Hossfeld Bender?

Anyone have any experience bending thinwall tube on a Hossfeld bender?

I have access to a Hossfeld #2, but, Hossfeld's people are saying that they only recommend .120 wall or thicker tube with their 180º die-sets.

Anybody have experience bending thinwall DOM on a Hossfeld? Ever experience any wrinkling? Have any tips for avoiding or reducing it?

Thanks, Ted

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Pure mathematics is the enemy of every truly creative man -- Sir Alec

How thin? If you mean .095 that's not thin! I've bent .095 in that style of bender no problem. I don't know if it was an actual Hossfeld, or a clone. I also don't know if it ws using 180 degree dies, but I think they were for a tight radius... I presume you aren't going to be doing 180 degree bends?

I don't think there will be any issues, but if you are concerned to a test piece.

-Martin.

MRWmotorsports Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How thin? If you mean .095 that's not thin! I've
> bent .095 in that style of bender no problem. I
> don't know if it was an actual Hossfeld, or a
> clone. I also don't know if it ws using 180 degree
> dies, but I think they were for a tight radius...
> I presume you aren't going to be doing 180 degree
> bends?
>
> I don't think there will be any issues, but if you
> are concerned to a test piece.
>
> -Martin.

Gut tells me that it'll work fine and AFAIK the tightest bends I'm looking at are in the 90º range, BUT...

The bender has a range of large bend radius pipe dies at the moment and I'm looking at having to buy the tube dies, at $300 apiece, for it which Hossfeld says only work with .120" wall or heavier.

I was hoping to find someone with actual experience bending DOM on a Hossfeld before I decided to shell out against the advice of the manufacturer (because I am a huge idiot ).

I've wasted some time on Google, and for the most part, folks really love their Hossfeld benders but don't give them a ringing endorsement for working with thinwall tube.

So, since it's only money...

I'm leaning towards:

http://www.pro-tools.com/105.htm

which appears to retail for about $800 with two diesets.

or this:

http://www.jd2.com/

which looks to be about $950 with two diesets.



FWIW, attached below is a pic of a Hossfeld, it's a big unit, roughly 3 times the size of a JD² bender and a fair bit more agricultural looking.

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Pure mathematics is the enemy of every truly creative man -- Sir Alec



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2007 10:44PM by Ted Andkilde.

Well if it's a case of send the money on dies for someone elses bender, or buy a decent bender of your own for a little more money. I'd go for getting your own bender... and notcher!

-Martin.