I'm looking around for a fairly inexpensive bender for some projects. Harbor Freight has a 12 ton pipe bender that bends up to 2"for $100, and a 16 ton unit that bends up to 3" for $200. Before I go plunk down the cash for one of these, will they work with DOM tubing. If not, can you suggest some other inexpensive alternatives?

The HF pipe bender will not work on DOM. I think a lot of people use the JB2 bender for tubing. Do a search with ''JB2 bender'' and you should find some more info on it.

Actually it's JD2 not JB2..and if you crawl away from the Jeep bard and venture out to the General 4x4 area where everyones needs tube work, you probably would have already seen that the HF bender is a pipe bender. You need a tube bender to bend tube.;)

Yep. Should have done some searching first. Found all kinds of info on the JD2. Looks like HF is not the way to go. Too bad those dies cost so much. If you had to pick 2 or 3 dies for fabbing stuff, which ones would you pick? (Tubing diam. and radius)

Originally posted by Scout Dude
..and if you crawl away from the Jeep bard and venture out to the General 4x4 area where everyones needs tube work, .;)
But it's safer in here...:rolleyes:

Yeah JD2, thats the ticket!:smokin: Thanks for the correction:flipoff2:

I have a greenlee segment bender.....DOnt get a segment bender !!!
Greenlee is good but to bend 2" ID i need to do 3 bends uning 11" of pipe to get a 90...way to long for cages. Its good for 1" but the big stuff uses to much pipe, my bender was free so hey. Iv been looking at buying a jd2 for the price they are the best !!

Originally posted by withamc
Yep. Should have done some searching first. Found all kinds of info on the JD2. Looks like HF is not the way to go. Too bad those dies cost so much. If you had to pick 2 or 3 dies for fabbing stuff, which ones would you pick? (Tubing diam. and radius)

1.75 Is the first one to get. I got the 6.5 radius but alot of people also get the 5.5 one..your preference. Depending on what else you are planning on bending up should determine the other die(s). If you are working on a fullsize, I say go 2" 6.5 radius. If it is zuki's and other small vehicles and stuff, get 1.5" 5.5" radius. ALWAYS get the 180* dies.

HTH-SD

I have a JD3 model 3 bender and 2 dies: 2"x6.5"x180*
1.5"x4.5"x180*