When I get back to the lovely smogged covered Central Valley in a couple of days, I start working on setting up my bender. What I've got planned is a welding table 3'x4' using 1.75" square tubing for the legs and braces and 3/8" top. Is this good enough to mount the bender to and bend stuff manually without any problems, or do I need to drill and bolt to the concrete (renting)?

probably need to have it bolted to the ground. I used some 5/8" recessed concrete anchors (female type) I got from grangers and rented a concrete drill.

If you use the recessed anchors you can unbolt it when not in use and stash it in the corner of the shop. I put wheels on mine.

its got to be anchored. but you could mount it on a 4x8 sheet of 1/4 steel that you can stand on while you are bending at it should be fine.

I don't think the standing on the 1/4" sheet of 4x8 would work
too well..

As "Scottz" mentioned prior, those female type anchors are the
ticket. removable bolts. I'd use at least a 3/8" bolt-size x 4
mounting points for what you're attempting. (You could also use
cheap lag-shields in the concrete. only cost ya about 5 bucks for
about of 15 or so...

when it's time to move out, and "cover-up" your modifications you
made, try using some grey cemont expoxy adhesive and mix in
some concrete dust (make concrete dust using a regular grinder
on a hidden spot on the floor or sidewalk) mix up the dust with
the adhesive to better blend in and hide your holes in the floor.

PS: did anyone else know you can use white toothpaste to
cover up small holes in the walls on rentals when you need to
get more of your security deposit back?

--sherpa

Well, the wife ix-nayed the bolts in the concrete idea, so I guess I have to hydro. I was looking for a thread where if I remember right, someone had mounted their bender to a tow receiver. If anyone has any idea where the pics are, I'd appreciate it.

I think Dimitri used a bender that he mounted to the receiver hitch.

Yeah Dimi made for hitch-mount for his bender. I used it to help
Ant make a few of his bends at his house. IMO it's too hard to
use it that way, (It has to be sorta high-up to clear the pickup
bed and tailgate) so when you're pushing on the cheater-bender
handle, it's up in your chest. (Makes for a loooong day working
that sucker) Hey, if you're wife killed the hole-drill thing, just
fab up the hydro part and you'll be muhc happier with the end
result.

--Sherpa

JD2 #4 full hydro owner

Tell her you ix-nayed her ix-nay and drill the holes anyway. Four little 5/8" holes will barely be noticable. When you pull it to move out, just mix up a little mortor and patch 'em in.

Ok, I'm mounting my JD2 in a shop with limited space. The bender will be mounted only when in use. So, I want to use the flush mount inserts and plug them when the bender is stowed. Unfortunately, the local Home Depot only has the Red Head studs, no flush/female inserts. The only thing they had was the lag shield inserts. Biggest they had was 3"x1/2" (goes in a 3/4" hole). My question is, would 4 of these be enough to hold this thing? With a (roughly) 3' receiver tube on top of a 10 x 10 x 1/2 plate, and a 5 foot bar for leverage, that's a hell of allot of torque on that base. Should I just wait and get some good stuff on Monday, or would the lag shields work? Their cheap as dirt but, I don't want to have that thing working loose...

I also found another similar thread here (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29866&highlight=bender+concrete+mount) but no input from anyone who had actually used these things. I did notice that Sherpa said they should work but, I would feel better about using them if I knew someone had used them in a similar setup over time with no problems. If not, I guess I’ll wait till Monday and run down town to Copper State and get some good stuff.

The lag shield inserts will work fine. I have my Pro tools 105 mounted that way and I have done quite a bit of bending (4 cages and some crossmembers) and it has stayed tight. You can also put some washers between the floor and the stand to level it out if you need to. :D

I am ordering a bender next week. I plan to use my grinder/tool socket. I cored my shop floor. (buy core cutter holesaw and bolt drill press to floor, worked great) then I cemented in a 2" reciver stock, into the floor. My anvil, grinder stand, and vise, all fit this socket. works awesome. cost almost 50 bucks. You can rent coring machines but all they are, are small drill press's

Originally posted by Ultim8kaos
The lag shield inserts will work fine. I have my Pro tools 105 mounted that way and I have done quite a bit of bending (4 cages and some crossmembers) and it has stayed tight. You can also put some washers between the floor and the stand to level it out if you need to. :D
Cool, that's what I wanted to hear. Nothing like talking to someone with exactly the same setup that's been in use for a while to convince me. :D Thanks!

