Help with metal bending

[com1]

Hey guys I’ve been looking at getting a metal bender lately for some auto work and general projects. Would mostly replace the ancient vise, heat and hammer or miter cuts and welding that I use presently use. I looked at HF but don't prefer offshore tools. I found some hydraulic ones, but those are way outside of my price range, especially considering the accessories. Not going to do production stuff at all either. I found these ones http://www.metalbendingtool.com
Anyone have any "direct" experience with these benders or something else I should use? Looks like they are USA made and have a full warranty which I like.

Thanks for the help

[MMW]

I have the offshore one like you posted. Mine is labeled "Realgear" & purchased at my LWS on sale for $79 or $99? I have had it for maybe 10 years & it has done everything they say it will do. Seems to be good quality. I would recommend it. Sorry I have no info on the exact one you posted.

[piniongear]

If all you plan on bending is flat strap and solid rod, say to make brackets and such, then the $99 offshore bender is going to do the job fine.
I have a Harbor Freight $99 bender that I have owned/used for the past 10 years and it does what it was designed for.

Now if you plan to bend tubing you need another type of bender.
Tube requires you to use dies for the correct diameter tube to prevent flattening the tube as it is bent.
This type of bender is going to cost you $400 and much higher if you have to buy multiple dies.
It will cost a small fortune if you require hydraulics for the bender.
And no...... There are no short cuts here.
pg

[aametalmaster]

I too have an HF bender at home and at work. Always said you can't wear them out but my work one has had the holes repaired already. Anyways if you have provisions to make one here are some plans. I made 3 of them...Bob http://kinzers.com/don/MachineTools/bender/

[R W]

How To Make a Metal-Bending Machine. R.D. Mann.
Craft Print No 272
Both these contain good plans and ideas.

[hemogoblin]

Hi,

I do not have one of the ones you lined to, do but have a Hossfeld No.2 and a Hossfeld No.1. In the past I had a JD2 bender. The one you link looks like a Hossfeld knock off. It also looks like it has a limited die set which is very big limitation. The cost of there larger units is not all that much less than the more established makes.

If I was looking for a general metal bender that can do it all, I'd look for a Hossfeld (new or used). If I was looking to do just tubing, the JD2 type bender is a much more convenient design. There are other makes of that design if you do a google search for "Tubing bender".

Good luck.

[Steve83]

Tube requires you to use dies for the correct diameter tube to prevent flattening the tube as it is bent.
This type of bender is going to cost you $400 and much higher if you have to buy multiple dies.
It will cost a small fortune if you require hydraulics for the bender.
And no...... There are no short cuts here.

Actually, there are several...

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/951950-homemade-hydraulic-chain-driven-bender.html

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/2222369-help-electric-hydraulic-conversion-rogue-fab-bender.html

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/978231-home-made-belt-griner-notcher.html

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/1432290-another-hf-jack-bender-design.html

[Frostyman]

Not a big fan of HF ("horrible freight").
Occasionally might find some basic stuff that's worthy of service, but generally it's a bunch of crappy junk that has the appearance of shop tools.
I occasionally use an old DiArco bender, but more often, for 90* bends, I use a custom built "C" frame hydraulic press. This press is little more than some scrap beam sections welded together and a 12ton hydraulic bottle jack pressing two mating 6" heavy angle sections together. Not the best, cheap, but really gets the job done.

[Portable Welder]

MSC gave me one to test and gave a write up on it years ago, I make all kinds of things with mine and love it, well worth $ 129.00