03-17-2016, 03:30 PM
(03-11-2016, 06:01 PM)f350ca Wrote: Going to pass on that one Al but planning to make a tubing bender for some 1/2 inch stainless tubing I have. Hope to make most of the lines with it and a short hose at the end.
I have made several benders in different radii for .5" tube.
The one I put the most time into designing the clamp is also the more precise of the bunch, and will put the beginning of the bend exactly where you want it.
I also made large radius dies for a different bender chassis, and that does't work as well because there is a long follower die and a short follower die -- I'm guessing the original designer thought the extra friction of the long follower would keep the tube stationary while bending. It doesn't, it really needs a clamp.
On my "someday" list, I want to build a manual, 20:1 geared, mandrel bender equipped with a digital readout.