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RATCHET CROSSBOW TUBING BENDERS
The title summarize it all
i' m on the market for a new one
YJ, CPS, HILMORE, UNIWIELD, BLACKMAX or MASTERCOOL.
which one did you get and why you choose that Brand ?
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Definitely love my hilmor. And the bending dies are metal. I really hate the fact that you pay big money for yj and get plastic dies. The hilmor also has a lot of features that make it quick like one beam that works for all sizes and just snaps into place.
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"I think Quantum tunneling would work great...
"
"Call a technician for God's sake. Or we'll see you on the news or the Dark Side of the Moon."
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I have had YJ, CPS Blackmax and Hilmor.
The yellow jacket looks cheap but has lasted the best. Dont knock the plastic dies until you try them.
If it hadn't been for an untimely death after the second use I liked the CPS Blackmax the best because it had the reverse bender attachment and was built the sturdiest but it was returned broke after it got loaned to someone who we should have known better than to loan it to.
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"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
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Originally Posted by
JayMan7
Definitely love my hilmor. And the bending dies are metal. I really hate the fact that you pay big money for yj and get plastic dies. The hilmor also has a lot of features that make it quick like one beam that works for all sizes and just snaps into place.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
The Hilmor is definitely the Cadillac of the bunch but ours always broke. I suspect they would have lasted if we treated them better.
Sent from my "smart" phone using Tapatalk
"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
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Yellow Jacket bender for over 20 years and it never broke.
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Originally Posted by
sammyray
Yellow Jacket bender for over 20 years and it never broke.
What model?
Sent from my "smart" phone using Tapatalk
"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
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I have the YJ bender. It works well but will kink the pipe badly if you do not apply some type of lube first.
-Marty
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So far i kinda like the CPS BLACKMAX and HILLMORE
Hilmore because there are no screws, everything snap in easily
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The hilmor is a dream to use. And we never had a problem with the snap on attachment method. Ours lasted 2 years but that may have been something we did we're good at destroying tools.
Sent from my "smart" phone using Tapatalk
"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
-
The hilmor is really nice to use and it feels really solid. For those of you that broke it, where did it break and what were you doing? Really just curious if there's some kind of pattern to the failure.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
"I think Quantum tunneling would work great...
"
"Call a technician for God's sake. Or we'll see you on the news or the Dark Side of the Moon."
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Originally Posted by
JayMan7
The hilmor is really nice to use and it feels really solid. For those of you that broke it, where did it break and what were you doing? Really just curious if there's some kind of pattern to the failure.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
I heard that the head used to snap off but they fixed that problem and our replacement stripped out the ratchet mechanism. I suspect someone wasn't very careful with how they removed the tool from the copper after a bend and finally wore enough slack in it to where it slipped.
Sent from my "smart" phone using Tapatalk
"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
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Originally Posted by
R600a
I heard that the head used to snap off but they fixed that problem and our replacement stripped out the ratchet mechanism. I suspect someone wasn't very careful with how they removed the tool from the copper after a bend and finally wore enough slack in it to where it slipped.
Sent from my "smart" phone using Tapatalk
Yeah I think they did fix that issue. Anyway some of these posts make it sound like you all buy these tools for your employees. That's comparing apples to oranges. I buy practically all of my tools and I take care of them and they all last me a long time. Company tools get absolutely raped.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
"I think Quantum tunneling would work great...
"
"Call a technician for God's sake. Or we'll see you on the news or the Dark Side of the Moon."
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Originally Posted by
JayMan7
Yeah I think they did fix that issue. Anyway some of these posts make it sound like you all buy these tools for your employees. That's comparing apples to oranges. I buy practically all of my tools and I take care of them and they all last me a long time. Company tools get absolutely raped.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
I buy tools for myself owner operator here no employee, yet.
i take care of my tools, like you, but i buy quality tools not looking for cheap one, not afraid to spend a little bit more if its the right quality tool. i am looking for something durable and great quality.
i don't want spend money on a bender that will kink all my copper tubes everything i use it.
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I have one of the older YJ's... the one that came in the yellow metal box... yeah, plastic dies...
I think it was made in Germany...
Anyhow, had it for a LONG time... have the reverse kit (yeah, have to thumb screw the gadgets on)...
It works GREAT... when I get it out to use it.
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!
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what about CPS BLACKMAX
Anyone ?
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Originally Posted by
ga-hvac-tech
I have one of the older YJ's... the one that came in the yellow metal box... yeah, plastic dies...
I think it was made in Germany...
Anyhow, had it for a LONG time... have the reverse kit (yeah, have to thumb screw the gadgets on)...
It works GREAT... when I get it out to use it.
did you notice some rippling or kink on the copper pipe ???
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Aircon8 one thing I'd do if you can is just go to a supply house that carries the yj and the hilmor. See if they'll let you take it out of the box and just get a feel for the difference. Honestly the cps blackmax looks very similar to the hilmor maybe both companies are owned by the same parent company who knows.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
"I think Quantum tunneling would work great...
"
"Call a technician for God's sake. Or we'll see you on the news or the Dark Side of the Moon."
-
Originally Posted by
AIRCON8
did you notice some rippling or kink on the copper pipe ???
Sometimes...
When the copper is new... never.
When the copper is OLD and hard... yeah, sometimes.
It is worse on the 3/4 and 7/8...
Thing to do... as mentioned above... put some WD40 on the die... bend it, wipe it off.
Seems to work for me.
Edit: Thinking out loud here... the difference between a 6-8" radius bend... and an elbow brazed in...
Is IMO significant enough... it will absorb a few ripples in the copper from a poor quality bending die.
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!
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I agree. I hate the way ripples look. They bother my ocd. But in reality they probably have no significant effect on the operation of the system.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
"I think Quantum tunneling would work great...
"
"Call a technician for God's sake. Or we'll see you on the news or the Dark Side of the Moon."
-
Post Likes - 1 Likes, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
JayMan7
I agree. I hate the way ripples look. They bother my ocd. But in reality they probably have no significant effect on the operation of the system.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
My yellow jacket only made ripples the first couple times when it was new and if I get a dinged up piece of copper. When it was new I smeared a little bit of oil on it but I only had to do it once.
The only one I remember not making ripples or kinks when it was new is the hilmor. All the other ones needed a couple bends before they worked right.
I really like the yellow jacket but I miss having a reverse Bender so I'm ordering a new Ratchet head for my CPS Black Max because it has a reverse Bender.
I'd say if you're getting a lot of ripples get some better copper. 
Sent from my "smart" phone using Tapatalk
"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
-
Post Likes - 1 Likes, 0 Dislikes
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