Topic: Harbor Frieght pipe bender

[Willy Mammoth]

Don't make the mistake of lubing the die, it will only cause the pipe to kink because it looses grip on the die and wants to lift out of the center and kink. The larger the pipe the more it will want to flatten out and kink.

Most of what I have bent has been 1 1/2"  1 1/4" and 1/2" sch 40.

[Intrepidyota]

Don't make the mistake of lubing the die, it will only cause the pipe to kink because it looses grip on the die and wants to lift out of the center and kink. The larger the pipe the more it will want to flatten out and kink.

Most of what I have bent has been 1 1/2"  1 1/4" and 1/2" sch 40.

The black kind.

The key is to make sure the weld seam is on the inside of the bend and GO SLOW.  You must have patience otherwise the pipe will flatten out on you.

Yep and put the rollers all the way out and stick a bunched up rag between the pipe and rollers to keep from denting the pipe.  I have only bent 1.25" pipe.

Where were you all with this advice back when I started working on my cage?   

[BigBs84]

I had some stuff from Thialand that kinked real bad but the china pipe seams to be alright. I put the seam facing me just at the lip on the die and it seems to be working great. Also if you ever do pony up and buy a spendy bender you will have some good experiance and knowledge of bending.

[BigBs84]

learning how to bend pipe

[unclejpl4x4 [OP]]

ok so
1 US pipe
2. stay under 1 1/2
3 do slow
4. seam in
5.No lube
6.
7. sch 40   what ever that means

[KYOTA]

This is pretty darn close to a full 90.

now take a set of calipers and measure the width of the pipe as if it were still in the die, once outside the bend towards the end to get a good baseline measurement and once right in the middle of the bend. It has flattened, you can see the inside of the bend where the pipe is kinking. but hey if thats what you got more power to ya, I built a bumper with one and it turned out good, but knew the limit (to maintain a round pipe) was less than 90* bends. That bender was used once and I chalk it up to lesson learned, what I had and needed at the time (a simple bumper for simple wheeling). I now own a pro tools 105 HD to get better quality bends using real tube to build protection for hardcore wheeling

[KYOTA]

ok so
1 US pipe
2. stay under 1 1/2
3 do slow
4. seam in
5.No lube
6.
7. sch 40   what ever that means

schedule 40 will be fine, "schedule" 40,80 or 160 are  the pipes spec data referring to its pressure ratings, as a liquid carrying vessel. its a bumper or whatever dont worry about the schedule #'s.

#8 on your list should be : duct tape one end of the pipe, fill with water ( FULL!) and tape the other end then bend. this will act as the pipe being solid and help reduce flattening.

[Gittinit]

I bought and tried using a pipe bender. After a weeks worth of usless effort I gave it away, and bought a quality bender. That is one decision  I'm glad I made.

If you can make it work your a more patient man than I. 

[Willy Mammoth]

schedule 40 will be fine, "schedule" 40,80 or 160 are  the pipes spec data referring to its pressure ratings, as a liquid carrying vessel. its a bumper or whatever dont worry about the schedule #'s.

#8 on your list should be : duct tape one end of the pipe, fill with water ( FULL!) and tape the other end then bend. this will act as the pipe being solid and help reduce flattening.

Water is not a solid and will leak through even the best duct tape job especially under pressure. I you want to try to support the inside of the pipe, use tightly packed sand and try welding caps on the ends.

[KYOTA]

Water is not a solid and will leak through even the best duct tape job especially under pressure. I you want to try to support the inside of the pipe, use tightly packed sand and try welding caps on the ends.

 never said it was what I said was "this will act as the pipe being solid and help reduce flattening".  I used sand first which was a PITA and sloooooooow, then tape and water worked fine. meh whatev I use a real bender now so fill it with unicorns and sunbeams for all i care 

[Willy Mammoth]

never said it was what I said was "this will act as the pipe being solid and help reduce flattening".  I used sand first which was a PITA and sloooooooow, then tape and water worked fine. meh whatev I use a real bender now so fill it with unicorns and sunbeams for all i care 

I have never tried water or sand and would much rather use my Pro Tools 105 like you, but that is not what this thread is about.

