northern tool

[njpiney]

Hope this is in the right spot, is northern tool similar to Harbor Freight in its products? I was going to get a pipe bender and dont know about the quality

Northern Tool:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5073_200365073

Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/16-ton-...der-35336.html

Thanks for any input.

[forhire]

The HF version has dies that will do up to 3". The NT is only up to 2". They look similar in construction.

[ed mac]

northern tool is better. there hardware and paint blows HF away
but you still have to shop around

[Jack Olsen]

What are you looking to do with the bender? I've known guys who thought they could bend tubing with those and ended up with a lot of kinked scrap. That is NOT something you can make a cage/roll-bar/mini-bike with.

[tigmusky]

I would say. NT Is a step better , a small step. The no name stuff is the same junk. NT does sell Dewalt, Milwaukee and other good name tools.

Jack's right! I have a NT bender works good a sch 40 pipe and that's about it.

This thread maybe be helpful http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=48986

Daye

[SeanMurphy265]

Northern Tool has better quality tools over all, but they do handle some cheaper tools. Some of those cheaper tools are exactly the same as harbor freight, but N.T. will charge a little more. They both sell Haul Master trailer kits and other items.

That bender has earned the nickname H.F. Kinker on pirate 4x4's forum.

In Memphis, Northern Tool and Harbor Freight are about 1 mile apart so I check both of them before I buy something, along with reading the reviews.

[tackit]

Just a suggestion. If your bending needs are from brake tubing up to 1 1/2" these are nice benders, made in the USA too, you can get dies for round, square TUBING and for other jobs.

The MIGHTY MIGHT bender is only $90, you can add tooling as the need arises.

The brake tubing dies would come in handy.

http://www.metalbendingtool.com/brut...ort=20a&page=1

[Rbeckett]

If you are planning to do TUBING, then leave the HF/NT stuff alone. It will kink your tubing and you will fail any tech inspection you may be subject to in a tube chassis. If you are bending PIPE, then you will be OK, they do a fair job on that. Just remember ther is a big diff in tube and pipe so make sure you get the right tool for the job. If your doing tube, then look at the JD2, or Protools benders.
Bob