Originally posted by MdntRdr
Well, the wife ix-nayed the bolts in the concrete idea, so I guess I have to hydro. I was looking for a thread where if I remember right, someone had mounted their bender to a tow receiver. If anyone has any idea where the pics are, I'd appreciate it.

I've got mine mounted to my receiver. Here (http://home.attbi.com/~rokzuki/bender.htm) are some pics of it. I have since added an additional 2 leg support that slips into the end of the horizontal tube to support the weight better. As it turns out, it's much stronger than it needed to be (heavy as hell as a result).

http://home.attbi.com/~rokzuki/pics/bender1.jpg

I'm also renting, so I did this:

http://www.foleydevelopments.com/IM000371.jpg

JD2 with 1.5 x 5.5 x 180* die: $471
19.5" stroke, 8 ton air-hydro ram from harbor freight: $89
Casters from Home Depot: $47
Other shit: $50 or so


edit: FAWKIN CASE SENSITIVE IP's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by foley
I'm also renting, so I did this:

http://www.foleydevelopments.com/IM000371.jpg

JD2 with 1.5 x 5.5 x 180* die: $471
19.5" stroke, 8 ton air-hydro ram from harbor freight: $89
Casters from Home Depot: $47
Other shit: $50 or so


edit: FAWKIN CASE SENSITIVE IP's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got something similiar. I built a whole table, so I have some storage underneath, but the problem I've ran into is the $49 ram I got from Harbor Freight. It's the orange one. It doesn't seem to want to work laying parallel to the floor, I've even tried some advice from other people who've gotten it to work with no joy so far (I haven't actually bent any tube yet), so if it won't work that way, I'll just turn the table on it's side and run it that way.

Originally posted by BRBoudreaux


I've got something similiar. I built a whole table, so I have some storage underneath, but the problem I've ran into is the $49 ram I got from Harbor Freight. It's the orange one. It doesn't seem to want to work laying parallel to the floor, I've even tried some advice from other people who've gotten it to work with no joy so far (I haven't actually bent any tube yet), so if it won't work that way, I'll just turn the table on it's side and run it that way.

I had a similar problem, fired it up with no load on it and it stuck up in the air pretty quick, I pushed it back down, laid it on its side, and it only moved about six inches. After I picked up all the wrenches, hammers, scrap metal, and other shit I threw all over the shop while watching it push out 6" 3 times in a row I got smart.

Lay the ram on its side, rip the little rubber cap outta the side, and pour about a half quart of ATF in there,

Works fine now.

The ram is made to work vertically, so when its laid on its side it runs out of oil at the pickup.

Maximum bitchinnes would be to weld a reservoir on top of the ram so it could vent better and stuff, but mine works fine just being full. Just don't take the cap back off, it will blow shit everywhere from the residual pressure in the reservoir.

Hey Foley - got a few questions...


With 19.5" stroke on that ram, what is the max degree bend you can do without re-pinning the die?

With the air-over-hydro ram, what size compressor do you have running it, and does it bend well that way?

Also - how long does it take you to do a 90 degree bend?



I *finally* got around to putting my JD2 together this weekend, and am trying to figure out the best way to go hydro on it so I don;t have to drill the shop for the hard mount stand I built...

I get about 80* on the first shot, and about 150* on the second. I am wasting some of the stroke on the ram (about 3-4") cause I only had 1 die, so I didn't want to set the bender up too "tight" where none of the other size dies would work. You set the bender up now with 1.5" tube in it, and the arm on the bender swings out about 15* before it fully clamps the tube and starts bending it.

I have a craftsman 5.5 hp 33 gal compressor (the biggest one they make with the red horizontal tank) and it keeps up with the ram pretty easily.

I have not timed it, but I think it is probly in the 45 -60 sec range to push the ram all the way out. I have to make some small bends tonight, I will time them for ya if I remember.

Mike

Originally posted by foley

Lay the ram on its side, rip the little rubber cap outta the side, and pour about a half quart of ATF in there,


I did that also, except I just used hydro oil, but it still won't go. At least I built my table so I can turn it on it's side with the ram being vertical. Gonna be a bitch though. I welded the wheels on,so they are not coming off so easy and the dang thing with bender, ram and table all together must weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 lbs.

