Harbor Freight Tube Bender

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Has any one tried these benders from HF??http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44094or this one..http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=31980I think I want to buy one with this weekends 20% off coupon, but want some feedback.. I just want it to bend fancy $hit for gates, not actually bend tubes with it.. Anyone?Thanks,JasonMiller 252Miller 250Miller Syncrowave 250Esab Plasma Powercut 1250HF Basic oxy/act torches
Reply:i have the bench model that i mounted on a stand under my shop carport,, it took a while to figure out how to set up and use,, the manuals that come with HF products are the worst but the ones you can download from the item site are better.  it works great for bar and small flat stuff,, you can not bend pipe without making a jig that he indent the pipe so it doesn't crush! so it should work for your projects!   they have sales every now and then..along with the discount coupons... check ebay too!!!
Reply:where can ya get the 20% off coupon?
Reply:Here's a link to one- Also go to the HF site and register for couponshttp://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...3&keycode=0000
Reply:many thanks
Reply:i placed an order ,  jason, will let you know..
Reply:If you are having the tube crush on you, try filling the pipe with sand (packed very well) and cap both ends. This will keep the pipe from crunching on you so much. Grind tacks off of the caps and use your pipe!
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadi placed an order ,  jason, will let you know..
Reply:Originally Posted by El_LloydeoIf you are having the tube crush on you, try filling the pipe with sand (packed very well) and cap both ends. This will keep the pipe from crunching on you so much. Grind tacks off of the caps and use your pipe!
Reply:Yeah I guess you cant very well fill something solid with sand. If you ever have that problem while bending pipe, try the sand it does wonders. We used to have massive tubes that had to be rolled and would put lumber in them.
Reply:bender scroller picket twister....
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadbender scroller picket twister....
Reply:nearest store 80 miles away (albany ny) so ordered over net, waiting for truck,,will let  you know what i think when  it  comes..
Reply:Not to hi-jack this thread but has anyone tried heating steel tubing, rod, flat bar, prior to bending on this type machine.  I've seen these machines in use and they will definitely kink tubing/pipe.  I've also seen people use sand (and a couple of times ice) with mixes results.  I would think that heating would help but you would need to make sure to heat the whole section to be bent and heat it evenly.Any thoughts on this?
Reply:You don't need to heat Solid stock- that is the purpose of the bender- so you don't have to heat the material.It will not bend Tubing or Pipe because it does bot have Dies for the Tube to sit in.You need either a Tube bender-for Tube or a Pipe bender- for Pipe.These are Tube bendershttp://www.vansantent.com/tube_bending_machines.htmEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:So if you have 1" diameter pipe/tubing and a 1" die for round stock, it still won't bend the pipe/tubing - even using sand/heat?  While this is kind of like the phrase 'When your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail' it seems there ought to be a way to do both.
Reply:Originally Posted by reefera4mSo if you have 1" diameter pipe/tubing and a 1" die for round stock, it still won't bend the pipe/tubing - even using sand/heat?  While this is kind of like the phrase 'When your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail' it seems there ought to be a way to do both.
Reply:Shucky darns ;-(
Reply:it got delivered  when they said it would..one of the boxes a little beat up by fedex, but all the stuff  was ok..everything seems pretty substantial except the flimsy tubing  handle extension which connects with a pin and the flimsiest  clove pin i ever saw-- i will modify that when i get around to it.. but ill say the handle  was able to bend a piece of 5/8 round, see foto,,i  bought the bench    mount  model and now have a new project..some way to attach this to my metal stump, and store all the dies and scroll and twister...i never used one of these, it aint immediately obvious  how to do stuff. instructions were pretty good, on assembly and basic  tasks. also see scrolled piece of 3/16 x 3/4 flat.. gonna take some time to learn how to use it and what it can do.. my initial take is it aint a toy , it will work  and compared with  other stuff ive seen is   worth the money.. Attached Images
Reply:Great! Next weekend it will be on the shoping list!I was there today and bouht the 2 ton foldable engine hoist, have to swap a chassis on a jeep this week.It was on sale from 269.00 down to 179.00, a great deal! I also bought a new sray gun non hvlp, 19.99 not on sale.. There were hvpls on sale for 39.99 but the tip was to small I think for the type of paint I use.. Also want'nt looking for a "showroom finsih" from the gun so I went cheap! Bout some other misc stuff, sanding belts, another chipping hammer and another rod holder to keep in the truck..I was eye ballin' the auto darking helemts but was on the fende to buy it.. It was on sale for 49.00 I think or maybe it was 59.00.. Want one for the truck and leave my Miller at the shop.. Anyone have info on that helmet?The bends it bender made look great! For sure this weekend! Thank you for the post! Keep mr updated if you do anything more with it this week! Miller 252Miller 250Miller Syncrowave 250Esab Plasma Powercut 1250HF Basic oxy/act torches
Reply:FluxThis, if you are referring to the auto-dark helmet with the blue flames, I got it about 4 months ago for $49, I believe.  I wished I had bought it years ago, best thing going since bottled beer.  Buy it, you won't regret it.
