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As some of you know I purchased one of these benders and said that I would post results of testing. Here is everything I know about it so far. It has dies to do pipe and tubing 3/8, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 3/4, and 7/8" round & 3/4, 1" square. I did not try any pipe as I purchased it for tubing. It is very heavy duty and looks like someone's idea of a cross between a conduit bender and a tubing bender. I could not tell where it was made, as there are no markings at all. The quality is better than HF china stuff, about what you would expect from Taiwan I think.
Before I ordered it I sent two emails to the company and told them that I wanted it to be able bend 1" square 16ga tubing, they assured me twice that would be no problem. I tested it on 1/2" OD, .050 copper, 1/2" OD, 050 Alu, 1/2 EMT [using the 3/4" die], 3/4 EMT [using the 7/8" die], 1/2" square 16ga tubing, 1" X 1/2" rectangular 16ga tubing, 7/8" 16ga round tubing and 3/4" 16ga square tubing with no big problems. The 3/4" was a bit tough to get out of the die, it probably will loosen up with use. As for 1" square 16 ga, not in my lifetime. RPM1 came over along with the guy across the street and even using a 3 1/2-foot cheater bar [floor jack handle] we could not do it. We could get it to start but the force needed bent the die frame and the smaller die would start cutting into the side of the tube and halt all progress. The frame returned to normal as soon as pressure was released. Frankly it would take a very, very tough guy to break this thing. I tried to get some 1" square 18 ga tubing to test but all the suppliers laughed at me, some said it wasn't made. I don't believe that, but that’s what they said.
When I first started to talk with the company I received answers to my questions the next day. When I started to complain about the 1" 16ga square tubing problem, they first wanted to know what the problem was because they have "customers bending heavier stuff with no problems". The second time I complained they said "send it back we will refund your money", I called them to ask about their policy on refunding shipping costs and was told someone would get back to me soon. That was 8 days ago and no answer yet. I sent an email a few days ago that has not been responded to yet. My guess is because the shipping would be a total of $80.00 [both ways] they don't want to refund it. The product costs $119.00 and does most of what they say it will, so I have decided to keep it. It has a one-year warranty; I really don't know what that means because there was no paperwork included with it and no information on their old website. This product was not listed on their new website that I could find; only the $20,000 plus benders they sell.
If you want one of these I think that it will bend 1" Sq Alu tubing with no problem, and most probably 18 ga 1" square steel also. Other than cleaning up the casting on the large dies some and getting rid of the sharp outside edges of the small dies the thing will do all but the 1" square [at least that is my experience] with no problem. Be sure to use lots of grease on everything.
I have included pictures of the bender assembled and of the tubes I bent. If anyone has any questions please ask. I will try my best to answer them. One other thing, even if this looks a lot like a conduit bender, it is not. It is much heavier than that, and the 1/2 EMT is a little small for the 3/4 die and the 7/8 die is a little small for the 3/4 EMT. I know I did it anyway, you just need to take it slow and keep checking the conduit as you proceed.
Before I ordered it I sent two emails to the company and told them that I wanted it to be able bend 1" square 16ga tubing, they assured me twice that would be no problem. I tested it on 1/2" OD, .050 copper, 1/2" OD, 050 Alu, 1/2 EMT [using the 3/4" die], 3/4 EMT [using the 7/8" die], 1/2" square 16ga tubing, 1" X 1/2" rectangular 16ga tubing, 7/8" 16ga round tubing and 3/4" 16ga square tubing with no big problems. The 3/4" was a bit tough to get out of the die, it probably will loosen up with use. As for 1" square 16 ga, not in my lifetime. RPM1 came over along with the guy across the street and even using a 3 1/2-foot cheater bar [floor jack handle] we could not do it. We could get it to start but the force needed bent the die frame and the smaller die would start cutting into the side of the tube and halt all progress. The frame returned to normal as soon as pressure was released. Frankly it would take a very, very tough guy to break this thing. I tried to get some 1" square 18 ga tubing to test but all the suppliers laughed at me, some said it wasn't made. I don't believe that, but that’s what they said.
When I first started to talk with the company I received answers to my questions the next day. When I started to complain about the 1" 16ga square tubing problem, they first wanted to know what the problem was because they have "customers bending heavier stuff with no problems". The second time I complained they said "send it back we will refund your money", I called them to ask about their policy on refunding shipping costs and was told someone would get back to me soon. That was 8 days ago and no answer yet. I sent an email a few days ago that has not been responded to yet. My guess is because the shipping would be a total of $80.00 [both ways] they don't want to refund it. The product costs $119.00 and does most of what they say it will, so I have decided to keep it. It has a one-year warranty; I really don't know what that means because there was no paperwork included with it and no information on their old website. This product was not listed on their new website that I could find; only the $20,000 plus benders they sell.
If you want one of these I think that it will bend 1" Sq Alu tubing with no problem, and most probably 18 ga 1" square steel also. Other than cleaning up the casting on the large dies some and getting rid of the sharp outside edges of the small dies the thing will do all but the 1" square [at least that is my experience] with no problem. Be sure to use lots of grease on everything.
I have included pictures of the bender assembled and of the tubes I bent. If anyone has any questions please ask. I will try my best to answer them. One other thing, even if this looks a lot like a conduit bender, it is not. It is much heavier than that, and the 1/2 EMT is a little small for the 3/4 die and the 7/8 die is a little small for the 3/4 EMT. I know I did it anyway, you just need to take it slow and keep checking the conduit as you proceed.
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