> Bending tube isn't cheaply done. Especially large diameter thin wall tubing
> like what we want for vanagon bumpers. You definitely need a mandrel bender
> which costs tens of thousands of dollars.

Check You Tube & see how Rocky Mountain Westy Does It !!

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Gary Lee www.vwrack.com" <gary2a@TELUS.NET>

> >I posted the plans to the Tiico Group thinking id just buy a $65 HarborFr8
> >pipe bender and MIG away >until i had an exact copy of the
> >BullBars......turns out i need a hydrolic Mandrel bender, im still waiting
> >for >Harbor Freight to make one of those for $200...LOL:)....not holding my
> >breath.
>
> Bending tube isn't cheaply done. Especially large diameter thin wall tubing
> like what we want for vanagon bumpers. You definitely need a mandrel bender
> which costs tens of thousands of dollars. And no, muffler tube benders do
> not work. You need a mandrel inside the tube to keep the walls from
> collasping. The bends need to be a tight radius and the wall thickness
> needs to be thin to keep the weight reasonable.
>
> The Harbor Freight/Princess Auto benders are for heavy wall schedule pipe
> only, gas pipe. I wonder how many people buy them thinking they can make
> exhaust systems and roll bars. You can't even make handrails with them. I
> don't know what people use them for. Further, the dies are sized for pipe,
> not tubing.
>
> Gary Lee