1/4" tubing bender?

[amickracing]

In in need of a good tubing bender. I end up running a fair bit of pneumatic lines in an attempt to make them look perfect I need a good bender.

I've been using a bender that a coworker has, it's an old johnson controls bender and that thing is awesome! But of course they don't make it anymore.

What do you guys use to bend 1/4 stuff?

[sprintmj19]

I bought all of mine from www.mcmaster.com On page 2277, I have the most all of the 180 degree single size benders. Either Ridgid or Imperial Eastman. All are very heavy duty. I don't care for the multi-size benders, too awkward.

[Airmechanical]

use a long socket, whatever size fits your need, just bend it around the socket!



.

[itsiceman]

I just got a short radius 1/8" 3/16" 1/4" combo from Harbor Freight. Only good for 90° bends. Doesn't look to bad but I don't think it would last for everyday use. I needed something to fill an empty pocket in the new Pac :D

[andserco]

A got a set of benders about 20 yrs ago from Johnson Controls, used to be in their catalog....a good simple set to use,,

[amickracing]

Just like every other good part Johnson Controls has, they've discontinued them! The replacement is a 3 in one bender from grainger... POS.

There are 3 guys in our area that have the good old style bender, but for some reason they aren't letting them out of their sight! I've used them and they are a slick unit...

[smokin68]

bending spring on the small stuff. I have a ratcheting bender also. Did you try the auto parts one for brake lines? They're inexpensive and work....

or if you prefer......http://cgi.ebay.com/2-SWAGELOK-STAINLESS-STEEL-TUBING-BENDERS-1-4-3-8_W0QQitemZ330203045807QQihZ014QQcategoryZ26419QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[darctangent]

I Carry around on of those 3in1 180 benders Johnstone sells but it always seems way to cumbersome to me. A couple of weeks ago I ran out to the local auto parts store and grabbed an el-cheapo tubbing bender they sell- It ain't much to look at but it fits in tight spaces and allows me to make bends on the fly while I'm running my 1/4" water lines for humidifiers. I was sloppy the first time I used it and almost kinked a line, but after that I've had no problems. It feels a little awkward in the hand with it's "teardrop" shaped handle but when I consider how easy it is to use otherwise it's worth it.

So far I'd have to say other than the "stamped metal construction" this thing is the bomb.

I don't know if this is that exact same tool or what size tubing it handles but this looks like the one I bought.

http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=ALT&MfrPartNumber=410316&CategoryCode=3498

[darctangent]

bending spring on the small stuff. I have a ratcheting bender also. Did you try the auto parts one for brake lines? They're inexpensive and work....

har har... You beat me to it smokin'

[andserco]

Hey amick....I'll look in my junk boxes I might have some extras ones.......

[amickracing]

Spring bender don't quite work as well as I'd like them to... I like to make exact(ish) bends that follow each other... kinda tough to do with a spring. Not to mention sliding it down 12' of tubing to make one bend.

I browsed the Napa store today actually, while I was waiting to be served... nothing too cool there really...

Andersorco, you'd be my hero if you managed to find one of them old school benders!

[itsiceman]

I used this bender a few times now and it's not bad. It is the one from Harbor Freight (labeled for automotive brake lines).


http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj31/itsiceman/4bender.jpg

[neophytes serendipity]

Imperial Eastman lever style bender.

[MichaelPaladin]

Imperial Eastman lever style bender.

I have those as well. And I use very few if any 3/8" or smaller fittings, I bend and swage my tubing to fit.

[darctangent]

Just to be clear, while the "teardrop" automotive style bender is a little cumbersome in the hand I can't hardly imagine anything more suited to tight spaces, and it produces decent bends- I'd say about a 8 on a scale of 1- 10. But that's dependent on the guy using it more than some other benders. But, hey, the things only like 4.50 at the local Auto parts store. so you aren't loosing much if you don't like it.

If you guys get a picture of this fabled johnson controls bender please post. I salivate over great tools. :D

[sroberts]

I have the multi bender also and have the imperial eastman bender with the long handles for bending steel tubing. Of course the ie bender works great if you have a lot of room. I have had these for years . 3/8,5/16,1/4.
they really make a job looking great. for larger tubing go with the rachet type.

[y7turbo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KRNRQzbRUo&feature=related

looks nice and easy

[amickracing]

I'll snap a picture of the 3/8 Johnson bender I have tomorrow (if I remember of course). Same thing just bigger.

The one thing that could cause a problem with some of the benders I think is the fact that my 1/4" is hard copper, not soft... I found a bender for like 99 cents, couldn't help but try it for that much. It kinda worked, but it kinked real easy.

[amickracing]

I'm still eagerly lookin for a bender (or 2, or 3) like this... anyone know of any?

http://www.amickracing.com/misc/bender-1.jpg

http://www.amickracing.com/misc/bender-2.jpg

[emcoasthvacr]

I'd prefer a coil spring for that size.

[souper phly]

not the one your looking for but close

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200353976_200353976
http://www.toolfetch.com/Category/Pipe_Working/Tubing_Benders/25140.htm

[andserco]

Those are the ones I have, but I still havent found them....I'll start looking again..Those are excellent benders..

[amickracing]

I'd prefer a coil spring for that size.

Coil springs just aren't accurate enough when you have 3 or 6 (or how many ever) lines all running along each other and need to make that many accurate bends....

I do have the 3 in 1 bender, actually 2 of them, they work, but not nearly as handy as the pictured bender. If you haven't used one, I'm tellin ya, they'll blow you away how nice they are.

I found one that's kinda similar, and I'm tempted to buy it... anyone ever used one of these?

http://dticorp.com/catalog/honeywell-cct720b-tubing-bender-p-3435.html

[emcoasthvacr]

So far, bends are artwork for me, not accurate or calculated...lol

I'm more concerned with pinching or restricting the bend -- if it stays round, I'm happy -- Almost all of the field work I've seen from competitors have pinched or kinked lines, which is poor quality.



Coil springs just aren't accurate enough when you have 3 or 6 (or how many ever) lines all running along each other and need to make that many accurate bends....

I do have the 3 in 1 bender, actually 2 of them, they work, but not nearly as handy as the pictured bender. If you haven't used one, I'm tellin ya, they'll blow you away how nice they are.

I found one that's kinda similar, and I'm tempted to buy it... anyone ever used one of these?

http://dticorp.com/catalog/honeywell-cct720b-tubing-bender-p-3435.html

[andserco]

Hey Amick

Send me a mailing address, I go sumptin fer ya......:D
Email in profile.

[Indy]

Thanks for the link to the Eastwood bender. Like you said it looks easy enough.