[memery]

Who makes the best tubing bender? I need to bend 3/16" stainless for my brake lines and 3/8" for fuel lines.

 

[Nova 404]

Snap On sell a nice plastic one that will not scratch the tubing.It does 3/16 to 3/8

 

[JRouche]

The best? No such thing. I have a plastic die bender also, works pretty good. Have one with a 24" arms that bends stiff tube, like SS pretty well. I actually like to form my own bends with various rounds I have laying around. Brake tubing, SS or OEM type all bends pretty easily. You really dont need a bender. Any piece of pipe in various sizes works just fine. I have five benders, I still resort to hand hand bending on a pipe.. And Im talking about brake lines here.. JR

 

[DAVES7DNOVA]

I bought one from Sears, http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947299000P?keyword=bender, and it worked great. It makes tight bends, and is easy to operate.

 

[3DTim]

Boy you did a good job there. Sears, Snap On they are all about the same.

 

[DAVES7DNOVA]

Thanks. I went through several feet of tubing before I was happy with the end result. Having a good bender helped also.

 

[JRouche]

I bought one from Sears, http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947299000P?keyword=bender, and it worked great. It makes tight bends, and is easy to operate.

Very nice tubing work there!!!! Doesn't get any better. JR

 

[74 hatchback]

The best? No such thing.

Swadgelok is the best, i own 1/4 3/8/1/2 all tight radius for stainless steal. i am a professional tube bender by trade and these benders all total $500.

 

[snolan]

Tubing..

All i can say is that stainless 3/8 gas line broke my bender smaller size i guess it may be fine, If its stainless start thinking how to flare the ends, i broke my flairing tool also. I gave up and took my brake line to the Corvette shop a couple towns over....


Stainless is a *****.. GOOD luck

Steve

 

[1963wagonman]

Stainless is difficult to double flare.Stainless brake lines tend to leak.

Stainless just isnt a malleable material and maleability is a characteristic needed for a double flare to seal.

 

[novajoe]

Stainless is difficult to double flare.Stainless brake lines tend to leak.

Stainless just isnt a malleable material and maleability is a characteristic needed for a double flare to seal.

Yup:yes::yes: a little oil helps a little too.....Tip from the FINN

 

[JRouche]

Swadgelok is the best, i own 1/4 3/8/1/2 all tight radius for stainless steal. i am a professional tube bender by trade and these benders all total $500.

Yup, go to any of the aircraft dealers and the swagelok is the tool to buy, outta my range JR