Reply:Originally Posted by avgguyFluxThis, if you are referring to the auto-dark helmet with the blue flames, I got it about 4 months ago for $49, I believe.  I wished I had bought it years ago, best thing going since bottled beer.  Buy it, you won't regret it.
Reply:I have been really enjoying my American Bender. www.americanbender.com.  As it comes stock, it will do much more than the hf bender.  Bends sharp 90 degree in 1/4x4 inch cold, thicker with heat.  I had the hf bender for many years.  Not real precise for multiple bends, though it got me through some jobs.  Also, close proximity bends don't work well.  Many times I ended up making a specific bending jig for a project because the hf would not handle it.Sure has been worth the 20 times the price of the hf bender.
Reply:That is pretty spendy! I'm sure it's worth it..Miller 252Miller 250Miller Syncrowave 250Esab Plasma Powercut 1250HF Basic oxy/act torches
Reply:Asfar as the HF auto hoods go, I wasn't pleased with mine. It gave me headaches after a day of fabing, welding in the shop. I replaced the batteried during that very same day and even tried it later on, same result. It sat on the shelf for several months, ifnot a year or so, till my brother inquired about. I told him my experience with and he decided he'd take it and give it a whirl. A few months later, when he got around to buildin what he'd be planning to, he called and shared the same story with me and the same experience, headaches. He give it to his father in law laterthe blue-flame helmet is still on sale for $42 at their website or $40 at my local store. its a nice one too. i got an auto helmet to my door for $27 of ebay but i almost regretted it when i got to try out this one last week...http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91214
Reply:I don't know if Harbor Freight's auto hoods have changed any, but about 5 years ago I bought one and was not the least bit impressed.  The view was wavy and the shading was uneven.  It also had whacky sensitivity.  I took it back and bought a Jackson EQC at the local welding supply and couldn't be happier.  I bought a second one last year too.   Both work great.I have the Harbor Freight bender in the links in the first post.   It works only for flat, round or square stock, no tube or pipe.   I don't use it much, I find it's easier to bend stuff in the vice or beat it on the anvil than set up the bender to do it.  It is worth the $50 I paid for it though.   Have no idea how much they go for now.If you want to bend tubing, the JD Squared model 3 bender is about $350, plus $100 to $300 per die.Last edited by DesertRider33; 02-09-2009 at 02:05 PM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:paybacks are hell........
Reply:The helmet is on sale now for $39.99 .
Reply:I've used this bender for many years. It is a chinese knockoff of the original Shop Outfitters one, I believe.You can make other dies for it, but it will never do tubing great.The picket twister works fine - works on 1/2 square bar only.The scroll bender works fine. When I was doing a lot of this stuff I splurged on the Shop Outfitters bench mount. Then I ground out the slot in the HF one to accommodate 1/4". That'll give you a workout.If you weld a 3/16 scroll to a piece of angle, it makes a nice jig for bigger stuff. Heat up your 1/2 square in the forge, quick clamp it to your jig, and walk in a circle."We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities. "   - Oscar WildeMaxstar STL150Eagle CPM30 Bender
Reply:Hey guys,I have the bench model of this bender and it has come in very handy. With machined dies this model may be capable of bending small tubing. Probably would cost yea more to have one set of dies machined, then to buy the following tubing bender.If your looking to bend small diameter tubing here is a reasonable tubing bender. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...0437_200350437-----------------------------------------------------ThanksKenVan Ness BuildersboocrewproductionMidnight Haunters SocietyBeyond Midnight