Some pictures.
Overall.

Cylinder tab.

Gussets.

More Gussets.

Valve mounted.

Degree Wheel.

Thanks.

 

EXCELLENT Work CrazyTasty !!!

 

It looks awesome.

Good work.

 

May I ask how much it cost to put together, minus the die? I don't see too many nice DIY ones with the hydraulic. Where did you get the plans to build it?

 

Minus the 1-5/8" and 1" dies, between the steel, cylinder, pump, hoses and valve
approx 700. As far as plans go, I built the uprights and beam just from some pictures
I came across. Looking back I could have gotten away with 1/2" arms
and lighter rectangular tubing but I did not want a problem with it. The bender arms
I found and modified from this site. Thanks.

 

Where did you get the electric over hydraulic pump?

 

That was an ebay find. The lines I had made once
I knew the distances from the pump to the valve and cylinder.

very nice!!! I just got the air to hydraulic set up on mine but would luv to get a set up like that one day

I decided to build my own after constantly using a friend's. This setup works
great. I can achieve about a 120 degree bend (without retooling) in approx a minute, depending on
the amount I let through the valve. Only issue I have is keeping the follower/die
sufficiently lubricated which is why I bend at a slower, more controlled rate.
Good luck and thanks.

 

very nice!!! I just got the air to hydraulic set up on mine but would luv to get a set up like that one day

 

Very nice setup....

The pump can be found new at www.surpluscenter.com or salvaged from a truck lift gate if you get lucky.

 

I found one here also. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/....com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200329732_200329732&issearch=105871
Must be a popular attachment for the JD2 benders. Found this guys thread also.
http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk5/bender/
Sorry for stealing your thread.

 

Crazytasty,
How much do you have into building this rig? Just wondering, thinking of doing something similar.

 

Very nice. Did you make the degree wheel and if so what did you use to make the marks.

 

yeah, I borrowed my friend's degree wheel,
took some measurements, made a sketch
and cut it out of .125" MS. the marks were
also made with an AWJ instead of cutting
I just etched them. looking back I should
have added the numbers. oh well.

 

Sorry for bring back old treads but i need to make a degree wheel , i dont have a friend near who i could borrow it to clone it

could you please measure yours and let me know principaly im interested in outside diameter and center hole measurments

 

I used a degree wheel from summit for mine. It was around $20. Here is a link to it.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G1057/

Rene

 

looks great!

 

That brass knuckle looking gusset is pretty cool! Call me crazy but it looks like the weld holding that cylinder tab could be beefed up a little bit....

 

angle finder

Hi Mcgiver
I got this from HF http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-angle-gauge-95998.html
works fine on my bender not much work.
My bender is vertical.

have fun
Tom

 

Whats AWJ?????

hey crazy
what is AWJ



yeah, I borrowed my friend's degree wheel,
took some measurements, made a sketch
and cut it out of .125" MS. the marks were
also made with an AWJ instead of cutting
I just etched them. looking back I should
have added the numbers. oh well.

 

I just got done getting my education on bending tubing, pretty simple stuff but learned a lot about this style of bender (actually it's an old 50s hossfield but same style) and a few tips he gave and that I noticed I will pass on.

1. He has a degree wheel, it's in a storage container. Different tubing bends differently, he makes a mark on his dies and lines up by eye. Using a bevel gauge or square he figures out his bends. His permanent marks for 90 and 45 are just guides. The different thickness of tubing (and even different sources) bend differently. We got the tubing from the people we were doing the job for, and I had to pick up a stick for one I messed up (learning is hard on the pocket book) and the stick I picked up was the same thickness, 1/8" but bent a little differently, I needed more bend then the ones we got from them.

2. He has foot controls, I couldn't imagine trying to hold the tubing in and do everything and then have to pull a handle on top of that.

3. I need to get pictures but his setup is pretty slick. You have to readjust to get a 90, instead of the pins like it had, it slides forward and locks in place on notches.

After this experience, 62 some bends later, I'd say a degree wheel is unnecessary.

 

1- That's the one thing I like about my model 3 over the Pro Tools or JMR is that the degree wheel is bolted on in the center with one large nut which makes it easy to rotate it to different marks I made for different sized tubing.

2- You haven't lived a full life until you've done at least a couple hundred bends on the business end of a manual bending draw bar.

BTW... Nice work Crazy.

