JD2 Bender with Cheapo Hydro Ram

[mucknet]

I have a tiny one car garage, and no place to mount a manual bender to floor, so I ad to build a portable hydraulic bender... so I finally got the Air over Hydro RAM from ebay.

I paid about $75 shipped for it. MUCH better than the $600-1200 Hydro solutions

I put the bender together the other night, took some measurements and did some mocking up:

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56641757-M.jpg

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56641761-M.jpg

Both the clevis base mount and ram end were 5/8" holes. Unfortunately the Drive bar on the Bender (where I will hook up the ram end) was 3/4". The drive bar is a 1/2" grade 5 bolt, sleeved by a 3/4 OD DOM tube. So I bought some 1/2" ID 5/8" OD DOM tubing from metal supermarket, and of course it was out of spec both internally and externally. I drilled out the center of the tubing with a 1/2" drill bit to allow me to fit in a (upgraded to grade 8 ) 1/2" bolt. and then grinded down the outside to be the advertised 5/8" Hopefully upgrading to a grade 8 will compensate for reducing the overall thickness of the drive bar.

Cut it to 2 5/8" length(stock spacer size)
http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56976878-M.jpg

Traced out the location of the 2 - 3/4" holes to mount the bender to the 4x3 Rectangular tubing.

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56976884-M.jpg

Done! (In my new crappy Harbor Freight Drill press)

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56976888-M.jpg

More Mocking up (bent my first cardboard paper towel roll!)

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56976898-M.jpg

1.5" Solid bar

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56976908-M.jpg

More mocking up...

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56976913-M.jpg


I drilled a couple of 1.5" hole in the top and bottom of the 4x3, and slid the solid bar through it.

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56976929-M.jpg

Yes I'm aware the bar isn't straight.. it was hard to get the two holes lined up perfectly :(

[mucknet]

Blurry shot of the bottom:

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56976925-M.jpg

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/56976916-M.jpg

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/57089673-M.jpg

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/57089686-M.jpg

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/57089600-M.jpg

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/57089609-M.jpg

oops... bent it a little too far..

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/57089631-M.jpg

Hi Lift to the rescue!

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/57089643-M.jpg

I suck at measuring... Next task is to actually learn how to bend accurately... ::)

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/57089652-M.jpg

[mucknet]

So I cut the legs in half (it actually ended up ok, that I sucked at bending, because two of the legs needed to be longer anyway, only wasted about 8" of tubing)

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/58169403-M.jpg

Drilled a hole in the center of a couple of 1.75" circles

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/58169397-M.jpg

Welded a nut to it

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/58169399-M.jpg

welded it to the bottom of the tubing:

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/58169400-M.jpg

Had some sloppy globby welds, so I ground them down.. I couldn't seem to get a good bead when doing these end caps..

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/58169401-M.jpg

More nuts to tabs

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/58169387-M.jpg

Put a bolt through it, and Presto! Instant leveling device!
http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/58169390-M.jpg
http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/58169391-M.jpg
http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/58169394-M.jpg

http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/58169396-L.jpg

[mucknet]

The thing is definitely heavier on the bender side, and has a tendancy to want to fall over :)

My solution, until I pony up for some more dies to hang on the frame, is to just hang my tool bag from it ;) Sort of convenient anyway, it gives me a place to keep commonly used items nearby.
http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/59500009-M.jpg

This was my first "fabrication" project, and i'm pretty proud of how it came out. Someone else built my jeep for me, and now i'm looking forward to doing my own stuff ;) The first project is to build a tube bumper for a buddy of mine, and then a roll cage for our top trash jeep (a challenge similar to the top truck challenge, but with a $700 per team budget ;) You can see the $100 top trash XJ in the picture above. )

[Rio_Grande]

So are you getting a 90 deg bend from one stroke of the ram, and what ebay ram did you buy? Auction #?? or dealer name.

Looks good,

I need to build that. How much air does it consume?

[Islandzuki]

nice:smokin:
and yeah how bout more info on the ram please..

[jeepdaddytj]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4622149528&fromMakeTrack=true


is this it?

[jeepdaddytj]

ouch $52 shipping:eek:

[mucknet]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4622149528&fromMakeTrack=true


is this it?
Looks like the same ram and same specs.

