindchicken racing (http://www.blindchickenracing.com/tools/Tube%20Bender/Tubingbender.htm) that has pics of one. There's several just like it on ebay at any given moment (too $$$). Uses a long slide piece against a die instead of just a die and flat. I might be interested in a sort of pyramid scheme where several people agree to buy the thing at the end of each use - maybe amoritize usage by lopping $30-50 off the price each time. As in, you buy the thing (for $600 or whatever), use it, then I paypal you some dime ($550 + shipping) and you ship it to me. I use it and then someone else buys it from me (for $505 + shipping - it's a percentage thing). I need a 1 3/4 die though (although I do have 1 5/8 tubing also - planning to mix the 2). Could solve the die problem easy enough - the next person could buy the die req'd or both. I'm like you, I only need the thing for a few weeks and then it'll just sit, consuming capital that could be better used for more car parts (or track time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aguyandaredhead Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Thats not a bad idea. Maybe we should try that. If we could get even say 5 people in on this I would even buy out the guy at the end and still own it after everyone is done..then I could maybe Rent it for a nominal fee to HybirdZ members as long as it was for a disclosed amount of time. Basically it would take a few people to get this started and then I think it would take off.. Either way I am going to be purchasing one. I gave some thought to building that same one you mentioned but I think after parts and hyd cyl then the die the price would be almost as much. Spread the work and maybe we can get this idea rollin.. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToplessZ Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 I might be up for jumping into the loop I wonder how much it would cost to ship the thing everytime though probably like a 100 bucks that kinda sucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Actually I'd be interested in it when you guys are done with it. I'll chip in if I can get some guarantee that I'd get it in the end... Or else I'll just build one. And Jeromio, Check the rules for any of the events/ clubs you might possibly be interested in using the car with... Mixing tubing is a no go for at least the Silver state challenge and most of the open road type events. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillZ260 Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Guy, could we use it to build an exhaust system? I bought a prebuilt rollbar so I don't need it for anything like that. Just wondering if there was anyway to utilize it's time in this area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid240z Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 I found this one and a couple other ones at harborfreight.com http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=35336 Are these any good? Marcos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Matt (HBSKINHEAD) and I are supposed to chip in on the Harbor Freight bender, but it's the one that only goes up to 2.5 inches. Hey, Marcos, you're in So Cal, let's all get together and chip in for the 3" capacity bender. Matt and I are in Huntington Beach. Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Nope. Harbor Freight sells a PIPE bender, Roll cages and exhausts are made of steel TUBE. PIPE and TUBE are different materials, the geometry of the machines to bend them are different. http://www.oceanmachinery.com/how-to-bend-pipe-and-tube.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid240z Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Hey Owen, I'm down for chipping in on a good pipe bender. Trevor makes a good point. Is the harbor freight one good enough or do we need a better one. Let me know. Marcos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aguyandaredhead Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 OK it sounds like we have some intrest. I will take on the task of trying to keep track of who wants to maybe participate in this deal. Lets start thinking obout how to best facilitate making this work. I bet shipping would be around 40-50 bucks if you provide your own stand. I plan on making mine from a piece of I-beam that has 1/2 plate at top and bottom so I can bolt it to the concrete floor in my shop. So if all is needed is to ship the die (if you need the same one) and the bender and the handle then I should think it is going to be reasonable. I Kinda had the same idea as you Mike that I would end up with it in the end but I guess that was just for the sake of paying the last guy back when he was through. So I really dont mind if you would like to have it. I think there needs to be some serious thought put into a plan to make sure everyone who gets it does not just sit on it and take forever.. Ok if you are interested Email me directly so I can keep a record of who is in need, I think we then should set it up so the next person in line paypal's to the one in front of him and so on. I think my Email is in my profile but if it is not you can just PM me instead. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 The Harbor Freight Bender CANNOT be used for anything except iron pipe for use in plumbing. Trust me, I know. I bought one. My cage is going to be 1 3/4 for the main hoops and then 1 5/8 for diagonals and some miscellaneous cross bracing. I got 1 3/4 DOM to be on the safe side of the rule book. Seems some say 1 5/8, others say 1 3/4. So the most important parts will be thicker. I would need the bender for 3-4 weeks to be on the safe side. I mean, I could say 2 weeks, but I know something would come up. I doubt shipping would be more than $50 if the correct carrier is used - in otherwords, something like R&L Carriers or possibly FedEx Freight where they're used to hauling heavy items. This auction shows shipping at $40. I am definitely down with this. I vote for the Pro-tools bender. I know the other one is good (read good things about it from others on other boards), but I just think the Pro-tools unit with that follower bar is gonna work better. Anybody else need the 1 3/4 die, or is it just me? If so, I guess I could just buy the die set for 1 3/4 and then sell it to whoever needs it. Also, I will very likely have lots of tubing left over if anyone is looking for DOM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 I have the harbor freight bender and if you use it for ONLY about a 30 degree bend, you won't deform the tubing, but forget doing a main hoop.... Anything more and it just abused the tubing... Crushing it... I may just buy a real tubing bender outright... Mike 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 The next big tool investment I make is going to be the JD2 bender. Probably 3 die sets as I have 3 cars I want to cage. Check out williams low buck tools for their fish mouth shear. Seems the Ol' joint jigger is cheaper, but once you start buying (and using!) hole saws, it gets expensive fast. The chromemoly cage in my buddy's 90 Camaro used 12 hole saws if memory serves. At $15 each gets expensive quick. The JD2 Model 3 bender is priced at $266 right now for bender and optional degree wheel. Add one die set and it is $375 plus shipping. It is 1/2 steel so probably ships truck freight. I haven't decided on manual or hydraulic yet. Probaly manual and 1 3/4 die first. I want to re-do the 2" cage in my Jimmy, but might decide 1 3/4 would be OK if padded. With the top off could look stupid with too small a tube... I want to do the Z and my Camaro as well. Probably could do 1 5/8 in both of them but am considering 1 5/8 for the Z and 1 3/4 camaro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aguyandaredhead Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 Just curious how you came up with a price below 400.00 with one die. If you price it at 266.00 plus what they show for the price of a die, which is like 200.00 then you are well over 400.00. I am not disputing I just know I priced it out on their site just the other day.. So did you reply to this post just to express your approval of the JD2 unit or are you interested in this possible deal to make a bender available to many members. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 Damn, the HF bender sux huh? I'm poor enough already, even with splitting the cost with other people! Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HBskinheadZ Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 That sux, we are talking about the orange HF hydralic bender that goes to 2" arent we? I just want it to bend main hoop and cage not a 3" exhaust. I would rather buy some 3" 90s than bend them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 Yeah, people who've used the Harbor Freight unit please let us know. Does it really suck that bad? They're cheap enough that I could get one on my own without splitting it, but if it's crap then I won't get one at all. Anyone ever done or know anyone who's the DIY bender? Really all you'd need is a torch, some sand that doesn't have any moisture in it, and a jig and you could bend your own. Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 I love harbour freight, sorry to post irrelevant to topic. paid 9.99 for spring compressors, used them, and saw metal chips flying all over the place and the rod starting bending a little bit. as soon as I got both sides out, I threw them in the garbage with them still attached to the spring, for 10.00, ill just buy another set when it comes time to them again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 ha ha! reminds me of my pickle fork, damn thing bent the prongs in opposite directions first time I used it! Still, I find myself strangely attracted to their ads every week and find myself in their stores without really remembering how I got there.... Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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