Pipe = measured by outside diameter
Tube = measured by inside diameter

That's why I thought the $100 HF pipe bender wouldn't bend tube. Then again, I'm pretty sure (trying to remember here) they were trying larger 2" tube. Maybe the smaller 1 1/4 tube will bend okay in the 1 1/4 pipe die? Anyone else have experience with tube in the pipe bender? What size?

I'm likely going to be making a pipe cage (unless enough people chime in that they did tube successfully) with that HF bender. I would LOVE to use a tube bender (for those that don't know, it sort of stretches & forms the tube over the die, instead of just "pushing" the bend into it), but it's just too much $$$.

Pipe cage:
* Cheap
* WILL have kinks, so the bends can't be considered structural. Design a properly triangulated cage (pretend all bends are held on by bubble gum, and triangulate / gusset accordingly), or you'll be sorry
* Not as strong as tube (but, with a 40,000 psi yield, it's more than enough for a light weight Suzuki IMHO.)
* Heavier (raises center of gravity) by a bit. I think .1 - .2 lbs per foot?

Tube cage:
* More $$$ (the bender alone will pay for the bender & material on the pipe setup)
* Will still need triangulation, but bends will provide some structure, and therefore require less triangulation
* Lighter (lower center of gravity)


I'm not trying to turn this into another pipe vs tube debate, but thought those things were worth mentioning.

Inside or outside, who gives a crap as long as if it is strong and built right.  Although I did not know the difference between tube/pipe/measurements/bender. Thanks.

i had this really useless post all made up.. but it was about this tube bender i couldn't remember the name of that was featured on Trucks! but i found this one. http://www.medfordtools.com/mb3.html same thing only different.

but i found this one. http://www.medfordtools.com/mb3.html same thing only different.

Yeah that one is nice but is cost allot more

I built my front bumper with the HF hydraulic bender. 1-1/4  3/16 steel tube  bent like a charm.
This is the bender I used
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32888

Here is a pic

Me and my buddies call that bender the harbor freight tuber krimper.
It did work fine for jobs that needed a minimal amount of bending, but places where we need tighter bends repetitively...it was not up for the job.

There's a full thread on pirate4x4 about improving there design of that model.

It looks like it did a killer job on your bumper thou!  Nice work.

Amilla

Do you happen to know off the top of your head what the threat was called on Pirate 4X4 ?
Thanks,
raz

If I remember correctly, they either used a tube die, or... bent up another larger tube / pipe that was the correct inside diameter to convert the pipe die to a tube die.