CK5 - The Full-Size GM Off Road Community

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=35336

It is a pipe bender not a tubing bender which means it will kink tubing. If that is what you are looking to do with it. Like building Roll cages and bumpers and such.

i've got one of those. i think i got mine on sale for around 100$.
works decent to bend black pipe, will not bend tube tho. i used mine to make a simple bumper, but main problem with it tho is there is no degree wheel like there is on a tube bender,so getting a bend just right or making to bends match is very difficult. i would suggest saving up or splitting the cost with a buddy and getting a manual tubing bender. they cost around 700 i think for a basic setup with one set of dies.

pretty much junk.. I sold mine.. new for 60.00

if you are doing tube.. you have to spend the money for a good bender ... cheap ones only cost more money in the end...

Im about to buy one.. with two dies it will be over 2k... electric over hydralic... manual would have been about 600 less

you can buy one from lo buck tools or jegs for a little cheaper but they are a different style and no degree wheels

sorry.. theres just no good cheap way... Ive tried them all

packing tube with sand,,,packing tube with water and manually bending aound something... like a chinaman... mickey rat..

sticking a spring inside the tube.. still kinks

Yep. I have one and think that its basically a POS for what I was trying to do. It is fine for pipe, but as mentioned, there is a lot of trial and error to get the bends right.

guess we'll look for something better then...i plan on getting building my own cage at some point so i need one for that...manual operation is fine for me

me and a friend are planning on splitting the cost

You might want to check out this site if you haven't already. I have personally seen this bender in person and the quality looks to be very good.
http://jd2.com/

You might want to check out this site if you haven't already. I have personally seen this bender in person and the quality looks to be very good.
http://jd2.com/


anyone have any experience with the model 3?

Definitely look elsewhere. There are guys who have made do with that bender, but the designs have to be made to allow for the problems and limitations, (such as no bends over about 70*). Plus. even if you use the anti-dent and anti-kink tricks, you will still scrap tube.

Look into JD2, ProTools, and NE5 bender frames for a better solution that can go to 180*.

I have a 12 ton unit of the same make and I built this. You just have to have patience with it and be smarter than the machine. Note the triple bend on the bottom bar out of one piece. But then again I am just a little old carpenter that taught myself to weld, What do I know.
P.S. Don't try to use it for exhaust pipe!

I can see the flattening of the tube in your pic. That is why these PIPE benders are not good for roll cage construction.