The one I bought ended up being like 76 or something shipped. It was the cheapest one on ebay at the time. I was searching for: long hydraulic ram.


I'm not getting a full 90* on one pin, but I think I could have, had I placed my ram a little further towards the bender. I had never even used a bender before, so I didn't know what to expect as far as where the bend would be starting. I lose a good 4-5 inches before the tube even starts bending. For that same reason, I am only able to do one hole of the die at the same time, I can't skip a hole. Not a big deal for me since, this is hobby only, i'm not being paid to do this ;)

I've been running it around 70-90psi. Seems to work great.

[mucknet]

Heres the actual ebay auction I bought:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4607465884&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

[zachv]

Do yourself a favor and make a tray down real low and put some heavy weight on it to lower the CoG. Other than that you have made a real nice cart--I like the levelers. I used that type of ram for 2.5 year while building the business with great luck. I have replaced it just because I was sick of hearing the compressor run, but I was able to bend 1.5x.25" DOM with that type of ram so they are beef.

Good luck.

[guidolyons]

mucknet-nice write up.
It's good to see pics of a homebuilt hydraulic bender done on the cheap. I have similar plans. I got my 8 ton air/hydraulic ram for $125...it came with a free engine hoist. I got it on sale at Pep Boys. I bought a second 8 ton manual ram from HF for $39. I'll use one on a bender and one for the hoist. I first was planning on swapping the ram back and forth between the hoist and the bender, but then figured for $40 it would be nice to be able to use both at the same time. My air/hydro ram seems like it might have some air bubbles in it, sometimes it extends nice and smooth and other times it takes awhile and stutters.
Nice work for the first go 'round. You'll add more as you go, next update it will look like Bandit's!

[coolmudrunner]

Looks good. My only question is how easily does that ram bend the material. I want to bend some 2" .150 wall HREW and I'm curious as to wether or not it will bend.

[mucknet]

I'm not sure how it would do with 2" .150 wall. I am by no means an expert, but I don't think the Ram is the limiter at this point. I've been impressed with it so far.


Yeah, i'm sure it will make a few transformations. I will probably mount my nothcer to it, and then as I buy more dies, I'll mount brackets for those, and that will help with the weight.

I might put a shelf on it, but I move it around a lot, so a shelf might be a PITA.

[jeepnmatt]

http://www.wholesaledepartmentstore.com/Site11/detail.htm?ProductID=S11%3Ajac%2Dr8%2Dair

after reading your post yesterday, i found this. its another option for a ram less than $100. i'm thinking of ordering one from them soon.

[ACHASE6002]

I Know Its A Stupid Question, But What Do I Need To Run A Air Over Hydro Ram?

[andyr354]

I Know Its A Stupid Question, But What Do I Need To Run A Air Over Hydro Ram?

Air :D

You just need an air compressor and a regulator.

[Kaiser5]

Couple other ram options.
http://www.uneedtools.com/airhydraulic-long-jack-p-1762.html

http://centralonlinesales.com/show_Product.asp?ID=1545

I'm about to start the same project on my JD2 myself.

[ACHASE6002]

I Thought So I Just Didnt Think It Would Be That Easy

[jeepnmatt]

i think i like the one with the bolt-on clevis-type base options. that would let me make whatever kind of base mount that i wanted. also, i'm going to look into a clamp or weld-on end for the ram so that i can still use the 3/4" spacer. i'll post if i find anything.

Matt

[mucknet]

i think i like the one with the bolt-on clevis-type base options. that would let me make whatever kind of base mount that i wanted. also, i'm going to look into a clamp or weld-on end for the ram so that i can still use the 3/4" spacer. i'll post if i find anything.

Matt

Hi Matt --

I also toyed with making some sort of clevis end for this so that I didn't have to reduce the OD of the drive bar. Seems fine though so far. I am actually considering STILL doing that, if nothign else to "extend" the ram some, since I mounted it a bit too far back. If I do that, I can probably skip a hole with each bend.

[jeepnmatt]

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2006032116014968&item=9-5460-B&catname=hydraulic

i just had a new idea! now i'm thinking about welding a tube perpendicular to the rod on the end that has a 3/4" ID similar to the cylinder in the link above. this way it would pivot well. or, a piece could be made to slip over the end of the cylinder with this tube welded to it so that the cylinder could be reused for something else (if necessary).

[Al Kaholick]

youre my hero, i gave up on leveling my permanant stand. Anyone here would laugh their asses off at our 3 level and brute force method of getting the bends accurate. Im definately going this route

[cheaprides]

me and my dad are building ours but we used a hydro pump and cyl. bought the pump motor and controls for 25 bucks from a friend. he got it from work used to be for a car lift.

we also mounted the ram like the company sells there kit. but i see why you mounted yours the way that you did. (type of ram you used)

on the stand im making the lower level will be for all our scrap steel so it doesnt fall over with a longer stick in it to bend.

[TheBandit]

mucknet,

Awesome job on the bender! There are definitely a few places you've thought outside of the box. Bravo!

I second putting a tray in the bottom. Having the legs tied together will make the cart more rigid and stable, especially when you have a long length of heavy tubing hanging off the end. That would also give you some place to store dies, bending lube, levels, protractors, etc.

The only area I see that looks a little undersized are the tabs coming off the 1.5" round bar.

Thanks for the awesome writeup with plenty of pictures!

[Pakman]

I am not familiar with ram but how do you guys retract it? Push it by hand? With the engine hoist setup I understand the weight pushes it back but what about when using it sideways?

[mucknet]

Push it by hand?

Yup :D

Its not hard.. you just release the tension, and push.

[cheaprides]

a nice heavy spring would make that bender alot nicer

like the ones on the HF pipe benders

[CAGEDXJ]

first I want to say GREAT WRITE-UP! I am trying to copy you but I got a ram that wont run in the horizontal position. It is this one http://www.wholesaledepartmentstore.com/Site11/detail.htm?ProductID=S11%3Ajac%2Dr8%2Dair

I have tried to move it all around but it only runs with the release vavle down, then you cant get to it since the main tube is there. Can you give me the brand of ram you are using? Also how did you rotate the fixed end of the ram to mount to the pin(end is different from the first pic to the second)?

[mucknet]

first I want to say GREAT WRITE-UP! I am trying to copy you but I got a ram that wont run in the horizontal position. It is this one http://www.wholesaledepartmentstore.com/Site11/detail.htm?ProductID=S11%3Ajac%2Dr8%2Dair

I have tried to move it all around but it only runs with the release vavle down, then you cant get to it since the main tube is there. Can you give me the brand of ram you are using? Also how did you rotate the fixed end of the ram to mount to the pin(end is different from the first pic to the second)?

So when I was building mine someone told me that if I had a hard time getting the ram to run in the horizontal position, that I should pop the cover for the hydraulic fluid, lay it on its side, and put as much fluid as I could in there. Put the cap back on, and it should work ok...

I never tried this method, and I will not buy you a new ram if you fawk yours up :flipoff2: :) You might want to try bleeding it also.

The fixed end of my ram is designed to rotate, no great thought required.. just a push of the index finger :) Unfortunately I don't know what brand mine is.. I think it is the kung wa fu brand, designed to be sold by anybody who puts a sticker (or doesn't) on it... I remember looking for a brand before I threw the paperwork away, and there wasn't anything. The paperwork that came with the ram didn't even match my ram.

I got it from "eric85033" on ebay, Here is a link to his store: http://stores.ebay.com/ERICS-MERCHANDISE_W0QQssPageNameZadmeQ3abQ3abcaQ3ausQ3a4 5QQtZkm

And here is a link to what looks like the exact same ram I have:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/8-TON-AIR-HYDRAULIC-LONG-RAM-JACK-HOIST-REPLACEMENT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ63697QQihZ0 20QQitemZ300007164849

Note: He wants $35 to ship it :shaking: If I remember correctly there were a few people selling what looked like the exact same ram.

Good luck!

Post up when you're done, I'd like to see it! :)

[CAGEDXJ]

Thanks for the FAST reply! I tried the 'over fill method' already. It worked until it launched the cap out and shot a shit load of oil all over. I just gave up on the ram I had and threw it on my cherry picker for now. The ram from the cherry picker works on its side but pumping is a real PIA.

Ill get ahold of the guy you got yours form and hope it works. Ill post up pics too when its done.

[socalchef]

I had that same ram for awhile to try to adapt to my Hossfeld bender, but couldn't figure out how to make it work without buying or fabricating a bunch of random stuff since there's no pins like the JD2 bender to reset the ram. Ended up selling it on ebay, took two listings and I only got $30 for it :D Bought one of the HF air/hydro foot pumps since the guy who actually owns the bender (but uses another for his own use) has a ram for it, just needed a pump.

Also, I couldn't figure out how to 'overfill' that style of ram. I took it apart and it was a spring and some plastic discs. It pumped sideways anyhow but I never did anything with a load on it. I sure do like how you set yours up though, good job!

[jmhinescj]

Good writeup...
I may have missed it but where did you source your arms for this bender
I bought the plans for the got trikes bender (which uses the same kind of air over hydro cylinder) and was thinkin about geting started on it pretty soon but this looks a lot easier

[darkstar]

Mucknet--excellent writeup. I am seriously considering copying your setup... I hope you will be appropriately flattered. :flipoff2:

I do have a question though... How do you like the speed of the air over hydraulic ram? How long does it take to fully extend the ram under load?

Thanks.

[Nowhere]

When in doubt, ALWAY check harbor freight :D

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94562

What an ebay ass, buy 30 @ local harbor freight or from online for 59.99 + tax or 8 dollars shipping.

Then mark them up 10~20 dollars on e-bay, THEN
charge a SHIT LOAD for shipping.

Ohwell, ignorance + entrepreneurship = one happy seller :D
:flipoff2:

[mucknet]

Mucknet--excellent writeup. I am seriously considering copying your setup... I hope you will be appropriately flattered. :flipoff2:

I do have a question though... How do you like the speed of the air over hydraulic ram? How long does it take to fully extend the ram under load?

Thanks.


Its pretty slow compared to the bling setups, but its plenty fast for me.

Probably takes about 1-2 minutes to fully extend the ram? I've never really timed it. I can say however, that the time to bend, is insignificant compared to the time spent levelling, measuring, and praying :)

Nowhere, thats not the exact same ram I'm using, but it looks damn close.

jmhinescj, sorry for the late response, but they're JD2 arms and dies.

[DWitcher]

Hey man I just wanted to say thanks for the Tech tip with the "cheapy" ram setup on the bender. After buying a MB105 and now converting it to hydro "al la mucknet" I now have a bunch of new best friends:rolleyes: :smokin: :D. Props to ya buddy!

[mucknet]

Hey man I just wanted to say thanks for the Tech tip with the "cheapy" ram setup on the bender. After buying a MB105 and now converting it to hydro "al la mucknet" I now have a bunch of new best friends:rolleyes: :smokin: :D. Props to ya buddy!


Got any pictures?

[DWitcher]

Still waiting for the ram in the mail. Hopefully friday I'll start fabing the stand kinda like the one you've built.

[RedFJ]

If you have issues mounting the ram horizontally, don't. Mount it vertically. There are some plans floating around the web, and a couple of guys here on POR did it as well. That is how I did mine. Does anyone else have problems with the ram leaking around the shaft in the horizontal position, J/C?
Jim

[Clodhopper]

Is the problem that the ram cannot run sideways or just the air cannister? I cannot see why the ram cannot run sideways. If it is the air cannister, it looks like there is a fitting connecting it to the base of the jack. What about putting an elbow in the system to set the cannister upright?

[Sound_Man]

do you have the measurment from the front of the tube to the spot where the ram mounts too?

[mucknet]

do you have the measurment from the front of the tube to the spot where the ram mounts too?


I'm not following what you're asking for. Maybe draw it with Paint on one of the pictures I posted?

[Sound_Man]

distance from where the bender mounts at to where the ram mounts at on hte rectangular tubing

[Sound_Man]

distance from where the bender mounts at to where the ram mounts at on hte rectangular tubing

[mucknet]

distance from where the bender mounts at to where the ram mounts at on hte rectangular tubing


Its 24.5" from the center of the ram mount clevis (ie: not including the solid bar or tabs), to the first 3/4" mount for the arms.

Like I said earlier though, if I knew what I was doing, I would have put it forward a couple inches.

