Re: Metal Bender/Scroll bender
- From: "Keith Marshall" <tooladdict@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 04:53:25 GMT
Help appreciated. I think I have it narrowed down to the cheaper one, but
want to make sure I'm not missing something obvious before I press the
plastic.
You're definitely missing something! :-D The 2nd one you provided a link to
is identical to the one Harbor Freight sells, often on sale for $50 - $65
depending on which model you get. They also sell the scroll bender.
Currently that version is not on sale and is $139.99 but it's often on sale
for half price. They have another one that looks the same but is $10 less
for some unknown reason.
The scroll attachment is $25.99.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=31980
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38470
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36621
And last but hardly least they sell a picket twister for it:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=36620
They also have a bench mount version that's on sale for $49.99.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44094
It has all the same dies. I have the 31980 but it was a waste because I
built my own stand that goes over a square stake I set in concrete outside
of my garage. If you can do something like that $50 is a good price!
Tractor Supply and Northern Tool & Equipment sell the same bender but I
don't believe they carry the scroll or picket attachments.
As for quality... I haven't used the Shop Outfitters' version but I'm sure
it's far superior in quality. A few years ago they were selling one that
looks just like the cheaper ones and in fact theirs may be the one that the
Chinese originally copied for the cheap ones but they now have the newer
design which I'm sure is quite a bit better quality. They also offer a
torque multiplier and tubing dies which would be really nice to have.
The Harbor Freight version works pretty well but I've noticed a couple of
minor quirks that might be a problem for someone using it quite a bit more
than I. The first problem is that the pins are a little too soft. I
mistook a piece of 5/16" x 2" flat bar for 1/4" and realized my mistake when
the pins started to bend. They were fairly easy to straighten with a hammer
and I haven't had any more trouble but I was still surprised at how soft
they were. Another much more important problem is that I'm fairly sure it's
not entirely square although it could just be a problem with my technique.
:-)
The only other thing I know of that could be a problem for you is that the
scroller is a 2-piece unit and the 2 pieces don't mate exactly right so you
get a slight bend at one point in the scroll. It's minor and easy to
straighten with a quick tap of the hammer but if you have a lot to do it
would get really really annoying! A bit of careful filing would probably
solve this problem but I haven't used it enough to try.
I don't have the picket twister so I can't comment on it.
At any rate, for the price of the Harbor Freight bender (when it's on sale)
it's not too much of a gamble to give it a try and I've never regretted
buying mine..
Best Regards,
Keith Marshall
tooladdict@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I'm not grown up enough to be so old!"
"Steve B" <boozoochavez@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:zG8Jf.39914$JT.15384@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have been shopping for quite a while now for a metal bender and a scroll
bender.
I'm ready to buy a pedestal mounted bender.
In 1982, I bought a Hossfeld vise mounted scroll bender with three wheels
and the attachments for $185. Now, it is close to $600.
OTOH, I bought a pedestal bender from "Breakdown Industries" for $150, and
never used it. The new ones look just like it, and are priced about the
same.
I can't justify this purchase of the scroll bender. On that one, I paid
for it in one job. It would take longer this time to amortize the cost.
So, I am looking for a cheaper scroll bender. And I will need a bender,
too.
I have been looking at the 2020 benders, and the like.
http://www.shopoutfitters.com/2020CompactBender.html
Yet, when I look a little further, I find the likes of:
http://www.toolsplus1.com/compactbend.htm
which looks a lot like the same thing, yet light years away from each
other in price.
Is there that much difference in quality, materials or workmanship?
I tend to overbuy, but I just don't like spending $600 when I can get the
same for a lot less. Heck, I could buy the bender and the scroll maker
for less than $600 and have enough for an evening at the Cottontail Ranch.
For anyone out there who does bending, who has experience with this sort
of things, I would appreciate some help.
I am going to bend:
1/8" thick by 1/2" wide scrolls
1/4" MAX, but 90 % of the time, probably 1/8" thick flat bar up to 2" wide
round and square bar, but only 3/8" and smaller.
Lots of small decorative bends for component pieces. Rarely if ever
anything substantial in cross section. (as in greater than 1/2 square
inch)
Help appreciated. I think I have it narrowed down to the cheaper one, but
want to make sure I'm not missing something obvious before I press the
plastic.
Steve
.
- References:
- Metal Bender/Scroll bender
- From: Steve B
- Metal Bender/Scroll bender
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