bender dies

[mud_slinga]

Just wondering what size dies you guys like to use. I have the 1 3/4" 6 CLR now, would like to know what other ones I should be looking at getting in the future. I am planning on fabbing any and everything. It is the Pro-tools hd bender if that matters :grinpimp: Thanks

[texascadillac42]

If you plan on making "anything and everything" then you might as well get all the dies you can.......you will use them at one point or another. As for me, I have 2", 1.75" and 1" with my JD2. Its worked out well for what I want to do so far, which is rollcages and misc. fab work. One of these days I'll probably get a 1.5", but Ive gotten by just fine without it so far.

[andyr354]

All I have is an 1.75 right now as well.

Thinking something like 1" or 1.25" would be handy for building smaller brace pieces and racks/storage areas.

[sceep]

1.75, 1.5, 1.25, 1.0 and a 1.25" Pipe die.

[Fix-It]

What Is The Radius You Folks Like To Use Most ?
Ive Been Using 6 In Radius For 1 1/4 Schedule 40 Only Cause It What I Had But I Would Like A Tighter Bend For A Cleaner Look At Times .

And Maybe A 4.5 For The 1 Inch And 3/4 Pipe . For Like Making Grills And Detailed Stuff ..

[sceep]

i buy the tightest radius i can.

[traxman25]

Right now I've got a JD2 bender. I've got the 1.75x5.5 die and just got a 1.5x5.5 die for it. I thought about getting the 4.5 but I want my bends to look the same for now. Eventually when I've got some spare cash I'm going to get the 1.5x4.5 and something smaller also, either a 1.0 or 1.25 in a small radius bend.

If your doing detail stuff like grills I don't think you even want 1 inch, you can get small benders with tighter dies for cheeper if you go someplace like shop outfitters.

[mud_slinga]

Anyone think it would be worthwhile to get a square bending die ? I was thinking for storage areas and cage tie ins for the seat or just F@$% it and use round tube for that sh!t?

[300sniper]

on my "to purchase list" are 1" round and 1" square dies. now i have an 1-5/8" and 2". i will possibly also get an 1-3/4" and 1-1/2" when funds are available.

[X-Rated]

2, 1.75, 1.5, 1.0

tight radius

[Bob Williams]

I brought this post back up to ask a similar question. I've purchased a model 4 bender, and I need 1 3/4" and 1 1/4" dies. I'm tubing my 4Runner and wondering if I should get the 6", or 5.5, 4.5 or smaller radius dies. What would you recommend?

[zachv]

I would think you would definitely want the tightest radius to follow as closely to a body panel as possible on an exo.

[Bob Williams]

Thanks for the reply. I talked to a guy at a local fab shop who said that a 6" die for .120 wall 1 3/4" DOM is good. Smaller radius dies make the metal pretty thin at the outer portion of the bend (makes sense) - and the die manufacturer recommends a minimum of .95 wall for the die. However, the dies only came in 5.5" and 6.5", so I settled on a 5.5" die for the larger tubing, and a 4.5" radius die for the smaller, 1 1/4" tubing.

So now, I just have to wait for the thing to arrive (two to three weeks). I got a good price (at least I think it's a good price) on .120 wall 1 3/4" DOM locally - $3.15 a foot. So I got 260' which will be more than I need now, but I've got some other ideas for the future.