A little metal fabrication project

[dennishoddy]

Thanks.
I used a harbor freight hand operated bender on my first set of bumpers. The trick is to keep the pipe from smashing. I tried everything including filling them with sand and welding caps on each end to make the bend. That helped but I never got the hang of it. Those type of benders bend from the middle of the bend. The jd2 and most other tube benders bend from the end of the die and wrap around it as it bends. It's a lot easier to calculate and mark your tube to start and end you bends.

So your using a Mandrel bender? I've not done anything larger than 1" pipe to date, and it did that well. The unit can go up to 3". Mine is designed for pipe, there are some for conduit, but I suspect you already know that, looking at the quality of the bends on your job.

 

[DPI]

DPI are you any good with tubing? Do you tig weld?

I need a set of fender exit headers built for my car.!!

I've never messed with less than .120 wall tubing and the buddy's 350 amp Lincoln tig went back to his house a while ago.

 

[DPI]

So your using a Mandrel bender? I've not done anything larger than 1" pipe to date, and it did that well. The unit can go up to 3". Mine is designed for pipe, there are some for conduit, but I suspect you already know that, looking at the quality of the bends on your job.

The jd2 model 4 is a rotary draw bender, I do not use it as a mandrel bender. I think to say mandrel, something like a steel ball, plug or sand has to be in the tube to help stop deformation. I believe the type you have and I have used before is called a press bender.

From WIKI
Press Bender:Probably will be the first bending process used on cold pipes and tubing. In this process a die in the shape of the bend is pressed against the pipe forcing the pipe to fit the shape of the bend. Because the pipe is not supported internally there is some deformation of the shape of the pipe giving an ovular cross section. This process is used where a consistent cross section of the pipe is not required. Although a single die can produce various shapes, it only works for one size tube and radius.

Rotary Draw:Rotary draw bending (RDB) is a precise technology, since it bends using tooling or "die sets" which have a constant center line radius (CLR), alternatively indicated as Mean Bending Radius (Rm). Often a positioning index table (IDX) is attached to the bender allowing the operator to reproduce complex bends which can have multiple bends and differing planes. Rotary draw benders are the most popular machines for use in bending tube, pipe and solids for applications like: handrails, frames, motor vehicle roll cages, handles, lines and much more.

Here's the stock pic of the JD2 Model 4 I use.

 

[Perplexed]

I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned the One and Only Bender: