Here is the deal, I just got my Millermatic 175, and now I want to start some fabrication on my truck.

My first thought was to go with all round tubing, but www.pro-tools.com just quoted me:
Parts cost $435.00
Freight cost $47.19
For:
MODEL 105 mechanical tube bender
1-1/2" 6" 120 DEG die set

That is way too expensive for my amount of use.
I would only do that if I thought I could do some work for other people too, and recoup some of the cost…thing is every other Joe is fabricating...

One option would be to go with 1 1/2" tube and have it bend for me. I have no idea what this would cost or who would do it.

Another option would be to get a $100 or less PIPE bender and live with a little kinking, and stretching.

Last option would be to go with square stock.

I know that I am not the only one that has reached this crossroad, and would like to hear from the collective on this one.

Here is a list of what I want to fabricate:

front bumper
rear bumper
sliders
roll cage (long term).

I might just buy a weld kit for the roll cage, and fab the rest with square stock.

Your thoughts?

Don't do it if your not going to do it right

Sounds like your most cost effective choice would be square stock for the bumpers and rockers, and a weld in kit for the cage.

Buy the tubing bender, make your stuff. Then sell the bender on the board. Or split the price with a buddy. Better to do it right, or you will be sorry.

I am sorry of you thought I was trying to cut conners ;)

Doing it "right" does NOT require buying the equipment.

I could buy weld kits, or have them made by a shop.

I was was just providing options.

The buy the bender and sell it was not on my list.

Originally posted by geargrinder
Buy the tubing bender, make your stuff. Then sell the bender on the board. Or split the price with a buddy. Better to do it right, or you will be sorry.

Yea I'll buy it after your done :D for half price...

I bought a JD2 bender for a little over 500 bucks, with a 1.75 die. Two months later, it's still in the box, waiting for me to build a table. I'm going to do it right, plus with the amount of bending I'm planning on doing, rather do it myself. I also have a couple of ideas that I haven't seen anywhere else to make a little money for myself off of the thing. Get it, you won't regret it.

All he's gotta do for now is make bumpers and sliders, what's wrong with square stock for that?
Depending on what rig he has, there are plenty of companies making weld in cages who've already spent the time to get the bends and cuts right. Its cool to design and fabricate a cage yourself, but its a lot of work. His time is money too, and from what he's got and what he wants it seems the most cost effective option is square stock for the armor and a cage kit.
Its not like he's going to make more cages and sell them. Buying a tube bender for a one shot project when you can get the kit and save many, many hours for the same or less than the bender (tops) doesn't make sense.

Originally posted by Lucy's Driver
All he's gotta do for now is make bumpers and sliders, what's wrong with square stock for that?
Depending on what rig he has, there are plenty of companies making weld in cages who've already spent the time to get the bends and cuts right. Its cool to design and fabricate a cage yourself, but its a lot of work. His time is money too, and from what he's got and what he wants it seems the most cost effective option is square stock for the armor and a cage kit.
Its not like he's going to make more cages and sell them. Buying a tube bender for a one shot project when you can get the kit and save many, many hours for the same or less than the bender (tops) doesn't make sense.

Word.