Built a bender out of a cheap press

87xjco · Jan 28, 2006

Built a bender out of steel and a Harbor Freight 12 ton press. I first purchased the "Pro tools" radius die, follower die, pivot pin and shaft, and the follower die roller and pin

It was a bit of trial and error on building the top yoke that the radius die swivels on. When I built the yoke I did not have the cross bar on it. I found that as I started putting pressure on it, the yoke was twisting towards the input side and would bind. The cross bar was added to help prevent that, and then it worked well. You can't see in this photo the two pieces of steel that are welded to the back of the crossbar that keep the yoke from moving.

Worked good but when first starting to bend the pipe it takes alot of pressure (20 ton press would be better suited for this). But once it starts bending it goes pretty easy.

This was 1 3/4" HREW .120 wall tubing

Craig96_XJ · Jan 28, 2006

this goes right along with the "if i cant afford it, i will make it" strategy...

good job, hope it works out well... BTW, how much you got in that contraption?

87xjco · Jan 30, 2006

About $325 not counting the press. Not a great money savings especially if you don't already own the press. But it was alot quicker for me to build it this way than to build a homemade frame for the die and parts I had bought. Mainly because the frame would of had many 1" holes to drill through 1/2" plate.

sixditchoffroad · Feb 14, 2006

Ha, I have that same press, all I need to do now is buy "Pro tools" radius die, follower die, pivot pin and shaft, and the follower die roller and pin.... But, could you tell me how you made the homemade frame for that? thanks gonz

87xjco · Feb 14, 2006

The base that the follower die rolls on

The roller is positioned just slightly higher than the plate that the follower die slides on

The yoke could be designed and made cleaner. I'll be redoing that, but it works fine. Started with a pipe that fits around the solid peg of the press, Welded flat plates on eack side. then welded pieces of tube to those that the pivot pin and sleeve would slide thru vertically, then welded a couple more pieces of flat steel turned 90 degrees to the first pieces of flat steel for support. Then cut a hole in the cross brace so it would fit around the yoke and tubes and welded it to the yoke, then some tabs on the end of the cross brace to keep it centered in the press.

Wiley Coyote · Feb 15, 2006

You’re my hero! Being a cheap b*****d myself, there’s nothing more that I like than seeing someone build a tool out of nothing. :thumbup: Add one of these to it (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41487) and it’s as close to a fully automatic pipe bender as you can get. Any chance I can talk you into relocating to Georgia so I can use it on weekends? :laugh3:

87xjco · Feb 15, 2006

I like the idea of adding the air/hydraulic jack to it. Georgia though.....nah.

RCP Phx · Feb 16, 2006

Ive got the same press and the JD bender,it would take all day long to get the press to do what a couple of manual pulls would do!

Boostn · Apr 19, 2006

Where did u get that roller from? I am trying to figure out what die parts I need from pro-tools.com

David Taylor · Apr 19, 2006

Can you go past a 90degree bend ?

Goatman · Apr 19, 2006

The dies are the expensive part. Buying the bender without the dies is pretty cheap. Nice idea, and glad it works for you, but it's barely a cost savings and looks like much more of a hassle to use.

87xjco · Apr 19, 2006

Boostn said:
Where did u get that roller from? I am trying to figure out what die parts I need from pro-tools.com

The roller is available from pro tools

David Taylor said:
Can you go past a 90degree bend ?

No

Goatman said:
The dies are the expensive part. Buying the bender without the dies is pretty cheap. Nice idea, and glad it works for you, but it's barely a cost savings and looks like much more of a hassle to use.

True, if I hadn't got the dies from a member who was going to build his own press and then decided to buy a used one instead, it would not have been near as cost effective.

waxer · May 8, 2006

Good ingenuity, but its lacks in many ways compared to a real bender.

1) Time consuming to make

2) Time consuming to use

3) Won't bend greater than 90 degrees (yikes)

4) Looks as if its not setup for die changes.

Fullsizexj · May 8, 2006

You know you can get a JD2 model 3 with a stand and 1 die with a degree wheel and handle for $425.00 with is alot cheaper than the route you went since you payed $325.00 just for the die parts and had to buy a press on top of that, check it out
http://www.vansantent.com/model_3_bender.htm

waxer · May 8, 2006

Fullsizexj said:
You know you can get a JD2 model 3 with a stand and 1 die with a degree wheel and handle for $425.00 with is alot cheaper than the route you went since you payed $325.00 just for the die parts and had to buy a press on top of that, check it out
http://www.vansantent.com/model_3_bender.htm

That does NOT come with the die. Everything else minus the die for $429,

"Deluxe Model 3 Tube Bender Kit - Save
Includes Model 3 Bender with degree ring, floor pedestal, magnetic base pointer, and CNC machined handle
"

Fullsizexj · May 8, 2006

They used to sell it with one die set of your choice, I know when I bought it, I got one with it, just gotta keep checking back because they do it all the time, I also got the hydro for mine and saved $400.00 on it because they have sales all the time, just gotta keep a look out for it is all

Built a bender out of a cheap press

87xjco

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Craig96_XJ

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87xjco

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sixditchoffroad

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87xjco

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Wiley Coyote

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87xjco

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RCP Phx

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Boostn

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David Taylor

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Goatman

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87xjco

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waxer

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Fullsizexj

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waxer

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Fullsizexj

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