[Sound_Man]

anyone find a good source for the ram without super high shipping?

[Sound_Man]

When in doubt, ALWAY check harbor freight :D

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94562

What an ebay ass, buy 30 @ local harbor freight or from online for 59.99 + tax or 8 dollars shipping.

Then mark them up 10~20 dollars on e-bay, THEN
charge a SHIT LOAD for shipping.

Ohwell, ignorance + entrepreneurship = one happy seller :D
:flipoff2:
now 79.99

[fortydegnorth]

I built the same set-up and really like it except I have to shim it up on an angle to get it to run. This makes for a serious challenge when it comes to finding the correct angle, so I am goint to mount the bender to a vertical stand. It may be a little harder to keep the pins from falling out of the bender but it seems easier to just stick an angle finder on the tube to see exactly where you are during the bend. Just my 2 cents.

[arndog]

Could you have mounted the bender portion closer to the middle of the tube? This would allow you to mount the legs like under the arms and making the entire assembly not so bender side heavy?

Awesome write up ... thanks

arndog

[mucknet]

Could you have mounted the bender portion closer to the middle of the tube? This would allow you to mount the legs like under the arms and making the entire assembly not so bender side heavy?

Awesome write up ... thanks

arndog


Yeah, but you need to be able to reach the nuts on the other end of the bolts that attach the bender to the frame. You could probably drill out some holes from the bottom, but they're huge suckers... 1.5" maybe? I could be wrong on the size, but they're pretty big.

Edit: however, theres no reason you can't make the legs extend towards the front of the cart to give it more stability. ... I could have done the legs much better.

[arndog]

duh, good idea on the legs ... and the nuts are big ... was kind of thinking that but thought Id ask ... Seems like ideally you would want it balanced toward the ram (about the average weight of a length of tube). Of course the dies are heavy and all balance issues could be easily solved by adding to your die collection

arndog

[TheRamChargerMan]

surpluscenter.com eaton field mate 3"bore 24"stroke part # 9-6070-324 i think it was $69 shipped

this is a dual action ram....it retracts under power.

I also have a 12v dual action lift gate pump from floridahoseguys.com

that way I can use it anywhere

hope to assemble it soon

[metty]

anybody have a better solution for retracting the ram besides "just push it in"? the ram we got is hard to push in, we need like a 50lb spring to pull it back in. i can find a spring, but mounting it is a bitch. i cant seem to figure out a way to mount a spring that can pull the ram from full extention to full compression. the best i can do is pull it half way back. any ideas?

[Sound_Man]

I also have a 12v dual action lift gate pump from floridahoseguys.com


this the correct site?

[3CZUKI]

anyone got any pics of thier bender set-up? i like the first one but just wondreing whatelse yall have come up with. im hoping to start my build soon.

[bggrnchvy]

Im sitting here playing with my built PT105HD and Im curious to know if drilling the outermost hole out to 5/8" so I don't need a sleeve and can just use a solid G8 bolt on the bending arm for the ram would still leave enough material on the arm?

The edge of the current .500" hole to the edge of the arm on 3 sides is .950". Taking it up to .625" would drop that to .887" in 1/2" thick plate. It doesn't seem like much, but Im curious what kind of extra material was designed into this bender.

Ill screw around and turn the spacer down to .625" in the lathe and put a G8 1/2" bolt through it if I have to, but drilling it out for a solid unit would be the ideal operation Id think.

[dezertchase]

anyone got any pics of thier bender set-up? i like the first one but just wondreing whatelse yall have come up with. im hoping to start my build soon.

I will try to post the ones of our convertion all we did was sleeve a 3/4 grade 8 with 1"dom works great

[dezertchase]

this should work

[RADDONKEY]

Nice Save ya some time :D

[65Chevy4x4]

about how long does it take to do a 90* bend with the setup like the first pics in the post. thanks.

[SeaBass44]

about how long does it take to do a 90* bend with the setup like the first pics in the post. thanks.


I found a vid of cebbys, looks like 30 seconds with no tube, just a hydro dry run

[biggreentj]

bringing this kinda old thread back up. i just did this setup, but for some reason it bent the bolts. i used a spacer that it was orginally setup with, i think that might be the cause. anyone had that problem? im gonna grab some gr 8 bolts and try them.

also i cant get the manual hyd. hand pump to work, anyone had that problem? i looked at one at thestore and it did the same thing.

