please only respond here if you have factual personal experience.

http://www.jd2.com
http://www.pro-tools.com

these two seem to be the best.
when you add everything up, the JD2 is about 100 with all comprable pieces the pro-tools comes with.

im pretty set on the manual one, and i want to be able to do 180 deg without kinking.

what do you like or dislike about either.

 

Which model are you looking at? I've used the pro tools model 105, jd2 model 3 and jd2 model 4. I really like the model 3, but the model 4 is NICE. The degree indicator on the model 4 kicks ***.

 

basically open to all of them. what did you notice about all 3 of them?

 

I have used both the model 3 and model 4 JD2. I have the model 4 at my shop. I like the model 4 ALOT more than the 3, but realistically, they'll both bend a tube. The degree marks and the hydraulic operation of the model 4 is much better than the 3. I also like that it's on a rolling stand that i can stow away in the corner when not in use. The manual bender has to be bolted to the floor.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tony1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have used both the model 3 and model 4 JD2. I have the model 4 at my shop. I like the model 4 ALOT more than the 3, but realistically, they'll both bend a tube. The degree marks and the hydraulic operation of the model 4 is much better than the 3. I also like that it's on a rolling stand that i can stow away in the corner when not in use. The manual bender has to be bolted to the floor.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup. The degree wheel is the deal breaker for me. The tiny wheels on the smaller manual benders is hard to be accurate with, where as the marks on the model 4 are 3/16" apart. Pretty hard to mess that up.

 

sounds good. can you do 180* with the model 4?

and do you have that remote control thing?

 

You can do a 180 with it if you get a 180 die. The model 4 I used had an air/hydraulic foot pedal control. I think all the new dies from JD2 are the 180s.....I think...

 

the pro-tools 105 has that little needle thing that goes around the degree wheel right? does that work well.?

seems like both of you guys are pointing towards the jd2 ones...

 

with the enerpac pump setup you regulate the bending via foot control right?
the 1.5hp one with the hand control is electric is 115 or 230v?

your air compressor connects to the back of the hydro pump then fluid flows to the cyl to do the bending right?

can either of you take a pic of the complete setup of whichever ones you own and post them. including pumps


Modified by dfoxengr at 11:58 PM 3/25/2006

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dfoxengr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">with the enerpac pump setup you regulate the bending via foot control right?
the 1.5hp one with the hand control is electric is 115 or 230v?

your air compressor connects to the back of the hydro pump then fluid flows to the cyl to do the bending right?

can either of you take a pic of the complete setup of whichever ones you own and post them. including pumps


Modified by dfoxengr at 11:58 PM 3/25/2006</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea the electric one is hand operated, the foot controlled one uses compressed air. I don't have a bender right now, just used them.

 

I bought mine on ebay. It was a JD2 copy but made out of 1/2 plate instead of 3/8th..

Worked VERY VERY VERY well!

 

 

I have the pro-tools 105 with a hydraulic setup, the degree wheel i've found to basically be useless, it kept shifting on me just enough to be inaccurate. I just switched to using a tubing protractor. from the looks of the jd2 benders, the degree indicator shouldn't be able to move as easily as on the pro-tools 105. The 4 looks as though it absolutely wouldn't move, but i'm not positive about the model 3's degree indicator, can't tell how it's mounted from the pics, so it might have teh same problem the pro-tools 105 has. Just my .02. in hindsight, kinda wish i'd bought the jd2 4, just seemed like a lot more at the time.

 

yeah i think im going to get the JD2 model 4.

i want to get the cheaper air/hydro setup but im afraid my compressor cant handle it.
21 gal. 4cfm at 90 psi and 8.8 cfm at 40 psi.
i found on another tool site that to be at full power it needs between 120-150 psi and 12-14 cfm.....


anyone use the air/hydro setup on a smaller compressor?
also wouldnt a piggy-back tank give me a little more cfm?
i alsready have one setup is why im asking...

 

these machines crush bends the tubes? Does the jd2 model 3 included everything you need to start bending pipes? I'm thinking about getting the jd2 model 3 since I'm poor....

 

are you asking if they crush them? no it seems like they do not.

theres enough info on this thread and on the makers sites to let you know what all it somes with too.

which is everything you need.

 

i own a JD2 model 3 and am very happy with it. its great for occasional use.

i bought the first 1.5" die several years ago. it is just a 90° die. can't remember if the 180° were available then or the 90° was just cheaper.

tom

 

I have the model 3 ... it is great for cages ... just took a bit for me to figure out how to judge more complex bends... but bends smooth I def recomend for the money also i like there basic notcher and saw set

 

do you guys think the 4 is better? do either of you have the hydro kit?

 

i bought my die about 8 years with another racer buying the bender itself. a year ago, i bought the bender since i didn't live near the other friend.

i bought the JD2 bender from http://vansantent.com/model_3_bender.htm

if you go to their website, they have a quick video link there showing the bender. my 8 year old die fit the new bender just fine.

it really is pretty easy to use. if you are doing your own cage, i'd suggest the model 3. if you are planning to make your living as a fabricator, you might want something more sophisticated.

make sure you fully understand the pricing and that the dies come separate and are not inexpensive.

if you are a welder, i think i'd pass on the stand and lever and make your own. for the last bending we did at a friends house, we just put it in a vise on a heavy bench and did some minimal bending that way for some door bars.

tom

 

does anyone know if this machine can do mandrel bends *WITH* the use of a mandrel slug?

 

used a jd2 for everying on the buggy in my sig. I like it but I ended up converting it to hydro eventully because it take alot of time otherwise

 

awesome im actually needing this for my tacoma parts.

-derek