"Unicorns and sunbeams"   

[Talon84x4]

I've used the 12 ton with success but wouldn't use it on a cage or anything meant to save your life. 

[KDXSR5]

I've used the 12 ton with success but wouldn't use it on a cage or anything meant to save your life. 

This is pretty much the idea I gathered with the searching I have done on this subject. Also, I would not use pipe for a roll cage, I would use tube. Tube is meant to be structural, pipe is meant to carry liquids/gases.

[KYOTA]

and with this we begin the 20 page debate on tube vs pipe 

[KDXSR5]

and with this we begin the 20 page debate on tube vs pipe 

[CTENG in KS]

PIPE IS FOR POOP!

Someone had to say it.

[jarboarder1]

The black kind.

The key is to make sure the weld seam is on the inside of the bend and GO SLOW.  You must have patience otherwise the pipe will flatten out on you.

So what happens when you want to make multiple bends on one piece of pipe if you need the weld on the inside?

[KDXSR5]

So what happens when you want to make multiple bends on one piece of pipe if you need the weld on the inside?

You use tube.

[Ramrod]

tubes for fags............if you actually thought you were going to have the patience to bend up a full cage by bumping the little jack on one of those benders you need to set down the meth pipe

[unclejpl4x4 [OP]]

play nice guys

[KDXSR5]

tubes for fags

Can you please explain to me why this is?

[Intrepidyota]

tubes for f*gs............if you actually thought you were going to have the patience to bend up a full cage by bumping the little jack on one of those benders you need to set down the meth pipe

Said meth pipe is the only thing that kept me going on mine. I found that the only thing worse than bending with a pipe bender is notching a whole cage with a chop saw. 

I've used the 12 ton with success but wouldn't use it on a cage or anything meant to save your life. 

Clearly you would know since you have had a pipe cage fail. I got $100 right here that says my pipe cage holds up to many more rolls than your stock roof.   

[84_yota_4wd]

Ok i have personaly used that bender alot. Me and my familyvrace circle track and we used to bend the cages and bumpers with this.

The trick is a torch heat it up till its glowing and then bend real slow and make sure you have it set up right and you will be fine.

[crawlerdan]

i bent up my bumpers and sliders with one.....then sent it to CT

go slow and pay attention thats all

[CTENG in KS]

Yes I have the official crawlerdan tested and approved version.

Your bender will more than likely NOT be as pimp as mine.

[Talon84x4]

Clearly you would know since you have had a pipe cage fail. I got $100 right here that says my pipe cage holds up to many more rolls than your stock roof.   

I'm sure it does i'm not arguing that point, yeah I could build a pipe cage it it would hold up much better than a stock roof but the same could be said for many things. Never said i built one and had it fail but i'll take advice when it's given. Clearly that was just my  and not fact so to each his own.

[crawlerdan]

Yes I have the official crawlerdan tested and approved version.

Your bender will more than likely NOT be as pimp as mine.

true that 

[Knute]

well i dont think any harbor freight benders are worth the time, i have broke two of them and its hard to get any thig done when its broke. just paying the extra money is well worth it that s what i had to do.

[madhunt]

wow bend how you please, if you have alot of money buy the jd2, if you are broke like the rest of us buy harbor, just dont forget the 12pk to go with eithier bender, you will need it.

[Gittinit]

wow bend how you please, if you have alot of money buy the jd2, if you are broke like the rest of us buy harbor, just dont forget the 12pk to go with eithier bender, you will need it.

Like this one
 http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/6614,243_3rd-Generation-Speedway-Hydraulic-Round-Pipe-Bender.html which I have seen in action and it makes beautiful bends.

If I were doing it over again I would prolly go this route. I love my JDmodel2, but it was pricy at a time when money was very tight. The dies for my bender are also expensive, and that is part of the reason I only have the one die years after my inital purchase.
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76007