[mucknet]

bringing this kinda old thread back up. i just did this setup, but for some reason it bent the bolts. i used a spacer that it was orginally setup with, i think that might be the cause. anyone had that problem? im gonna grab some gr 8 bolts and try them.

also i cant get the manual hyd. hand pump to work, anyone had that problem? i looked at one at thestore and it did the same thing.


I'm surprised you bent the bolts. Maybe something was loose? which bolt did you bend?

1 Year update. I've bent 30-40 pieces of 1.75" .120 tubing (maybe 100 bends total?) in the year or so since I built this, and the Ram has started to leak from the cylinder area (like someone mentioned in this thread). Nothing significant, but enough to leave a mark on my garage floor. Other than that, it has worked extremely well for me, and i'm still quite happy with this setup.

Taken a couple weeks ago.
http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/138390484-M.jpg
I'm currently tubing out my jeep. :)
http://mucknet.smugmug.com/photos/138663992-M.jpg

[biggreentj]

both bolts actually. i think there was a gap somewhere. i like the little wedge you used, i will have to do that, i didnt see that at first.

any idea on the hyd. hand pump

[mucknet]

both bolts actually. i think there was a gap somewhere. i like the little wedge you used, i will have to do that, i didnt see that at first.

any idea on the hyd. hand pump

You mean the hand lever on the ram? Mine doesn't work either. I have been assuming its one or the other. When the external air pump unit is hooked up, it probably goes right into whatever cylinder that the hand lever would normally go to. But I clearly have no fawkin clue what I'm talkin about, maybe mine is broken too! :confused:

It would be nice to be able to move it by hand sometimes. particularly, to feel when the tube is tight in the bender, but not yet bending.

Edit: if you're bending your bolts, maybe your ram is positioned too low or high on the bending arm? I use a very low tech solution to keep mine level with the rest of the bender... Zip ties :) The ram shaft just rests on top of a stack of 2 or 3 zip ties.

[PhantomEB]

Hmmmm was thinking of makin spacers to take up the slack over and under ram arm.

[guidolyons]

also i cant get the manual hyd. hand pump to work, anyone had that problem? i looked at one at thestore and it did the same thing.

Mine seems to work either way, manual or air/hydro. On mine sometimes the air/hydro seems to get "stuck" there's air flowing and it's making noise, but the cylinder isn't moving. I give it a few cranks on the manual pump and it takes off again, I think I have an air bubble somewhere.

Mine is from a Torin engine hoist from Pep boys.

[edog1]

Im going to do the same conversion on my bender and I has a question before I start.
For the base I have some scrap 4"x4" x 3/16" rectangular tubing Do you think that will be strong enough to mount the bender and ram to ? In the first post you used 4x3 Rectangular tubing what wall thickness did you have ?
Thanks for your time

[Todd W]

Im going to do the same conversion on my bender and I has a question before I start.
For the base I have some scrap 4"x4" x 3/16" rectangular tubing Do you think that will be strong enough to mount the bender and ram to ? In the first post you used 4x3 Rectangular tubing what wall thickness did you have ?
Thanks for your time

A TON of ppl have done it since this one so there are more posts.

4"x4"x3/16" is pretty much what I on my tube bender conversion (http://www.4x4blog.com/tube-bender-stand-and-air-over-hydraulic/). I think mine is 3"x3"x3/16" and I used 1/4" for the actual bracket and welded it on and added a long gusset to prevent ripping it out. 3/16" should be plenty for the bracket too as long as it's not 1" of weld.

[edog1]

Thanks for the reply and th link to the pics. I figure one minute worth of questions could save hours of building. I will work on it this weekend





A TON of ppl have done it since this one so there are more posts.

4"x4"x3/16" is pretty much what I on my tube bender conversion (http://www.4x4blog.com/tube-bender-stand-and-air-over-hydraulic/). I think mine is 3"x3"x3/16" and I used 1/4" for the actual bracket and welded it on and added a long gusset to prevent ripping it out. 3/16" should be plenty for the bracket too as long as it's not 1" of weld.