Compact metal bender question.

[whiteiron]

I have an inexpensive compact metal bender (HF) that I have had good luck with when using the scroller attachment. However, I cant figure out for the life of me (especially the stop block) how to use the bender for its intended purpose, bending metal. Does anyone know of or have an instruction book, manual, video, etc. that would help me use this thing properly?

[Beezle]

If you will go to www.harborfreight.com and search for the compact bender, you will find a button that allows you to download the manual for the bender in Adobe Acrobat format (pdf file). You will need the Adobe Acrobat reader on your computer to view the file.

I haven't tested this one, but it's a great system for manufacturers to provide their customers with access to product manuals.

Ed

[whiteiron]

Beezle
Thanks for the reply. I should have mentioned that I have the original manual and that it is next to worthless. I does show how to make the letters of the alphabet "in words" not pictures. For me pictures are worth a thousand words. The illustrations of the equipment are very poor. I'm looking for a goog tutorial or a good teacher.

[runchman]

Alright I have attached some photos, hopefully anyway, that should clear things up and at least get you started.

Look at the 'right_way' photo first, then overview...

- John

[runchman]

And here are some detail photos for using the 'right angle' attachment for making sharp bends.

- John

[whiteiron]

Thank you!
Excellent photos! I will try these set ups and bends tomorrow.

[runchman]

Thanks. For being such a simple device (some metal with holes in it), it sure as heck isn't intuitive to use !

- John

[Corm]

runchman - I'd also like to Thank you for taking the time to post those photos! It is really appreciated!

Corm

[Rick Moran]

I agree with all of you that the manual was nearly worthless. When I bought my bender, I thought I would knock out the few bends in short time. I took me a few hours to mount it and figure out the "manual" (if it were perforated every four inches, I know what it could be used for). Now I'm preparing to start another project and need to get it out again. I've been putting it off because I was hestitant about going through the learning curve again. Thanks for the pics, that will make it much easier to remember the setup.

[Visorblue]

Dang it! Now I want one!

Those of you with one, did you wish you'd gotten a bigger unit or is the HF compact one just fine? Looking at this one, too:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=31980

In surfing I found this site which has some videos of their units in use (surf around their site):

http://www.shopoutfitters.com/CompactBender.html

[Rick Moran]

The HF unit is fine for hobby stuff or occasional use. If you were in the business of making ornimental fences or doors, I suppose you'd want to consider a heavy duty unit and/or jigs. If this thing breaks, you could always weld it, not too much to wear out.

[runchman]

That harbor freight one you posted is the one I took the pictures of. I agree it seems like it will be fine for hobby use - after all, it is just some metal with holes in it.

- John

[kaiser715]

thanks! I've had one of these for years, and have long-since forgotten how to set up the right angle bender. Radius bends have always been simple on it for me.

There used to be a geocities page (years ago) that showed this pretty well, but it's gone now.

[MicroZone]

With runchman's permission, I can make up a quick HTML page and host it on either of my web sites. Then it will be accessable that way as well.

[runchman]

Well gee I don't know, those are pretty important photos....

Yeah of course you have permission, have at it !!

[MicroZone]

Hahahaa...okay, just making sure, don't want to step on any toes!

[Visorblue]

The Grizzly H3183 compact bender looks to be the same unit as the HF one and they have a PDF manual online. No idea how they compare but it's another option -- might be some others as well, link is under the Add to Cart button:

http://grizzly.com/products/H3183

[Rick Moran]

Another option, more $$$$, I found on the Cars/PlasmaCAM post in the Machines/Tools section. The PlasmaCAM site had a link to another place that sells all kinds of nice looking metal working equipment. I think this stuff is geared more towards everyday/business use though and the cost reflects it. The good thing was they had "add ons" that for the bender machine that would enhance it's capabilites with other options. Twister, mutilple twister, and I think something else. They also had rollers and some other interesting stuff. Check it out before buying if you're serious about ornimental iron work.

Maybe they have a manual worth the ink it was printed with.....

[mikeyr]

the HF one has the twister and other options available for it as well, you just have to hunt it down one the HF site.

And by the way, Shopoutfitters.com has some attachements for their bender like tube bending dies and they will fit the HF unit, I asked them first and then got the 3/4" square tubing dies, fit perfectly.

[Rick Moran]

Hey Mike,

Thanks for researching that and confirming that they fit. I have the HF unit and when I saw the pics yesterday, the thought crossed my mind that some of the parts may be interchangable. I may have to get some price quotes on some of the add-ons in the future.

That's the great thing about this site, lots of shared info. My step-daughter lives in SB, I'm in Lakewood (LB area).

Merry Christmas!

Rick

[cogla]

Runchman
Thanks for the pics
Here in England it's available here
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product...1&r=2044&g=106

I too am somewhat disgruntled with the instructions

Also, there must have been a modification to the design
The metal cube with a hole drilled thru it -- now the hole is equidistant at one end
see this sketch



The instructions show the hole set in one corner as in your pic

Any comments on how this cube should be positioned?

happy Xmas to all

cog

[ElectroLight]

Hey Mike,
How about a few pics of your HF compact "tube bender" in action?

[runchman]

That's odd about the hole in the block. The idea with it being offset (like mine is), is that by flipping it upside-down, you end up being able to get the 'clamping' edge of the block 6 different distances away from the workpiece.

As I understand it, basically you want to line it up with one of the holes, any one, such that the clamping side is as close as possible to the workpiece.

With the one caveat being the hole needs to be 'right of center' so you get the cam-action clamping instead of having the block just twist out of the way.

Think of it this way, the workpiece section to the left of the hole has a longer lever against the blocks rotation point than the section to the right of the hole does, so the piece to the left "wins" the battle and tries to rotate the block clockwise, thereby clamping the piece.

For this clockwise rotation to occur the hole has to be to the right of center.

Ok I think I've beat that to death !

- John

[alanh]

If you go to shopoutfitters.com and click on (compact tube bender), you can find a short video of the unit in action.

[Alberta Fabricator]

I agree, I have one of those benders and the manual was next to useless. For me theres usually a few scrap trial peices I have to go through to relearn how to make certain intricate bends. It's a versitile tool, but your on your own on learning how to use it.

Excellent posts and pictures runchman!