Your wife ix-nayed the idea? She shouldn't be out of the kitchen in the first place. She'd never notice four 5/8 holes in the floor now from there or the laundry room, right??

Originally posted by BRBoudreaux


I did that also, except I just used hydro oil, but it still won't go. At least I built my table so I can turn it on it's side with the ram being vertical.

Mine took filling, running out as far as it'd go, then refilling it again. My ram also had some bleeding instructions. They were pretty dumb though, "extend the ram, open the valve a maximum of 2 rotations, compress the ram, close the valve, repeat as necessary," or something retardedly obvious like that.

Originally posted by foley
I'm also renting, so I did this:

http://www.foleydevelopments.com/IM000371.jpg

JD2 with 1.5 x 5.5 x 180* die: $471
19.5" stroke, 8 ton air-hydro ram from harbor freight: $89
Casters from Home Depot: $47
Other shit: $50 or so


edit: FAWKIN CASE SENSITIVE IP's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

on your setup for the bender do you need to buy the mounting kit for the ram from jd2 or do you fabricate this for use with the specific ram?

You don't need the mounting kit from JD^2, but you will need to fab a mount for the base of the ram. The end of the ram that attaches to the swing arm of the bender should have a hole large enough for the stock JD^2 supplied bolt to fit through.

I built a similiar stand and used the same hydraulic jack. I built my own mount for it out of 2x2, 1/4 plate and a 3/4" bolt. It works great.

Originally posted by CoryL
You don't need the mounting kit from JD^2, but you will need to fab a mount for the base of the ram. The end of the ram that attaches to the swing arm of the bender should have a hole large enough for the stock JD^2 supplied bolt to fit through.

thank you. i didn't want to waste $85 on some thing that would only have a ver minimal cost to build

Just wanted to throw this out there. My brother did it, cost under 20 bucks to do and works great.

Originally posted by TyTy
Just wanted to throw this out there. My brother did it, cost under 20 bucks to do and works great.

I was thinking about doing something very simulare to this. My question is how well can you level the bender? Has being level been an issue for you?

I mounted mine fast and dirty. It does the job.... http://dreamwater.com/zuk/exorollbar.html

so do you guys think the degree ring is a waste of money if so what are you useing?

Originally posted by ZUK
I mounted mine fast and dirty. It does the job.... http://dreamwater.com/zuk/exorollbar.html

The final design of my mount is very similar to yours. The only difference is that it's used with my stock truck so I can have it closer to the bumper without hitting the truck (tubing sits higher than the bed).

As far as a degree ring. I don't have it and haven't really found a need for it. I just remember which notch I bent to if I need to make 2 bends the same degree. I also have made an "angle-o-meter" similar to Tinbender's (http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/bendin_tube/index.html)

As far as leveling, I just get it as close to level as possible. I have 2 magnetic degree levels. I put one on the die and one on the tube. Even if the bender is level, it's best to level the tube out to the die anyways.

Will these work alright??
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=NAVIGATION&CNTKEY=market%2fpg_zip_code.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@2143508352.1040025004@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckadcgmmhhlkicgelceffdfgidgnk.0&search_text=air%20tank&DRC=4

Originally posted by fjcruiser
Will these work alright??
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=NAVIGATION&CNTKEY=market%2fpg_zip_code.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@2143508352.1040025004@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckadcgmmhhlkicgelceffdfgidgnk.0&search_text=air%20tank&DRC=4

bad link.

sorry, on Home Depot's site:
homedept (http://www.homedepot.com)
Part:
Red Head® Anchors
1/2" Drop-In Anchor, Single Count
Model: #50126
SKU: #941983

Would those be alright?

I'm using the 3/8" right now and they seem to holding up to bending 1.75" .120 wall just fine. I put them in pretty deep. I was worried at 1st, but they seem to be working.

Good luck!

I use bottle jacks for pushing alot of diffrent things. If you lay them on their side, you have to put the pump(handle) side down. If not you will only be trying to pump air.

I made my JD2 full hydro with parts I picked up here and there. Simialr to Roktoy's. http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk3/bender/

I think in the hydro conversion, I have about $450-500. I did get the degree ring, I like it since I make alot of same bends. I use mine more for track stands then I do for cages. If you are always, or mainly, custom cages. I see no real need for the degree ring.

