http://www.pro-tools.com/hb302.htm

The race shop I have been working with builds race car chassis all day on a Mittler Brothers bender that looks just like this. It will do a full bend it one shot and looks quite simple. They keep it mounted on the side of a small cart.

I'm getting ready to buy a bender and trying to decide b/t one of these and a JD 4. There is a TON of info here on JD3, but not a whole lot on anything else. I have spend days searching and reading. There is pleanty on the JD3 written here, so lets skip that. I want Hydro, so it just makes sense to skip to the JD4.

The dies are 120deg on the Pro Tools One Shot, so I suppose that is a negative. How often do you bend over 120deg?

Pros and cons of this vs the JD4...lets hear it. (The Mittler Bros is too $$$$$)

How about this one

I think it's best tool I have ever had.

I bend over 120* all the time, I wouldn't get any dye less than a 180* radius.

Just a thought but have you seen what Jay Kopycinski (http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk3/bender/) did with his JD3? I had a look at the link you posted and saw a whole lot of seperate pricing and it didn't look like a hydro pump was included in the package either. But I don't know the cost of a JD3 compared to the pro-tool bender... just thinking out loud `cuz I sure want a bender too!

I gotta 4 and love it...my freind has a mittler bro, and it works killer 2...just the 90 degree factor is all...


everydie I have gotten is 180+

anybender guys spend much time bending vertically instead of horizontal?

Sure Fatkid, I'll take it! I'll PM you my address to send it to. :flipoff2:

That thing is sweet, but gives me major $ticker $hock.

I'd be interested to hear what sort of things it does that you like and make it worth the cash for future reference though.

Spudzz, yeah I fond that. Looks sweet, but I just dont have time right now to fab up a home brew hydro setup.

Moab, I asked the guy at the race shop why he did it vertical, bec I thought it seemed a little odd. He said it is easier for him to keep everything in plane. He just eyeballs it.

Any other pro/cons b/t the two you have noticed?

Thx all.

Jim

Originally posted by Shrock
Spudzz, yeah I fond that. Looks sweet, but I just dont have time right now to fab up a home brew hydro setup.

Jim

Jim,

I have a Model 4 bender. Ordered it without the hydraulic cylinder & pump... as I would "save" a few bucks using something I already had. Ahem, by the time I was done getting the cylinder and hose and everything worked out (electric control) it would have been cheaper/easier to order the hydraulic package!

Degree ring is important. With the JD4, just make a note of lead in angle, and spring back, and you can repeat the bends without any issue. Yes, I bought 270 degree dies for 1", 1.5", 2". Often overlooked is that "lead in" angle, and the spring back.... So for a 180 degree bend, you need to be able to have at least 190 bending area.

Vertical bending is tempting... but having a stick of tube out the end is a lot of weight to "bend up and over". Still would like to make an I-beam table with a rotating head to "feed the tube" into the bender. Would allow multiple plane bending with less screw ups! (That is just me... I don't bend enough to do it without thinking).

Tom :usa:

Originally posted by Shrock
http://www.pro-tools.com/hb302.htm


The dies are 120deg on the Pro Tools One Shot, so I suppose that is a negative. How often do you bend over 120deg?

Pros and cons of this vs the JD4...lets hear it. (The Mittler Bros is too $$$$$)

I have a JD4 bender, over all it works great. For the kind of $$ they ask for the tool, I still think they cut a few corners on the finish work. There is a lot of bare exposed steel that should have been plated after manufacturing. (Namely the pins they are raw steel, spend a few bucks JD2 and have them chromed. Not for looks but for durability) JD2 black oxide coated a majority of parts, but this is only good for marginal protection. (also the cheapest coating you can put on a part) I know it may sound like I am coming down on them; I like the tool it just needs to be finished off a bit. I used to be a co-owner of a small CNC machine shop and I know what it costs to produce an in house marketed product. The added cost for having parts plated is marginal over all. (Extra $30 per complete bender w/quantity)

As I said before over all I like the tool and it does a great job for what it was intended to do. I would pick it again over the competitor’s products. If you can swing it go for the electric pump over the Air/oil. Now that I am using this at home I wish I had spent the extra $500 for the electric.

