Fab Tools

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TxPhPrerunner

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I'm getting ready to build my first truck and I have been searching the net for tools. I found this site and was wondering if some of the experienced fabricators on the bbs would look at the benders and other tools this guy has and tell me what you think. The url is http://209.238.153.119/index.html . Also how about a suggested reading list for first time builders. Much like lower links 101 it could eliminate some questions and help some of us build better trucks at the some time.

I don't live on the edge. I fell over long ago.
 
Brian Mapes

Brian Mapes

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what kind of bender do you have?

You gots to pay da cost to be da boss. - Snoop
 
fishd00d

fishd00d

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JD2 Model 3

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.jd2.com/M3B_Features.htm>http://www.jd2.com/M3B_Features.htm</A>

Go Big Or Go Home
United Jumping Truck Society
 
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1992f150

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avoid harbor freight like the plague. Besides thats for pipe not tube, tube will not work well at all.

Azusa: shame of the foothills
 
Kbach66

Kbach66

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I wouldn't say avoid harbor frieght like the plague....
They have some great tools that get the job done when needed. Granted, they're not for a fab shop or anything serious, but to the weekend warrior that needs to cut or grind some metal they work alright. I still have one of thier chop saws that I paid about $60 for around 8 years ago that I've used to cut a SH*$ load of tubing with. Sure, I could've paid big bucks and got a name brand...but so far I've been lucky. I also just bought their 12" disc sander for $89...again....I could've bought a $800 Apex but I don't need it.

Now that I said all these nice things about harbor frieght tools...they're probably all going to take a dump on me next time I use them!!!
 
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1992f150

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save a nickel, save a dime, f**k yourself every time...Ive never gotten anything from there that wasnt total junk, to the cresent wrench that broke in 1 day, to the saw blade that was dull after 10 minutes use, to the notcher that didn't line up right....

Azusa: shame of the foothills
 
fishd00d

fishd00d

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The one thing I know a lot of people have from there is their Impact Sockets.....I havent seen or heard of any problems with them......

Go Big Or Go Home
United Jumping Truck Society
 
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ntsqd

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The trick with HF is to match the tool to what you are buying it to do. HF carries name brand stuff too, you just have to look a little harder to find it.

Williams LoBuck Tools aren't always the lowest priced, but they have a rep for making high quality stuff. I would not balk at any of their stuff. I have their shrinker/stretcher set on near permanent loan. Have yet to really need them. Their notcher is better and easier to use than the holesaw type, but for the home fab guy who won't be using it every single day the holesaw type is a lot less $$$.

TS

I used swerve around my halucinations, now I drive right thru them.
 
ACID_RAIN28

ACID_RAIN28

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That bender will acutally work for tubing, it just needs a little love and she works like a champ for all bends under 90deg :)

"Everything you do is triggered by an emotion of either desire or fear."
 
ACID_RAIN28

ACID_RAIN28

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ahh contrare mon frare (sp) I actually did a little research and came up with this and it did work. Take a piece of schedual 80 pipe, bend it to the max and the half tube it in the die and you get a perfect 1.5" die for tube, and the put flat plate on the rollers on the outside as to not crease it and there you go. The schedual 80 worked for 1.5" and for 1" as for the other dies I think it still needed an additional space, but the all will work, but by the time you get it going and fiqure it out and use it you will wish you had just spent the cash on a real unit, as I did so I pick up a real hydro unit for $300, but yes it does work.

"Everything you do is triggered by an emotion of either desire or fear."
 
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geoff

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where can i find this notcher? I usually use holesaws but thats been getting old.

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dreams." -- Willy Wonka
 
jeff

jeff

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<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.lowbucktools.com/notcher.html>http://www.lowbucktools.com/notcher.html</A>

Aloha
 
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YotaWhoopRunner

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I'm not fond of Harbor Freight's tools for long term use, just as long as they get the job done for the project I need it for. Well I wanted to know what you guys thought of this idea.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44094>http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44094</A>

This bender seems similar to the jd2/ protools benders design and looks like it could possibly be adapted to use their dies. Is it worth a try?
 
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singlehanded

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no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/jk

midnight landscaper working overtime and I'm full throttle I'm full throttle tonight
 
tedmales

tedmales

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they ( hf) have a conduit bender that is floor mounted that will bend 1" mild like the champ, just needs a little longer handle.

life is too short to be small
 
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ntsqd

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HF's mothership is just across the fwy from my last place of employment. I've looked at that bender during lunch. It is a smal scale copy of the Hossfeld bender. It has no provision for compound leverage like the JD/ProTool/DesertSteel benders do.

To try to do a cage with one would kill it. It's simply not heavy enough.
It would be good for bending widgets that get welded to something, just not for the something itself.

TS

I used swerve around my halucinations, now I drive right thru them.
 
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bROk

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I have the model 3 bender as well. I dont think you can get a better bender for the price, when I was pricing benders I couldnt find anythng better for the money - and although some of Harbor Freights products do suck, I have to say that alot of their deals are worth the money. Where else can you get a 4 1/2" angle grinder for $14.99... if it poop on you your out 15 bucks. Chances are its gonna work for a decent amount of time.

A smart-ass is better than a dumb-ass
 
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