Not a good pic, but you get the idea.

Here is my "poor man's" hydraulic set up:

What's the specs on the air compressor?

Originally posted by BRBoudreaux
What's the specs on the air compressor?

Not enough, for sure. 2 HP with a 25 gal tank and a 100 PSI turn-off switch. More volume and pressure would be very beneficial.

Originally posted by foley
I'm also renting, so I did this:

http://www.foleydevelopments.com/IM000371.jpg

JD2 with 1.5 x 5.5 x 180* die: $471
19.5" stroke, 8 ton air-hydro ram from harbor freight: $89
Casters from Home Depot: $47
Other shit: $50 or so


edit: FAWKIN CASE SENSITIVE IP's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Foley I have searched Harbor freight's web site and called a local store and they can not locate a part number for the 19.5" stroke, 8 ton air-hydro ram from harbor freight: $89. Do you have the part number or sku number for it? I can find the hydraulic one but not the air-hydro. Thanks

Here's some pic of my buddies bender, jd2 model 3 with snow plow hydro hooked up to it .:D

Originally posted by jca


Foley I have searched Harbor freight's web site and called a local store and they can not locate a part number for the 19.5" stroke, 8 ton air-hydro ram from harbor freight: $89. Do you have the part number or sku number for it? I can find the hydraulic one but not the air-hydro. Thanks

Central Hydraulics Item # 43227

but I just searched their website and it is no longer listed... Possibly discontinued???

I think foley might be right, it could be discontinued. I bought one the first of december.

a guy on the board here bought one from www.maxtool.com, they sell the near identical air/hydro ram on one of their shop cranes. he paid $79.99 and it already comes with a mounting pivot point on the base of the ram. they don't seem to list the ram individually but will get you one if you call I think.

here's the link to it.

http://www.maxtool.com/cgi-bin/dbsearch.exe?mdb=\tools.mdb,DBTYPE=2000,tbl=IC_ITE MS,template=/4.htm,DBCOMP=ABS,ReturnMax=1,DB_ITEM=ME3088

- jack

How fast(or slow) is the air/hydro jack you are using(when you've got enought air volume)

Originally posted by zachv


Not enough, for sure. 2 HP with a 25 gal tank and a 100 PSI turn-off switch. More volume and pressure would be very beneficial.

Originally posted by broncorob
How fast(or slow) is the air/hydro jack you are using(when you've got enought air volume)



less than a minute for full stroke on mine.

Originally posted by jeepmaxx


I was thinking about doing something very simulare to this. My question is how well can you level the bender? Has being level been an issue for you?

Not really. You should ask my brother though (patooyee) he is the guy that measures, takes angles and shit. I just kinda do stuff and work with it until it comes out right:D (Seriously).

My signature line is, "Fawk it, it's fine."

We do use a level on the tube and it hasent seemed to be a problem.

Originally posted by morpheus
I think foley might be right, it could be discontinued. I bought one the first of december.

a guy on the board here bought one from www.maxtool.com, they sell the near identical air/hydro ram on one of their shop cranes. he paid $79.99 and it already comes with a mounting pivot point on the base of the ram. they don't seem to list the ram individually but will get you one if you call I think.

here's the link to it.

http://www.maxtool.com/cgi-bin/dbsearch.exe?mdb=\tools.mdb,DBTYPE=2000,tbl=IC_ITE MS,template=/4.htm,DBCOMP=ABS,ReturnMax=1,DB_ITEM=ME3088

- jack

This would be me and the ram works fine, but I don't have enough volume to get it to work fast--'bout 1 1/2 minutes for a 90 bend in 1 3/4" DOM.

I used it all day on Saturday and I can say the power is definitely there as I broke one of the two mounting bolts and bent my ram mount. Once we welded the bender to the frame and reinforced the ram mount we were off and going again.

Foley I have searched Harbor freight's web site and called a local store and they can not locate a part number for the 19.5" stroke, 8 ton air-hydro ram from harbor freight: $89.
Yes, Harbor Freight has discontinued the ram. Like already posted, call MaxTools. A guy in my club just had one delivered for $104 to here in Cali.

Originally posted by foley


Central Hydraulics Item # 43227

but I just searched their website and it is no longer listed... Possibly discontinued???


