For a couple of years now, I have seen HF and others selling a pipe
bender...both 12 ton and (I believe) 17 ton.

How well do these work for bending pipe on a "here and there" basis? I
don't need something that is used every day but when it comes up, it
would be nice to be able to do it on the cheap. Any frustrations with
these that have come up? If it says it'll do a 2-1/2 sch 40 does this
mean it will or does it crap out near/below it's listed limits?

It appears that it would be a little hard to control bends accurately,
especially if you get into complicated 3 dimensional planes or multiple
bends in the same pipe. Any comments?


Thanks for the input


Koz

"Koz" wrote in message
...
For a couple of years now, I have seen HF and others selling a pipe
bender...both 12 ton and (I believe) 17 ton.

How well do these work for bending pipe on a "here and there" basis? I
don't need something that is used every day but when it comes up, it
would be nice to be able to do it on the cheap. Any frustrations with
these that have come up? If it says it'll do a 2-1/2 sch 40 does this
mean it will or does it crap out near/below it's listed limits?

It appears that it would be a little hard to control bends accurately,
especially if you get into complicated 3 dimensional planes or multiple
bends in the same pipe. Any comments?


Thanks for the input


Koz


They'll pretty much do what they say they'll do, in my experience. You
certainly wouldn't want to be using that bender if you had a lot of
complicated bending to to. As you're thinking, accuracy and repeatability
are not those units' strong suits. The main mistake people make with pipe
benders is confusing them with tubing benders. You will not get usable
results trying to bend tubing with a pipe bender. For one, the dies are all
wrong (2" pipe is actually 2 3/8" OD). The pipe-style bender also doesn't
support the tube correctly, and will tend to kink or collapse it.

Cheers,
Walt

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:22:01 -0700, Koz
wrote:

For a couple of years now, I have seen HF and others selling a pipe
bender...both 12 ton and (I believe) 17 ton.

How well do these work for bending pipe on a "here and there" basis? I
don't need something that is used every day but when it comes up, it
would be nice to be able to do it on the cheap. Any frustrations with
these that have come up? If it says it'll do a 2-1/2 sch 40 does this
mean it will or does it crap out near/below it's listed limits?

It appears that it would be a little hard to control bends accurately,
especially if you get into complicated 3 dimensional planes or multiple
bends in the same pipe. Any comments?


Thanks for the input


Koz

I have the 12 Ton. You have to get really heavy on the handle to bend
2". It does it though without kinking. 1 1/4 is not too bad. You would
have to rig a table or jig to control the plane of multiple bends.

They work well- for PIPE. Not tubing.
JR
Dweller in the cellar

Koz wrote:

For a couple of years now, I have seen HF and others selling a pipe
bender...both 12 ton and (I believe) 17 ton.

How well do these work for bending pipe on a "here and there" basis? I
don't need something that is used every day but when it comes up, it
would be nice to be able to do it on the cheap. Any frustrations with
these that have come up? If it says it'll do a 2-1/2 sch 40 does this
mean it will or does it crap out near/below it's listed limits?

It appears that it would be a little hard to control bends accurately,
especially if you get into complicated 3 dimensional planes or multiple
bends in the same pipe. Any comments?


Thanks for the input


Koz

Ditto the other comments. They work fine on sched 40 pipe. 2" pipe is a
grunt. Trying to adapt them to tubing is a non starter. Getting a
consistent bend to a given angle is a challenge. Distance between bends
is a challenge. Plane changes are a REAL challenge. These things are
really hydraulic assisted manual benders. Not much different from what
you would do with a manual conduit bender.

I got mine on a closeout for $40, great tool for that price.

Koz wrote:

For a couple of years now, I have seen HF and others selling a pipe
bender...both 12 ton and (I believe) 17 ton.

How well do these work for bending pipe on a "here and there" basis? I
don't need something that is used every day but when it comes up, it
would be nice to be able to do it on the cheap. Any frustrations with
these that have come up? If it says it'll do a 2-1/2 sch 40 does this
mean it will or does it crap out near/below it's listed limits?

It appears that it would be a little hard to control bends accurately,
especially if you get into complicated 3 dimensional planes or multiple
bends in the same pipe. Any comments?


Thanks for the input


Koz

They work just fine. Repeatability is as good as your measurements and
positioning of pipe in the smae place again and again. Its one of the
few things (besides their H/V bandsaw) that I can honestly say is
worth the money from HF. It will not bend tube, and is just like the
name implies...Pipe bender.
Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
Opinions expressed are those of my wife,
I had no input whatsoever.
Remove "nospam" from email addy.

Thanks for all the comments. As has been said, these are for PIPE and
that is what I intended to bend (not tubing) so it looks like it's worth it.

Great to hear some comments from people. Even though not expensive, I
hated to buy a "white elephant" that I would be tripping over for the
next 10 years.

Koz

Koz wrote:

For a couple of years now, I have seen HF and others selling a pipe
bender...both 12 ton and (I believe) 17 ton.

How well do these work for bending pipe on a "here and there" basis?
I don't need something that is used every day but when it comes up, it
would be nice to be able to do it on the cheap. Any frustrations with
these that have come up? If it says it'll do a 2-1/2 sch 40 does this
mean it will or does it crap out near/below it's listed limits?

It appears that it would be a little hard to control bends accurately,
especially if you get into complicated 3 dimensional planes or
multiple bends in the same pipe. Any comments?


Thanks for the input


Koz

Koz wrote in message
...
Thanks for all the comments. As has been said, these are for PIPE and
that is what I intended to bend (not tubing) so it looks like it's worth
it.

Great to hear some comments from people. Even though not expensive, I
hated to buy a "white elephant" that I would be tripping over for the
next 10 years.

Koz

Koz, i have a cheapy 12 ton pipe bender from HF and you cant go wrong for
the price. I have made numerous items with it and have had great success.
Takes more time and effort, but for roughly $100. how can you go wrong?
Here are a couple of mini-bike choppers I made with it. (one is still under
construction)
http://www.metalworking.com/DropBox/...nibike_b_2.jpg

Good luck,
walt

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:22:01 -0700, Koz
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:

remove ns from my header address to reply via email


Not HF, but I bet it's the same machine, from the same factory. I used
one to build a shade house, so far, with a lot of bends that needed
pretty good repeatability. I marked the exact centre of each bend, and
placed that on the very middle of the mandrel. I used a template for
each bend, and simply learned how many pumps it took from "contact"
until I was nearly there. Then it was a bit fiddly, pump, release,
measure etc, for the last 2-4 times. I was very happy with the result,
and on a first try. But you have to be careful and take your time.

I was using 32mm 2mm wall "pipe". To avoid kinking, I found that in
some cases (more than about 40 deg) I had to to 2 or 3 mini bends
rather than one single one. But this is thin walled stuff. Thicker is
easier.

Just remember that if you decide to bend solid bar, move the pojns out
at least one setting past the pipe position. DAMHIKT.

For a couple of years now, I have seen HF and others selling a pipe
bender...both 12 ton and (I believe) 17 ton.

How well do these work for bending pipe on a "here and there" basis? I
don't need something that is used every day but when it comes up, it
would be nice to be able to do it on the cheap. Any frustrations with
these that have come up? If it says it'll do a 2-1/2 sch 40 does this
mean it will or does it crap out near/below it's listed limits?

It appears that it would be a little hard to control bends accurately,
especially if you get into complicated 3 dimensional planes or multiple
bends in the same pipe. Any comments?


Thanks for the input


Koz

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