Tubing Bender

[bucketobolts]

Didn't want everyone to think I had abandoned my Bronco. Here is a cart and air/hydraulic conversion I've been tinkering with for my Pro 105 Bender. I still have a few more welds to finish up and then throw on some paint. I've also been thinking about adding a shelf to store dies on.

[69bronco]

Looks good man. Have you tested the new toy yet?

[SC74]

Good idea. You'll find that the more weight in the bottom the better but it does look like you've got it balanced well with the die on it. You could weld studs on the legs to hang the dies also.

[bucketobolts]

I have not bent anything with it yet. I need to figure out a way to make it return with a spring or some gadget. Right now after I run out of stroke I have to manually squeeze the cylinder back in to make another run.

Also thinking about installing a digital tape measure on the cylinder. That way I can measure the length of a bend and repeat it with a little more precision.

[Timstrk]

Gump, you're a genius! I've been looking at the one on Pirate for a couple days and knew there had to be a another way. Good job.

Tim

[744x4]

He he thats why the spec ram in the pro tools kit is 450 bucks as it returns to center automaticly but a couple if springs will do that too.

[broncomania]

nice setup.

[Timstrk]

Is that 2" square tubing that you used for the cylinder support?

Tim

[bucketobolts]

Yes it is a piece of 3/16 wall 2x2 and the gusset is made from 1/4" plate.

[bucketobolts]

Well the cylinder has worked pretty good. It is a bit slow but does the job. A little design flaw lets the square tube push over against the tubing your trying to bend. So I had been using a small piece wood at the top of the cylinder to keep it off the work. This afternoon I stuck a piece of steel under the base plate to stop it from swinging around. About a third of the way through my first bend I heard a pop and the cylinder quit pumping up. The air motor runs but build no pressure. I found that the base was in a bind and broke where the cylinder attaches. Off to Harbor Freight to swap in out...