I think foley might be right, it could be discontinued. I bought one the first of december.

a guy on the board here bought one from www.maxtool.com, they sell the near identical air/hydro ram on one of their shop cranes. he paid $79.99 and it already comes with a mounting pivot point on the base of the ram. they don't seem to list the ram individually but will get you one if you call I think.

here's the link to it.

http://www.maxtool.com/cgi-bin/dbse...,DB_ITEM=ME3088




Yes, Harbor Freight has discontinued the ram. Like already posted, call MaxTools. A guy in my club just had one delivered for $104 to here in Cali.


Thanks, Thanks and Thanks

As for the hydraulic rams/jacks not working laying down, Harbor Freight has two different designs, the expensive ones that work laying down and the cheap ones that work standing up. I bought the Harbor Freight tubing bender and noticed they looked the same but cost $30 more. The HF bender is crap unless you make your own dies that actually fit and have a center loop. It works flawlessly if you do that, but it takes a fair bit of machine shop tools to make the dies. I set a circular slab of steel on a vertical rotary table and then came in with a large end mill the size of the tubing to be bent. I moved the spinning cutter into the side of the steel and then used the rotary table to slowly mill the rounded bottom slot all the way around. When that is done, you band saw the disk in half. I cheated and milled half the circumference with one size and the other half with a different size, getting two dies out of one piece.

we mounted it using a hitch we had sitting around.

http://chrispy.rockcrawler.com/pics/buggy/bender1.jpg (no star, so if someone wants to post this pic...)

its mounted in the floor with concrete anchors, but we can use a 2x2 square tube pinned into the hitch to make it "portable" should we need to use it elsewhere, just by jacking it into a reciever hitch on a truck

Harbor Freight discontinued it. Just got mine in from Maxtool yesterday. Call 1-800-629-3325 part # ME3083 total was 104.96 to the Bay Area. It has the pin mount on the bottom. Topped off with hydro fluid and it works like a charm on its side... thanks Foley.

Originally posted by SAVAGE1
Harbor Freight discontinued it. Just got mine in from Maxtool yesterday. Call 1-800-629-3325 part # ME3083 total was 104.96 to the Bay Area. It has the pin mount on the bottom. Topped off with hydro fluid and it works like a charm on its side... thanks Foley.

Thanks again!!

Any one ever thought of hooking up a Porta Power to there bender.

(If you do not know what a Porta Power is, it has a ram and a hand pump that work very similiar to a jack on it side but it is made to go on its side and if you buy the complete kit, you can adjust how far the ram extends.)

I was talking to some freinds last night and one of them stated they have used one and it worked great. He said I would be very happy with something like this instead of a jack on its side or instead of spending $600 or more on a Hydro Ram(in other words this would be for us cheap bastards).

He also stated he has seen them for around $150.

SO I went and checked out Northern online and there site says $179 for the 4-ton one and $259 for the 10-ton one.

Anyone ever seen these or used one and think it may work????


I have attached a pic of the 4-ton one and here is the discription from the web site.

"Lincoln 4-Ton Capacity Porta-Power Pushes, Pulls and Spreads
Versatile 4-ton Porta-Power® set has 19 1/2in., 16 1/2in., 8 1/2in., 6in. and 3in. extension tubes that snap-lock together in seconds. Automatic pump overload system helps prevent damage to rams and equipment. Flex head features permanently molded rubber pad. Long 14in. handle. 1/2-ton capacity spreader has 2in. jaws, goes from 5/8in. to 2 7/8in.. You also get serrated saddle, V-base, wedge head, plunger and ram toes, flat base, and 6-foot hose. Tool case included. Totally compatible with other Blackhawk Porta-Power equipment. "

Part # :Item# 15618

Thanks
Ken C

Originally posted by BRUISER
Any one ever thought of hooking up a Porta Power to there bender.

(If you do not know what a Porta Power is, it has a ram and a hand pump that work very similiar to a jack on it side but it is made to go on its side and if you buy the complete kit, you can adjust how far the ram extends.)

I was talking to some freinds last night and one of them stated they have used one and it worked great. He said I would be very happy with something like this instead of a jack on its side or instead of spending $600 or more on a Hydro Ram(in other words this would be for us cheap bastards).

He also stated he has seen them for around $150.

SO I went and checked out Northern online and there site says $179 for the 4-ton one and $259 for the 10-ton one.

