Pipe bending for exhausts intakes manifolds and roll cages ???

Question

I was wondering if there was any cheaper manual/hydraulic type benders out there that would give me decent bends with out the inside of the bend flattening out or wrinkling? I am hoping not to spend over a couple hundred bucks on a bender so obviously theres no way i could afford a mendrel bender or anything, but I would like to get info from anyone else that has or does bend pipes and knows of a way to make decent quality bends in a fairly cheap way. I do want to be able to bend up to a 3" pipe with different thicknesses using stainless and aluminum. I am guessing the thinner intake pipes I want to bend will have the most distortion when bending. I know even a mendrel has a very slight distortion, but in my case I just want to get the least amount of distortion in the bends at a reasonable price. So is there any ways of doing this? certain tools/benders I should look into? Any advise from someone that actually does pipe bending would be appreciated, thanks

Answer 1

Unless you have a computerized bender that can be programmed to bend a specific piece or length and gauge of pipe a specific way then it's all trial and error as you custom fit each piece.

A muffler shop with one of those higher priced benders can do it but it's time consuming and you'd have to piece it together. The sharper the bend the more likely there will be inside wrinkles.

They sell the old manual hand cranked benders. Might check at Harbor Freight Tools for a Made in China bender at a decent price.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

go to this web site the have a cheap pipe bender in their that might help you with what your wanting to do ,do a search for the bender after you get to the site,they have real good prices,and the tools are pretty good also,good luck with it,,,http://www.harborfreight.com/

Answer 3

The only relatively cheap alternative will be to look for used equipment but even there I think it is going to be out of your price range.