tube bender

[naughtyboy]

work are looking at getting tube bender rather than paying for outside coy to mave a load of safety barriers.
they are to go round top of 4 new machines to stop people falling off when checking material hoppers and barrel heaters.
what would you good people recomend?
and good supplier

absolute max it will be doing is 50x3mm ( my projects ) 99% of stuff will be 40ishx 2mm stainless. and occosional 25x1.6mm

cheers.

 

[Hitch]

Id recommend you use Key clamp for the handrails.
For the stainless, just buy bends.... unless they are thinking of spending a decent amount of money.....

 

[Welderpaul]

A decent tube bender that will handle that will set you back 4-5k. A lot of money when there are alternatives - kee klamp, weld bends, mitred joints.

 

[naughtyboy]

they are looking at spending 2-3k on one.
boss wants it all in one if he can as it will look better when customers come rd.
plan is to replace all of the 15 machines over next 3 yrs so it will get the use.
that and he doesnt want to pay the amount coy are quoting for making them, he priced up steel and reckons they are wanting 1k per barrier just in labour.

 

[naughtyboy]

paul didnt see your post.
sure he could be talked into more money just by telling him to spend amount it would cost to get first four made then macine is paid for.

 

[Welderpaul]

Ercolina are probably one of the best around. Pricey, but will last. Ours is a rotary draw bender. They come up in auctions from time to time, but they tend to know how to charge.

 

[Welderpaul]

Has your boss had a few quotes?

 

[naughtyboy]

he as had 2 that i know of.
will find out when i go in tonight as ive got keys to his office so will take look.
one of them we used in past were useless my 12 yr old can do better in steel.

 

[Engineer]

Not sure it would bend 3mm, but probably all the rest no problem..........take a look at the JD2 draw bender imported in to the UK by Tubela: http://www.tubela.com/

They are around £300 and you just need to buy the formers for tube sizes you want to bend.

Should be ideal for making things like safety barriers, but obviously no real use for intensive production bending.

 

[Shox Dr]

Don't think the JD will go that big.

ProTools Brute, goes to 3" Stakesys are their importer