Anyone ever seen these or used one and think it may work????


I have attached a pic of the 4-ton one and here is the discription from the web site.

"Lincoln 4-Ton Capacity Porta-Power Pushes, Pulls and Spreads
Versatile 4-ton Porta-Power® set has 19 1/2in., 16 1/2in., 8 1/2in., 6in. and 3in. extension tubes that snap-lock together in seconds. Automatic pump overload system helps prevent damage to rams and equipment. Flex head features permanently molded rubber pad. Long 14in. handle. 1/2-ton capacity spreader has 2in. jaws, goes from 5/8in. to 2 7/8in.. You also get serrated saddle, V-base, wedge head, plunger and ram toes, flat base, and 6-foot hose. Tool case included. Totally compatible with other Blackhawk Porta-Power equipment. "

Part # :Item# 15618

Thanks
Ken C


I have one and I use it all the time. The movement is in small moves. One pump does not move the ram very far so IMO it would be slow. So slow that I would rather bend manually.

Originally posted by jca
So slow that I would rather bend manually.


I don't know that I'd go that far, but then I've got skinny white guy disease. Porta powers are very slow. I would use a manual cherry picker ram before I used one I think.

tsm1mt I believe is his name on here. He has a porta power setup on his bender and there are pics up also. Don't have the link, but do a search using his screen name and tube bender and it will pop up.

I'll wade in here with mine...
basics:
cribbed design from some guys here. Some of my best stuff is inspired by POR'n :D
body is 5X5" box 0.25" thick, I got for $5
Legs are 1.5" .120 wall square tube I bent (since this pic I've added another bend so they finish off at a 90* and have casters). Everything unbolts for easy/small storage. All nuts are captured so the whole thing breaks down with a single 9/16 wrench.
The pivot is 1" .120 wall tube sleeved through the body and pinned with 3/4" all-thread.
Jack is a HF $89 special, works like a champ, but don't forget to oil it with tool oil. Also had to make my own base, and connector to the bender for it.
More pics at: http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=bluesman2a&album_id=110777
For those thinking about it, I highly recommend the hydro option simply for the portability. I have a SMALL garage with an 8' ceiling, and there's no way I could mount it in there.
The rear area is set-up to put the notcher on and bolt it down.
:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Your link took me to a unrelated thread. I would like to see some more pictures of your set up. Some lighter pictures and close ups of the ram base mount, Bender (mounting and lay out) and ram to bender hook up. If you would like you could email them to me at jca@andrewsracing.com or post them here.

Foley I would like to see more of yours too

Thanks

Original link edited... Here too:
http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=bluesman2a&album_id=110777

My bender is not a JD2, but it is hydro and mounted to an old engine stand with leveling jacks.
http://www.cuebilt.com/tubebender.htm

Originally posted by bluesman2a
Original link edited... Here too:
http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=bluesman2a&album_id=110777

Thanks for the pics. The base of the ram mount is using a sigle bolt to mount to the stand. Is that bolt somewhat loose to allow the base to piviot or did you work something else up to allow it to piviot that I am not seeing in the pics?

Originally posted by jca

Thanks for the pics. The base of the ram mount is using a sigle bolt to mount to the stand. Is that bolt somewhat loose to allow the base to piviot or did you work something else up to allow it to piviot that I am not seeing in the pics?

The base is sleved with 1" .120 wall tube, this allows a little wiggle-room for a 3/4" piece of all-thread. In order to tighten that up, I put a locknut on the bottom of the beam, then another on top of the beam BEFORE I put the ram on (so it's snugged to the sleeve). The nut you see on top of the ram is only finger tight and is only there to retain the ram, in case it tips. The ram itself swings freely.

Looks like hell but it works great. Painted it purple since that is the gayest color HD had. Too bad they were out of chrome at the time.

1hp motor
11gpm log splitter pump
2.5"x24" cyl

If you are doing hydro, mount the bernder double shear right away:D
http://www.mntoyx4.com/forums/uploads/post-4-1041905719.jpg

Has any one actually order JUST the ram from Maxtool? I called and tried to order it and the lady kept repeating "what is the part #" I searched the web site for about 30 mins with nothing even close, even show the picture and said THAT JACK in the picture !

Id hate to buy the entire engine crane just for the jack....