Originally posted by fatkid
How about this one

I think it's best tool I have ever had.

I like this one better myself
http://www.wt4wheeling.com/dblue351/rollcage/dsc01578.jpg

Ya bastids! You stole my phone! I've been looking for that thing for a week! :)

Actaully... I do like that bender. Not sure I like the two guys standing over it (gotta get swimsuit models to show industrial equipment), but that is a nice looking bender.

My JD2 Model 3 came with galvanized pins, not raw ones... maybe they've changed? The black oxide on the bender itself doesn't bother me; after several years, it still looks the same. I do appreciate that it's easy to remove so that I can weld crap onto the bender. :)

I did spray paint the degree ring silver (with the intent of filling in the numbers and lines with black, but never did) and that helped visibility a lot.

If you're bending really heavy-wall stuff with a JD Model 3, be sure to gusset your dies... I broke my 1.75 die a while back bending some 1/2" wall tube. :)

Mark
So what model is that and who makes it...

OK I just ordered the JD4, so no one say anything good about the Pro-tools one now. :D

I just got off the phone with the JD2 guys asking about some galling I am getting on my 2” follower die. They told me how to harden the die and are kicking down a free replacement set of follower shoes. (Dovetail mounted ones) So I do have to give them due credit for customer service. They said this is not a problem for many people and happens with only a few sets. Non of the owners manuals suggest using any lube on the tube, but I started using WD-40. Bob at JD2 said not to use WD-40 and use a true oil based spray lube (CDC? Or something) on the follower die. I will start a new thread on hardening dies.

I've got a model 4 and it works awesome.

CJ

Originally posted by helocat
Non of the owners manuals suggest using any lube on the tube, but I started using WD-40. Bob at JD2 said not to use WD-40 and use a true oil based spray lube (CDC? Or something) on the follower die.

There was a thread a while back wherein several folks mentioned using white lithium in a spray-can. I believe Fatkid endorsed it as the deal too.

I'm still a newb at this stuff, but I am paying attention to some of the great info around here.

Originally posted by fatkid
How about this one

I think it's best tool I have ever had.

We have that one too. Is sooooooo nice!
Mitler Bros. makes some nice stuff though. We have their tube notcher-milling machine. It is sweet. We had the belt sander type and this kicks ass over that.

http://www.pro-tools.com/images/EMN510B.jpg

Anyone know anything about this brand:
http://www.tubeshark.com/images/TSModelMachines%20copy.jpg
TubeShark (http://www.tubeshark.com/)
At least their model is better looking than the ones posted so far...

Originally posted by Scott@Rockstomper
Ya bastids! You stole my phone! I've been looking for that thing for a week! :)

Actaully... I do like that bender. Not sure I like the two guys standing over it (gotta get swimsuit models to show industrial equipment), but that is a nice looking bender.



Ya say'n my shaved head ain't that purdy??:flipoff2:

I did not even take that many good pics of ol TB
this one does look cool though

At least you got my good side!!:flipoff2:

Got my JD4 in , setup and running. Got it shipped SAME day from mtech supply. Good folk.

My very first bend for a project was a 180deg bend. (See question above about how often people bend over 90deg.) Thanks for the advise. :D



Jim

Hey Jim How much was that setup and do they have a website

Originally posted by Rockrat
Hey Jim How much was that setup and do they have a website

http://www.mtechsupply.com/display.php3?getcategory=Benders&session=d8e5a6764a9c17242da507339e042b13

$1490. With three die sets and shipping it was about $2100. I went air/hydro.

Rather than spending $500 on the electric, I spent $379 on this beast to run it. It is sweet. 10.9 CFM @90psi, cast iron made in :usa: pump, Emerson 220v motor, 3yr warranty.