roll bar bending tools

Woodfin · 07-10-2024, 06:15 PM

Racers,

For those of you who bend your roll bars and other tubing, what tools are you using? I want something that will bend up to 1 5/8 mild steel tubing. Because it will be for occasional use, I think a manual bender is what I want.

CMcAllister · 07-10-2024, 06:21 PM

J D Squared Model 3. Does a nice, smooth job. Some of the bigger machines are not as handy.

US made. Quality piece.

Put hydraulics on it. Or you will wish you had.

Woodfin · 07-10-2024, 06:51 PM

Thank you, sounds like a voice of experience about the power-assisted model.

Tom Goldman · 07-10-2024, 09:14 PM

JD2 bender with BendTechEZ software. X2 on hydraulics ,I bent manually till I hit 70, ordered the hydraulics for it !

mike britt · 07-10-2024, 10:20 PM

I use a bender from Affordable Bender.

CMcAllister · 07-11-2024, 09:53 PM

Manual bending requires the machine to be substantially mounted, typically to the floor on a stand.

We went with hydraulics from the beginning. Electric motor, pump, reservoir, log splitter type valve, all mounted on a heavy cart on wheels that we fabricated, with the bender mounted at a good working height. 1.75" 4130 with ease.

Easily moved and used anywhere in the shop, even outside if need be. Easy to accommodate long lengths, wide sweeps, whatever and wherever we need, without making room or moving stuff around to do the job. Put it in a corner when not being used, rather than stuck in the middle of the floor.

Maybe a 2' x 2' footprint. Heavy enough that it is stable regardless what we have in it and it doesn't want to scoot around when using it.

Jack Zimmerman · 07-13-2024, 07:55 AM

I also have a JD2 bender but they don't make a Model 3 anymore and the Model 32 is the replacement. But I'm cheap so I used an 8-ton, air over hydraulic jack ram from Harbor Freight to power it (~$120) and I built a roll around stand for the whole thing and it seems to work pretty well so far. If you're interested in that option there are lots of comments, pictures and videos on the internet for how to do it.

Woodfin · 07-13-2024, 09:10 AM

Thanks to all for the information. The deal is, that I am age 77 and most likely building my last roll cage system. Because the freight cost is so much, I considered buying a bender rather than purchasing a pre-bent kit.

After more pondering, the pre-bent kit, ordered through the wholesale side of Summit and picked up at the Arlington TX location is my best option.

In hindsight, about 20 years and 10 builds ago would have been the best time to buy a bender

07-10-2024, 06:15 PM	#1
Woodfin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilgore TX Posts: 519 Likes: 8 Liked 225 Times in 90 Posts	roll bar bending tools Racers, For those of you who bend your roll bars and other tubing, what tools are you using? I want something that will bend up to 1 5/8 mild steel tubing. Because it will be for occasional use, I think a manual bender is what I want.

07-10-2024, 06:21 PM	#2
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 603 Likes: 15 Liked 890 Times in 248 Posts	Re: roll bar bending tools J D Squared Model 3. Does a nice, smooth job. Some of the bigger machines are not as handy. US made. Quality piece. Put hydraulics on it. Or you will wish you had.

07-10-2024, 06:51 PM	#3
Woodfin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilgore TX Posts: 519 Likes: 8 Liked 225 Times in 90 Posts	Re: roll bar bending tools Thank you, sounds like a voice of experience about the power-assisted model.

07-10-2024, 09:14 PM	#4
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,473 Likes: 878 Liked 848 Times in 234 Posts	Re: roll bar bending tools JD2 bender with BendTechEZ software. X2 on hydraulics ,I bent manually till I hit 70, ordered the hydraulics for it ! __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

07-10-2024, 10:20 PM	#5
mike britt Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Italy, Texas Posts: 174 Likes: 364 Liked 62 Times in 30 Posts	Re: roll bar bending tools I use a bender from Affordable Bender.

07-11-2024, 09:53 PM	#6
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 603 Likes: 15 Liked 890 Times in 248 Posts	Re: roll bar bending tools Manual bending requires the machine to be substantially mounted, typically to the floor on a stand. We went with hydraulics from the beginning. Electric motor, pump, reservoir, log splitter type valve, all mounted on a heavy cart on wheels that we fabricated, with the bender mounted at a good working height. 1.75" 4130 with ease. Easily moved and used anywhere in the shop, even outside if need be. Easy to accommodate long lengths, wide sweeps, whatever and wherever we need, without making room or moving stuff around to do the job. Put it in a corner when not being used, rather than stuck in the middle of the floor. Maybe a 2' x 2' footprint. Heavy enough that it is stable regardless what we have in it and it doesn't want to scoot around when using it.

07-13-2024, 07:55 AM	#7
Jack Zimmerman Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Clemmons, NC Posts: 35 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 6 Posts	Re: roll bar bending tools I also have a JD2 bender but they don't make a Model 3 anymore and the Model 32 is the replacement. But I'm cheap so I used an 8-ton, air over hydraulic jack ram from Harbor Freight to power it (~$120) and I built a roll around stand for the whole thing and it seems to work pretty well so far. If you're interested in that option there are lots of comments, pictures and videos on the internet for how to do it.

07-13-2024, 09:10 AM	#8
Woodfin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilgore TX Posts: 519 Likes: 8 Liked 225 Times in 90 Posts	Re: roll bar bending tools Thanks to all for the information. The deal is, that I am age 77 and most likely building my last roll cage system. Because the freight cost is so much, I considered buying a bender rather than purchasing a pre-bent kit. After more pondering, the pre-bent kit, ordered through the wholesale side of Summit and picked up at the Arlington TX location is my best option. In hindsight, about 20 years and 10 builds ago would have been the best time to buy a bender