Ive wasted at least 3-4 hours the last 3 days looking for this info. The cheepest jacks ive found were:

8 ton long air/manual rams
http://www.canbuilt.com/PDF/page18.pdf - $190
http://www.hardinsweb.com/8tonjack.htm - $225

If im gonna pay this much im going full on hydro so i dont have to listen to the compresser run...

Any help appreciated...

-yag

I posted this up top:flipoff2:

Harbor Freight discontinued it. Just got mine in from Maxtool yesterday. Call 1-800-629-3325 part # ME3083 total was 104.96 to the Bay Area. It has the pin mount on the bottom.

Well duhhhhh im a freken looser that cant read... THANKS !

I just confirmed that they DO have the rams

and...... I got a free multi-tool along with my free catalog.... :flipoff2:

Seriouisly thanks for the quick reply, now I can plan out my bender cart...

-yag:

Tried to call Maxtool after hours this weekend and they kept insisting on a Catalog #.
I gave up and hung up on her.
Called just now about noon (Monday) and ordered without problem with only the part # and a credit card. Should have it in 8 to 10 days.
Cost + shipping to Texas was $105.16
ThanksGuys.
CJ
Oh Yea!!!!! :flipoff2:

Yeah, it is weird that they do not list the ram on their site, but when you look at the catalog there is a part number right there.:confused:

Mine is ordered. $104.56 to the door. Anyone else ordering, tell them you got the info from here. They might give a discount?? ( He was going to talk to the sup. I just didnt want to wait.)

http://dreamwater.com/zuk/exorollbar.html

so are yall using the Harbor Freight air/hydro pump?????

Originally posted by rockbiter
so are yall using the Harbor Freight air/hydro pump?????

yes, some of us are... however, they are no longer available read back up this page for the current supplier, price, contac #, and part#.

:flipoff2:

i realize the ram/cylinders are not available but the air/hydraulic 10 ton pump you hook up to a ram and to your compressor..
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40611
are yall using it or what pump set up do you have...??

Originally posted by BRBoudreaux
tsm1mt I believe is his name on here. He has a porta power setup on his bender and there are pics up also. Don't have the link, but do a search using his screen name and tube bender and it will pop up.

That's me.. I also think ScoutDude is running a similar setup.

My shop cart, bender, and PortaPower (http://tigger.tmcom.com/~tsm1/postnuke/modules.php?op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php&set_albumName=albun23)

I bought a 10T porta-power setup for $160 from an outfit on Ebay, new.

I built a shop-cart, and then mounted my JD2 Model 3 to a piece of 2x2x.250" box tubing. My shop-cart has receiver tubing mounted to it for adding "accessories".. like the bender, my vice, and other stuff.

Bonus - the bender/vice/etc. can be mounted to a truck hitch should the need arise to take it somewhere else.

http://tigger.tmcom.com/~tsm1/gallery/albums/albun23/pic582.jpg

http://tigger.tmcom.com/~tsm1/gallery/albums/albun23/pic592.jpg

I had to make an adapter from the porta-power ram to the JD2 hydro mount..

http://tigger.tmcom.com/~tsm1/gallery/albums/albun23/pic594.jpg

That said, I'm ashamed to say I haven't used it yet.. in fact, I was cleaning the shop a bit last month and actually stashed that big heavy cumbersome JD2 bender against the wall, under my blast cabinet, behind my shop-vac and scrap metal bucket.

I have to special order 2" tubing where I live, and haven't felt like ordering up 200' yet.. nor have I had the time to do anything with it if I wanted to, and I'd rather not trip over 24' sticks of tubing.. my shop is only 30x30, and one side is "dedicated parking"..

I'd hoped to bend a new cage for my race rig this winter.. but instead, I lost the #7 con-rod bearing on Labor Day (last event of the season) and this past Saturday finally drove my rig again after rebuilding the motor.. so no tube bending this winter.

Next up is a motor and 60front for my tow rig by Memorial Day.. so no tube bending then, either..

Anyhow.. I have a feeling it'll be slow to bend. The ram is a short stroke unit, with multiple lengthening attachments to make it longer, so it's going to involve a bunch of pump-pump-pump like crazy, then release, add an extension, and repeat.

I had to go hydro since I have radiant floor heat in the shop.. makes it hard to bolt the bender down.

