Rollers make large radius, low degree bends. Benders are for tight work like most roll cages and bumpers. Pipe and tubing benders are not the same, but the harbor freight kinker can be made into a useable tubing bender with some modifications, it's just slow.

 

Could you describe those modifications to the Harbor Freight pipe bender to make it workable for building roll cages.

 

the harbor freight PIPE bender works well for PIPE if you spend a lot of time messing with the dies and making a few mods to it.

It will kink TUBE so be aware of that. So your plans of using 2in dom will turn into a kink fest.

 

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=376183&highlight=homebuilt+tubing+bender

not what you asked for, but here's an option.

 

That looks like what I was looking for. Thanks.

 

2" x .93? That's almost solid 2"! Did u mean 2"x .095"? Dom is stronger than hrew but .095 is thin. The most common size is 1.75" x .120 Dom for roll cages. .250" wall on the rock sliders or other high impact areas.
Just an opinion.
I built my cage out of 1.75 x .095 hrew and regret it. I don't feel safe inside it. The tube bends easily. I will redo my cage when I can afford it.

 

Yes, I mean't 2" X .095" DOM. Isn't the overall diameter more important than wall thickness?

Or is it the thin wall that bends so much more easily than a wider overall diameter? ERW and HERW ar out of the question.

 

why is HREW out of the question? the wall thickness is pretty important as it helps the structural integrity just as much as the diameter is. 2" is a bit overkill but whatever blows your skirt up. I used 1.75x.120 wall HREW and I feel it is sufficient. In rock crawling most of your roll overs will be low speed (unlike drag racing) so as long as you have a properly built cage you will be fine. if you just throw together a bunch of tubes with no clue what you are doing and cannot support the structure even DOM will fail.

 

OK so 1-3/4" X .120" would be perfect?

I still might wreck this thing going fast.

 

yes, it is easier to work with. i used HREW and am more than confident that it will hold up to anything (speed) that I can throw at it. its your money though..

 

I got a JD2 model 3 bender and added a harbor freight air over hydraulic ram by using an adapter I got from Rock Tactics. I highly recommend it.