Best fuel line bender
- Thread starter connermcpherson
- Start date
connermcpherson
Done with diesels....
Swagelok is an awesome tool company but just bending one set of lines, i dont want to spend the coin on that bender. (even though id love too) My fiance would stab me
connermcpherson
Done with diesels....
Triple Head Bender, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 In - Tubing Benders - Plumbing Tools - 3XTW3 : Grainger Industrial Supply
ive used this one before and it seemed to work great
ive used this one before and it seemed to work great
Allmaras Diesel
New member
The best manual benders are made by Imperial and Parker. Swagelok doesn't make anything in the same league.
I use an Imperial 700-F http://www.newmantools.com/imperial/700f.htm for all my tight CLR bends and stainless work. I have some old parker hanifan benders that struggle with bending the same material at double the CLR as the Imperial, but the Parker benders I have are not the best.
The 400 series Parker's like this PARKER 824 MANUAL PIPE TUBE BENDER & DIES GREAT SHAPE | eBay are good benders
I use an Imperial 700-F http://www.newmantools.com/imperial/700f.htm for all my tight CLR bends and stainless work. I have some old parker hanifan benders that struggle with bending the same material at double the CLR as the Imperial, but the Parker benders I have are not the best.
The 400 series Parker's like this PARKER 824 MANUAL PIPE TUBE BENDER & DIES GREAT SHAPE | eBay are good benders
oldskoolfab
New member
I use this style of bender to bend aircraft hydraulic lines and it works great with small diameter SS tubing. The only down fall is if you want different diameter radius's you have to buy more benders. Put the fixed end in a bench vise good and tight and you will be able to control your radius's much better. Buy some extra tubing as you may burn through more than expected. There are some other types of vise mounted benders that interchangeable radius blocks. I will try to find them for you and post on here. Another tip, use a coat hanger as a template.
oldskoolfab
New member
By far the best bender to use for any application. I have used this exact bender with great success. The only thing better is a bender with a mandrel.
connermcpherson
Done with diesels....
Ya i wish i had the coin to get the parker, and if i bent 5,000 lines a yr i would def make the purchase. Bending one set though, id rather borrow one lol
1-5-3-6-2-4
Low-Tech Redneck
I don't know what the Imperial and Parker look like but this is the Swageloc I use. Its been great.
Imperial looks like that but is a cast material.I don't know what the Imperial and Parker look like but this is the Swageloc I use. Its been great.
Cumminsfever
Steering wheel holder
Subscribing for future reference!
Thanks guys for posting pics and links!
Thanks guys for posting pics and links!
80powerwagon
New member
The swaglok has rollers on it the ridgid does not they are junk I am a stainless pipefitter and have 1/4 3/8 and 1/2" swaglok benders they are the best for doing the lines.
connermcpherson
Done with diesels....
What model is that swageloc?
1-5-3-6-2-4
Low-Tech Redneck
I'll be home from work in 2 days. I can get the details soon as I get home.
ENafziger
New member
Swagelok Model # MS-HTB-4 for 1/4" bender. http://www.swagelok.com/search/find_products_home.aspx?part=MS-HTB-4&showLogin=N
http://www.swagelok.com/downloads/WebCatalogs/EN/MS-13-43.PDF
Pricing for the 1/4" bender is $133.15, at least under my login.
--Eric
http://www.swagelok.com/downloads/WebCatalogs/EN/MS-13-43.PDF
Pricing for the 1/4" bender is $133.15, at least under my login.
--Eric
Extended Power
New member
Ridgid benders are junk...
The cheaper Imperial Eastmans are junk...(The ones with out the swivel handle)
The Imperial Eastman's with the swivel are great. (After awhile, you actually look like your running nun-chucks because they swivel and go back into your coveralls so fast.)
Swagelok are the most expensive, and heavy tubing benders ever...but, they are roller benders, and are VERY accurate on their bends. (90* on the benders is a 90* bend...not 88*)
I have bent tubing over the last 20 some years, from 1/8" to 3/4".
I use Imperial Eastman's with the swivel handle....once you know where the bend is exactly 45* and 90*, you can be just as accurate as the Swagelok benders for bends.
Faults of the Imperial benders:
-After awhile, the chrome starts to peel off and scratch the tubing...and cut your hands.
-They deform the tubing on bends. (You can NOT slide a nut around a bend that was done with a set of Imperial benders. But on Swagelok benders you can...which proves that the Swagelok benders DON'T deform the tubing at all.)
Faults of Swagelok benders:
-Way too much money.
-Huge PITA doing a 180* bend. (Have to unscrew the handle, turn it, and re connect it to make a 180* bend.)
-Don't like how they "Clamp" onto the end of the tubing....this WILL crush the end of the tubing if you turn the tubing the wrong way for a bend after you have "clamped" it to the tubing.
-Too heavy.
The cheaper Imperial Eastmans are junk...(The ones with out the swivel handle)
The Imperial Eastman's with the swivel are great. (After awhile, you actually look like your running nun-chucks because they swivel and go back into your coveralls so fast.)
Swagelok are the most expensive, and heavy tubing benders ever...but, they are roller benders, and are VERY accurate on their bends. (90* on the benders is a 90* bend...not 88*)
I have bent tubing over the last 20 some years, from 1/8" to 3/4".
I use Imperial Eastman's with the swivel handle....once you know where the bend is exactly 45* and 90*, you can be just as accurate as the Swagelok benders for bends.
Faults of the Imperial benders:
-After awhile, the chrome starts to peel off and scratch the tubing...and cut your hands.
-They deform the tubing on bends. (You can NOT slide a nut around a bend that was done with a set of Imperial benders. But on Swagelok benders you can...which proves that the Swagelok benders DON'T deform the tubing at all.)
Faults of Swagelok benders:
-Way too much money.
-Huge PITA doing a 180* bend. (Have to unscrew the handle, turn it, and re connect it to make a 180* bend.)
-Don't like how they "Clamp" onto the end of the tubing....this WILL crush the end of the tubing if you turn the tubing the wrong way for a bend after you have "clamped" it to the tubing.
-Too heavy.
1-5-3-6-2-4
Low-Tech Redneck
Thats what mine is. Swageloc roller.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Tapatalk
connermcpherson
Done with diesels....
Thank for the help guys, gonna bend these lines tomorrow. Went and bought a Swageloc roller and ill just sell it later. I dont ever bend lines but i need to now lol
metal_miner
New member
I just made new lines for my dual CP3 setup. The Swagelok 8 mm bender worked great.
The bender came with great instructions, which explained how to design and form a desired layout repeatedly.
I was going to use Exergy to produce the lines based off of templates I sent them, but found that their instructions seemed like simplified versions of Swagelok's. So I asked and it turns out they use Swagelok benders also. They in turn recommended that I form the lines myself to ensure 1-2 week faster turnaround (my truck was already down for 3 weeks) and lower cost.
So once I had the layouts designed I just ordered the equivalent lengths of straight tube with ends from Exergy and then formed the lines myself.
The bender came with great instructions, which explained how to design and form a desired layout repeatedly.
I was going to use Exergy to produce the lines based off of templates I sent them, but found that their instructions seemed like simplified versions of Swagelok's. So I asked and it turns out they use Swagelok benders also. They in turn recommended that I form the lines myself to ensure 1-2 week faster turnaround (my truck was already down for 3 weeks) and lower cost.
So once I had the layouts designed I just ordered the equivalent lengths of straight tube with ends from Exergy and then formed the lines myself.