i'll be using it for cages and tube bumpers including a nose guard for my tj, i think i'll be going with a 1.75" die and probably 180* but what would be the most versatile radius die to get of the 3 options:
5.5
6.5
7.5

which die would you recommend for fabbing the things i mentioned?
thanks
:beer:

id go with the 6.5 or the 5.5
the 7.5 is a very big radius
i use a 6' raduis die myself in 1 3/4

alan

I went for the 6.5x180 in 1.75 and 5.5x180 for 1.5 on my JD2

guys will a 180* , 6.5" radius die for 1.75" tube allow me to make the bends in this pic(the nose guard that fits the contour of the jeep grill)

http://shlingdawg.com/frontbumper.html
thanks again
:beer:

I would say yes.

But that is part of the reason I got the 1.5 for, to do bumpers and fenders with.

I would think that particular bend would look better if it were tighter. Basically, take the measurement out from the headlight to the edge of the hood, which should be 3.5" for the headlight and 2" to the hood so 5.5" should look better.

I just went through the same process and was told that unless you are bending think wall tube it was best to go with the tightest radius die available for each diameter.

HTH. Good luck.

Originally posted by Sharp
guys will a 180* , 6.5" radius die for 1.75" tube allow me to make the bends in this pic(the nose guard that fits the contour of the jeep grill)

http://shlingdawg.com/frontbumper.html
thanks again
:beer:
First of all, that's not 1.75"

And if you want to see how tight a 1.75" x 6.5 radius die can bend a nose-over hoop, search for a pic of H8monday's rig. I used the above mentioned die to bend it up and it is about as tight as I could go (Well, he actually planned on using it, so we made it higher than most people;))

EDIT: BTW, Jeff's nose-over isn't exactly straight anymore...he did end up using it...repeatidly!:flipoff2:

i know that the pics wasn't 1.75", but this one is:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/52080939/52080989aHDKvf

so i should manage with 6.5" or is the 5.5 sill more versatile?

I personally think that the 6.5 is beter for cages, but the 5.5 would be better for little stuff like the nose-over.

In the second nose-over link, do you see how the bar is not as wide as the hood? If you had the 5.5, you could follow the hood more easily.

thanks Scout Dude, hmmmm well i have about 3 cages to make....and then a bunch of little stuff inc. my nose guard, so i still have to figure out what would be more practicle for me...