dies for pipe/tube benders

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I got this enerpac pipe bender, works fine.  From my reading the diffence between the two... Pipe vs. Tube benders is the dies don't match the OD  correctly.  For ex: a 1 1/2" pipe is measured I.D. and a tube is measured O.D. so they aren't the same size... correct me here, I'm learning this stuff?  So, IF you had a die and follower  the correct size for a tube... and put it in a pipe bender it'd work ok? thanks, not the first time I've been confusedLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Yes, it would work. Also, many pipe/ tube sizes are interchangeable, or so close, they work without issue. A 1" pipe will ALMOST fit in a 1-1/4" tube die. Conversely, a 1-1/4" tube WILL fit a pipe die just fine, and will pull with no kinks.  If the 1-1/4" tube die has some slop, the pipe will likely fit and pull cleanly.A 1-1/4" PIPE die is the equal of a 1-5/8" tube die. The pipe and tube are interchangeable, within a couple thousandths in dia.A 1-1/2" PIPE will fit well into a 2" tube die. The pipe is about 1.9" dia, and you do not get bad slipping and kinking. A 2" pipe might...fit a 1-1/2" pipe die, depending on how much slop the die has.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:thanks Rojo, helps clear things up... I tried some lightweight tube and of course it crushed it... Next I'm going to to get a gauge so I know the pressures as it goes thru and hopefully that'll make it easier to get a smooth bend.  With 1 1/2" pipe it goes very nicely, so maybe? a 2" tube would also use that die.  Do you know if the surface condition is very important or just so so. These are used but not beat. I can take the big Makita buffer to them with cutting and buffing compounds and probably make them like glass. Do U think it matters a lot?  .Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Where's the pics?  Certain styles of benders work better for tube than others.My name's not Jim....
Reply:manana  I'll snap some close ups  of the dies and the bends of tube and pipe . thanks muchps: By the by, I thought Specter was a moderator or even Zapster?  They say some keen things once in awhile. I been reading some odd threads of no account anyways... lot I know, sheesh. I couldn't get banned for putting up pics of baby goats right... I mean everyone loves goats... well BBQ'ed anywho, 'specially if UR invitedLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Thats a very common misconception. Pipe is not measured ID, the wall thickness will vary depending on its schedule and the OD will always stay the same. 1" pipe will not measure 1" ID anywhere from schedule 10 to 160.
Reply:Enclosed are pics#1: two pretty decent bends with heavy pipe  approx 2"  and a fairly good fit to a die.#2: two failures with thin wall tube approx 2" and 1 1/2" O.D.#3  1 1/2" and 2" dies#4  tube bender frame in the bench and locked down with allen head set screws. It is solid, doesn't move. Hydraulics aren't there of course, but I have the motor driven unit with foot pedal and the handcrank unit too. Attached ImagesLast edited by PapaLion; 04-02-2010 at 08:45 PM.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Better stick to 1/8" wall and up.  The thicker, the better.  That's my experience anyway with that style bender.My name's not Jim....
Reply:The bender you have is a pipe bender and should be used with pipe not tube.  The bender pushes on the tube rather than wrapping it around the tube.  Thinner wall tube is going to dent in the center of the bender much easier than thicker wall.  From looking at the pics I would recommend checking to see if the pipe fits the radius die tight.  If not this can cause the bend to fail also.Benders that wrap the tube around the radius die (rotatory draw) engage the tube a little differently.  The die is shaped in a way to push in on the tube to help hold it's shape.  In other words the die is a little smaller than the tube.  When the tube is pressed into the die it does not allow the tube to egg out.Hope this helps.Dan"I Build Stuff"www.jmrmfg.comwww.509media.com
Reply:yes, that helps... I'm going to get some sample pieces of various sizes and see what I can do.  The old owner took a piece of 1 5/8" galvanized tube and bent it 90 degrees easily with no problems except a very minor warping on the inside curve, plenty ok for gates and such... course he had used this thing for years.   Your explaination makes good sense, because that is exactly what happens, it crimps the center right off... The motor driven hydraulics I think are worth more than the unit by a long shot so ... this means I would need a "tube bender" too,  aw gee maybe I  gotta go look for another toolShould I polish the dies? or lube the area to be bent maybe? thanks Dan.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:You can fill the tube with mildly wet sand (very compact), and that should help from kinking it.See the following:[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWT3N3m4bE4[/ame]The Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:Sheesh there's some work to get a bend huh?  I'd use a plumbers plug like they use to test leaking in plumbing to seal an end?   Well Dan had the thing figured, it is the way this thing pushes that causes the problem... so a tube bender is made to work differently. I'm still going to try working with it.. hard headed German guy,  but I expect creasing instead of smooth bends.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:I  dug around on the net last week and found this sitehttp://www.toolsforbending.com/In the ~Literature~ section there is a place to order a Tube & Pipe Bending ManualThey sent it promptly and it is VERY thorough on types of benders, methods, etc.  I learned a lot! To be fair they use this to promote selling very sophisticated bending tools to big time customers... which I'm not, I'm a hobbyist trying to learn.  But, it exists and you could get one if you are learning as I am. enjoy, PapaLionLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Yes you should use a lube on the dies, a spray type grease will work best. You can bend tube on that machine it just requires the right dies. Again, tube and pipe are measured differently. Good luck