Tube bender

[Badger1bear]

Hi guys, has anyone made a hydraulic pipe/tube bender or have plans for one ? The type they have in the USA for making cages, bumpers etc ?
I am not after the 12 ton Clarke type bender but something a bit more special

 

[DrNik]

hi there, i have a hydraulic bender, id take you some pics and diagram/measurements, its the real deal, will bend 50mm tube with 3mm wall no sweat

 

[Badger1bear]

can you get bigger mandrels for it ?

 

[pedrobedro]

Have a look on the blind chicken racing site for ideas. They don't give plans but encourage people to make their own version. Rorty design has some plans for sale but you'll need to find dies.

 

[madzuki]

I have a spare set of the Rorty components laser cut, was as cheap to do 2 as 1, but as pedrobedro said, the dies are problematic with the current price of steel..

 

[Badger1bear]

what sort of price are you after bud and do you have pics ?

 

[DrNik]

the easiest way to make the dies is either to make it from layers of steel sheet, and then getting someone to bend a tube and split it through the sides weld that to the sheets and all done, otherwise its £100 or 35kg block in a lathe and have it turned

 

[Shox Dr]

can you get bigger mandrels for it ?

What Dia and wall thickness are you hoping to bend

 

[Badger1bear]

between 2 and 3 inch, I know thats a big ole pipe but if everything was easy....everyone would be doing it

 

[Shox Dr]

You got that right. What wall thickness

 

[DrNik]

blimey, unless its exhaust pipe thats going to be a serious bender, you will need a mandrel too or it may collapse, how tighter bend are you expecting, you wont bend that by hand

 

[Badger1bear]

Hydraulic is my intention bud, I was getting inspiration from the benders on pirate4x4