I've been thinking about the Harbor Freight air over hydraulic pump. That might take some of the boredom out of using the hand-pump when the time comes.

The idea was to get the bender and allow myself the chance to upgrade as I go, without dropping a huge chunk of cash at once.. so I've succeeded..

can a regular hand operated engine hoist ram be used like this....will it work while laying flat

manual jack (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36397)

yes, but you have to overfill with fluid after you lay it on it's side, otherwise it will only half work.

Originally posted by NothernAZxj
can a regular hand operated engine hoist ram be used like this....will it work while laying flat

manual jack (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36397)

I'v been told that it will work and I'm sure people are having sucess, but for the life of me I couldn't get mine to work.........

have any of you guys mounted one in your backyard? is that a good idea or no? i just have no room in my garage. i was thinking dig a hole and pour some concrete then install some concrete anchors so i get a permanent place to mount it but can put it away whenever

anyone think of using leectric linear actuators instead of hydro...how much force is really needed to bend tube...how much force does your two arms put on the bender

electric ram (http://www.bullnet.co.uk/shops/test/images/act18.jpg)

what about a big ass worm drive type setup instead of hydro? then u can put like a 1/2 drill to drive it or an impact gun or somethin. just an idea? drill might not have enough power to do it and you would probly need a big long peice of threaded metal... then u could weld on a hinged and and use a nut for it to worm through and make some kinda lil hinge thing on the nut so it will pivot when the bender moves

An electric actuator would work, but you better find one that's HUGE.....if they even make one.

The ram jacks are only supposed to be used vertically (I think). You can get bottle jacks that will work horizontally though.

They make em up to 64,000 lb pushing force, Im looking at one with 1500 lbs force, I know I dont put that much force on the bar when I bend

Originally posted by MdntRdr
Well, the wife ix-nayed the bolts in the concrete idea, so I guess I have to hydro. I was looking for a thread where if I remember right, someone had mounted their bender to a tow receiver. If anyone has any idea where the pics are, I'd appreciate it.


Sounds like somebody wears the panties instead if the pants.

Well now that some asshat decided his remark was so witty that it was worthy of bring this topic btt(:rolleyes: ), did anyone ever use those electric actuators like in the link above? They seem like a good option. If they work. How much would they be?

Bringing this back to the top because I have a question regarding the HF air over hydraulic ram: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94562

I know the one originally used in the thread was discontinued, so how does this one compare? So far, I haven't been able to get it to push out even 6" on its side, and I added at least 1/2 quart of oil. I did manage to make a mess of the garage floor though.

So I am thinking I am adding the oil incorrectly? Initially I tried just adding oil while the ram was on its side until it was full... No go, so what is the correct procedure to add the oil correctly to get the POS to work?

Alternativey, are there any repercussions to rotating the bender assembly 90* and thus using the bender vertically? This is actually for a ProTools 105 bender, but I am assuming this would work for both?

I just need a temporary fix so I can get some shock hoops mounted up and bumpers made for a Jan. 1 hangover run.

Thanks!

I was planning on mounting mine like in this:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=376183&page=10

But thats probably not much help if you already have it mounted. I just got my ram out of the box, and it wont work on it side at all, but it picks up if you tilt it up a few degrees, so I think this would work. It looks to me like it would be easier to keep your bends square to each other this way, gravity would be working for you, not against you. But if you have low ceilings, it might not work too well.

well, it's been a while since I checked email, but looking at that ram I'm thinking about buying one. After 4 years of hard use my existing HF ram is not in the best of shape, I've had to rebuild the air pump twice already.

That ram looks considerably more user friendly for setting up in a bender.

As for the adding oil method, I think I stood the ram vertical, pumped it out all the way, then laid it on it's side, added oil, and pushed the cylinder back in. Of course, this has been a long time ago, so you might have to monkey around with it to get it to work.

Mike

[QUOTE=LAME;1165790]Looks like hell but it works great. Painted it purple since that is the gayest color HD had. Too bad they were out of chrome at the time.

1hp motor
11gpm log splitter pump
2.5"x24" cyl

If you are doing hydro, mount the bernder double shear right away:D


Man, I wish I had done this when I built mine. Im using the PT 105 HD and the arms are actually warping(twisting). Now this is after about 7 buggies but I think Im going to have to invest in some new arms......very solid advice.