Recommend a Small OD Bender (1/4" to 3/8")

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What do you recommend for bending 1/4" to 3/8" OD tube?  I plan to make a giant trellis for a kiwi vine I just planted.  I do own a JD2 Model 3 but the smallest die is 1/2" OD.I don't really want to spend more than $100.  This is cool but 4x my budget.MM180
Reply:Well if you had a buddy with a lathe he could whip you up a die in about an hour. I bend 3/8" sq tube in my 49 dollar HF bender all the time but there is a trick to it...BobBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...=tubing+benderhttp://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...3976_200353976http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...6024_200256024 I guess it just depends on how much you have to do....you can also get dies for the compact bender or other knock offshttp://www.metalbendingtool.com/prod...?idCategory=28
Reply:If you cap off the end of the tube with say duct tape or or anything, you can full the tube with sand. With the tube full of sand, you can work it around alot more without kinking as easy. I think I remember someone soaking the sand with used oil. I have never tried the oil trick, but plain sand works wonders.Maybe you won't have to buy a pipe bender, the sand would be pretty cheap or free.Last edited by Mark...; 05-05-2008 at 12:44 AM.
Reply:Very good, thank you.metalbendingtool.com -- sheesh, there really is a dot com for everything.MM180