Has anyone had experience with a jd2 bender and is this a good deal? http://cgi.ebay.com/JD2-Model-3-Tubing- ... 286.c0.m14

Thats the average deal. Don't forget that package doesn't come with dies. The JD2 is good for the hobbiest like most of us.

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When in doubt, hit it in second gear!

What is the best die 4.5,5.5,6.5.

I like the 4.5 my self but then your limited to tube thickness.
----------------------------------------------------------"Thickness"
100222 M3B Round Tube Die Set - 1 1/2" (4.5-90) 90 .095" $225
100223 M3B Round Tube Die Set - 1 1/2" (4.5-180) 180 .095" $265
100225 M3B Round Tube Die Set - 1 1/2" (5.5-90) 90 .083" $240
100226 M3B Round Tube Die Set - 1 1/2" (5.5-180) 180 .083" $280
100227 M3B Round Tube Die Set - 1 1/2" (6.5-90) 90 .058" $250
100228 M3B Round Tube Die Set - 1 1/2" (6.5-180) 180 .058" $290

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When in doubt, hit it in second gear!

Thats what will kill you is all the dies I have 1.25 in 2 size an 1.5 in 3 size for tight bends and not so tight
I could have bought a compac car for what I spent

i have this bender, it works great. i wouldnt want to build a complete frame with it, but for tree bars, extra bars on the frame ect.... its fine. i have the 11/2 -5.5x180deg. die and bend .095 no problem.
bendtech ez-3d computer bending program is also very helpful, just plug in your dimsions and it tells you where to mark and bend the material. very little wasted material this way. http://www.2020softwaresolutions.com/index.htm
i have an extra older program that doesnt have the 3d on it but still works for basic bending. i was gonna post it for sale, anyone intrested 40.00 for disc and book + shipping

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**********"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity."
- Sigmund Freud **********
**********"The problem is not the availability of guns, it is the availability of morons."
- Antonio Meloni **********

Why wouldn't you want to build a whole frame with it?

Its a manual bender that requires a lot of manual labor! An Electric Hydraulic bender would be more suited for frame fab.

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Water cooled Dry Sumped Subaru Powered Turbo Charged Fuel Injected 2500CC Tank. Oh Rah! He who dies with the most Toys not only wins, He also wears them out!

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**********"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity."
- Sigmund Freud **********
**********"The problem is not the availability of guns, it is the availability of morons."
- Antonio Meloni **********

here is what i did for a bender cheap and not to much grunting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWT3N3m4bE4 tell me how you like it

At about 20 bends per buggy it would take you the rest of your life to complete a car

I used the same bender for these, the front bumper broadsided a deer this morning and didnt bend
but the beam did!

I know I'm digging up old post but some may find this link useful, I know I did. It's a super easy way to lay out bends. As long as you start on the right direction of the mark.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/bendin_tube/index.html

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Roads.... Where we are going, we don't need roads!

I just bought one. With a few dies. I was told try to get the dies with the smallest CRM or whatever the hell it called..

this buggy is built with it. Enough said its badass..

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4403

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Bye Bye Buggy, I'll always miss you and never forget you, your going to a better place now.

CLR=Center Line Radius
I have two 1 5/8" dies one I bought has a 7" CLR and I built one with a 5 1/2" CLR. Both Afterburnt and myself didn't like the 7" for cage building. The bends are too large and sweeping so I machined one with 5 1/2". It bends much tighter. Think of the hoop behind your head, the 7"clr tube will be much closer where as the 5" will be higher out of your way. However the 7" is much better for the two tubes that comes horizonal off the trans mount up to the the rear most tube. you'll have a little more ground clearance for climbing.
Have fun with your new bender and all of the new friends that comes with it .
The link that I put up from Pirate4x4 makes it super easy to bend correctly.

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Roads.... Where we are going, we don't need roads!

Yeah that Pirate4x4 info is very helpful. Ive read it many times..

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Bye Bye Buggy, I'll always miss you and never forget you, your going to a better place now.