I decied to build a bender. I can't find a shop that can bend tube for me that doesn't tak a mouth to get parts. I down loaded some prints from pro tool then I looked at the bender that blind chicken built findly I bougth some prints from a website I used all three + softwear I use at work call Pro- Engineer. I got all the tube and plate cut last night.




I welded the tubes and plate together be for drilling. This helped keeping the holes alined for the pins.



I got all the holes drilled the 1.375 hole was a bit to big for my new drill press, I thing I danged the bit.
Most of the hole can be placed if you all ready have the die. I'm getting them from PRO-Tool. I'm using a set of bushings on my swing arm I'll show them once I get them



I did all my welding this moring using some 3" scrap to hold the arm together untill it was welded.



I welded the risers next I clamped them to my welding table to make sure they stayed flat to the inside edge.




I welded the support the will brace the risser to the base.



I tack welded the base together but only welded the bottom.




I weled the top of the bace when I welded the risers and brace to it. I took a bit more lining evey thing up but it works nice so it was worth it.



I need my ram, bushings, and dies before I can finish.

_________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|....BUDWEISER......| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|., ] -
(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)

thats nice! what would it cost for you to build a second one?

_________________
lets just ride

I got a $100 in steel but shipping would kill ya

_________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|....BUDWEISER......| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|., ] -
(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)

you are right. id like to know how it works for ya when your done! nice thinking outside the box!

_________________
lets just ride

I am a pro-tools dealer now so if you need dies or other stuff I can get it for 10% less than they sell it online.

Drop shipped from Florida.

Mark

_________________
Mark "Crash" Johnson
Blind Chicken Racing
http://www.blindchickenracing.com

Thanks I will let you know if I need any thing.

_________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|....BUDWEISER......| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|., ] -
(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)

I finshed my bender here are a few pics
Heres the ram moount

wheels

handle storage


air house storage

Here are some of the finish pics

_________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|....BUDWEISER......| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|., ] -
(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)

Thats sweet. Ship it to me and I will test it for you.

thats sweet. great job. What was the total cost of building it yourself then?

With the die less than $350. I had a bunch of the stuff like the wheels I got for a buck at the dune buggy show here in michigan. I got most of the steel for 80 cents per pound. Not bad for something that can bend any thing a pro tools 105 bender can bend.

_________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|....BUDWEISER......| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|., ] -
(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)

I'll send you a tracking number...

_________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|....BUDWEISER......| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|., ] -
(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)

Hey thats awesome job on the bender,id like to build 1 myself 1day.Did i see a formula desert dog tire in the back ground,i havent seen them in many years whered you come up them at.

Can you send me a bunch more pictures of the finished product. Ive got a bunch of square tubing laying around and would love to build one of these. Ive been looking at benders for awhile but not ready to give in to the pro tools prices.

I got them off a set of rims I bought they are really old and weather checked. I would love another set.

_________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|....BUDWEISER......| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|., ] -
(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)

If you give me a week or so I could draw up some prints in Pro-E and send them to you.

_________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|....BUDWEISER......| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|., ] -
(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)

yea alls Id need is a few measurements. Does it really need that huge beefy support around the ram? The pro tools dosent even have any support.

It's only that thick for wear if you go thiner the pin will wear faster + it could see the full 8 tons.

_________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|....BUDWEISER......| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|., ] -
(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)