 

Tks for the recomendation , y just have pured the base in my back yard to start to use the bender

i wil be going hydraulic next year

until that it wil be mounted horizontally thats basicaly why we need the degree wheel , since we wil need to dismount the tube from the bender in order to check it

i use something we know as carpenters "false square" and it helps but i still feel that would be better having the degree wheel

 

Being a Union Electrician by Trade. (nothing wrong with open shop.. just my choice)
We use benders on a hourly basis. 1/2" to 5"

A degree wheel is nice but, Its not really needed if you understand what you are doing.
When trying to duplicate multiple bends, It is nice to truly understand the mathematics of the project.
Its the difference between a craftsman and just guessing.

One thing you should have is a general knowledge of pathogram therum.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem
Again.. Just a general knowledge.. Not a degree in quantum mathematics.
Just need to understand the fundamentals and limitations.

Knowing some constants will never change no matter what the bending radius is always helpful.
A constant is the multiplier for a particular degree.
Your standard offset multipliers are...

22-1/2 degree bending radius use 2.613 for the multiplier
30 degree bending radius use 2.00 for the multiplier
45 degree bending radius use 1.414 for the multiplier
60 degree bending radius use 1.154 for the multiplier

Using the basic formula
L = O x A
L = Length between bends
O = Offset dimension or obstruction
A = Angle offset multiplier.

Lets say you want to bend a 4" offset.
You want to use 30 degree bends.
Your offset multiplier would be 2.00
L = 4" x 2
L = 8"

* Use the table below to find the offset multiplier for the angle you wish to use.

Some useful formulas
http://www.bendtooling.com/bending_formulas.htm

The Bend It Program (free)
http://midmoracing.com/bendit.htm

No-Dog
http://www.no-dog.com/nodog/

Mike

 

Cool info.:drinkup:

 

Bend Tech tube bending software takes ALL the guesswork out of the equation. No need to know anything actually. It will yield perfect bends everytime without wasted tube.

Grant

 

Again, and no disrespect intended..
Why take the craftsmanship out of being a craftsman?
There is no "Guesswork" when you understand the process..
What would one do if he didn't have the software available?

I cant tell you how many times we get apprentices in their 5th year ready to top out and become a Journeyman..
Yet they cant do simple math to figure out a problem.. The software is a crutch.
Yes, Its helpful when you need a quick calculation. Most software is.

One of my biggest frustrations are people claiming to be proficient in something they really no nothing about.

Software like Bend Tech Pro is not making you understand any of the actual process.
The next generation of Craftsmen will be at a complete loss if they have to resort to software to figure out a bend.

I have been an Electrical Instructor at Local #349 for over 20 years..
Software like this is destroying our trade.
We have the software ourselves.. It sits in the cd case collecting dust.
Our Apprentice's know it exist.. And EVERYONE of them thank us for not letting them use it.
They appreciate the fact that they understand how to make any bend they would ever want.. anytime and anywhere..
That's something you cant take away when the power goes off or your hard drive crashes.

We take pride in the fact we are producing craftsmen.. Not keyboard jockeys.
A trait that seems to be dissipating at an alarming rate.

I have nothing against technology..Hell, I'm building a 5 Axis CNC Plasma table right now.
But knowing I understand the entire process and I am building it on my own is the difference between
being the builder/consumer and the user.

In closing, All software has its place. I believe you should understand the "whats" and "whys"
before you start using something like Bend Tech Pro.. Otherwise, Without it you would be dead in the water.
Could you imagine telling the customer, "My laptop went down.. I cant finish."

Mike

 

Mike,

While I agree with some of your post, I have to disagree with it as well. To NOT use a tool such as bend tech and do it the hard way is actually stupid. I'm not talking about a few bends in a piece of conduit, rather a 3 dimensional bend with multi plane bends. Tell me your method is faster, smarter, or more effective. I'm sure I could chop down a bridge with a hacksaw but there are better tools and to not use them is, well backwards thinking.

As I said, I agree with a portion of what you said as having a fundamental understanding of a concept is basic in every trade. I just think when a tool is available to make a job easier, one should absolutely use it.

Lastly, there is a time and a place for everything. Be it a learned technique that can get you wuick results or using a more advanced tool. Half the time I bend tube, I do it without. But, when I am playing with tube that is several dollars per foot and there are multi plane bends, you better bet I will have Bend Tech loaded and providing me perfect results every time. Not sure about you, but my pockets are not lined with money. Bend Tech is a MONEY SAVER and for anyone to say otherwise is either being dishonest or simply doesn't know what they are talking about.

Grant

 

thats a neat looking bender :cool2: and diabolical thanks for those sites I have needed those offset values several times, didnt know it was just a formula, and didnt think asking here. thank you

 

No problem.
Those only cover the basics.
Next you need to learn about shrink and gain.
Here is a link to a .PDF file..
http://www.mikeholt.com/documents/freestuff/BendingRoundRaceways.pdf
Even though its covering "Conduit foot Benders" all the concepts are the same and can be used figuring out any bend.
You're biggest variable will be the different sizes of bending radius's.

Mike

 

Its true.. This is common knowledge.
We are the worst.. I will not even try to deny it!

Mike

 

Grant,
Your last statement is as if those are the only 2 options and nothing else can be true.
Unacceptable!

We do Multi-Million Dollar jobs. That software isn't even available to the men in the field..
Let alone the option to walk around with a laptop.
1) 10' stick of 5" Rigid Galvanized Conduit can cost close to $400.00 That's 1 stick!
And we simply don't use it.. Its not needed if you know what you are doing.

I highly doubt you have any bends so complicated that software is necessary.
If you did.. They would never fit in the bender.

Just because we are bending conduit does not mean we don't make complicated bends?
We bend 2 and 3 dimensional pipe bends all day long.
True we are limited to 360 degrees by code. But that doesn't mean we are not capable of bending more.

I can honestly say.. For the most part, That software is used for people who either don't know what they are doing. Or, Need it for prototyping.
It does have its usefulness.. But, Its extremely minimal to the seasoned craftsman.

We have been doing it this way since 1891.. (Probably longer)
If you were to bring that software out on the job.. You would be shunned and ridiculed..
Bending pipe/conduit is simply not that hard..

Take it from someone who does this for a living.. (Over 26 years in the trade)
I've been running large jobs and instructing for a long time.
Its just a crutch.

If you need it.. Its available for you to use.
We don't need it and we don't use it.
Over a million electricians alone have been bending some of the nicest runs without it from the beginning.
I hope your not going to say we are all wrong?

This post is not about arguing.. I have already stated it has its uses.
If you know what you are doing. There is no need to spend 275.00.

Everything is subject to human error..
Can that software tell you how to take the bend back out and fix it?
A craftsman can.

It all starts the same way.
We take all our measurements and write them down.. (If needed)
The difference is.. When you understand what you are doing..

One person is walking over to the bender to start bending..

The other is going inside to punch in numbers to the computer..
By the time you wait for Windows to load, fire up the software, plug in all the numbers and variables, print out the results, walk back outside and get ready to bend.. Its a lot of lost time.
No worries though, The bender is free to use because the craftsman is already finished with it and busy installing.

And like I said.. He IS capable of doing it right the first time!

Mike

 

Grant,
We have been doing it this way since 1891.. (Probably longer)

Unfortunately you have not but if it makes you feel good then by all means take credit for people that were alive a century before you.

Take it from someone who does this for a living.. (Over 26 years in the trade)
I've been running large jobs and instructing for a long time.
Its just a crutch.

Interesting how your company bought the software if it were only that, a crutch. Hmm interesting. My guess is they felt that there were certain situations that warranted a TOOL like this. Perhaps a few screw ups and spent conduit....Just a wild guess:dizzy:

This post is not about arguing.. I have already stated it has its uses.
If you know what you are doing. There is no need to spend 275.00.

Everything is subject to human error..
Can that software tell you how to take the bend back out and fix it?
A craftsman can.

Is that an admission that you make mistakes Not sure if you, the "Craftsman" knew this, but when you screw a piece of chromoly or DOM tube in a roll cage or STRUCTURAL application, it is not good practice to "bend back" something you screw up! I'm sure you knew that since you are a "craftsman"

And like I said.. He IS capable of doing it right the first time!

Mike

A bit contradictory but let's not split hairs.

Mike,

My intention was not to get into a strutting D!ck feather contest. It is clear that as an electrician, you are comfortable bending conduit. I have no need to make any claims about my work, it all speaks for itself. I simply think you are doing people a diservice to tell them to not use a tool because your great great grandpa did something a certain way 120yrs ago. Times and technologies have improved. For one to not use them is actually sad.

Have a good day ;-)

 

@ Diabolical - cool data for the offset bends, AND the freeware 'BendIt' program. Thanks for sharing. Into the vault of knowledge.......