Harbor Freight Bench Bar and Rod Bender

[zogthegreat]

Hi everyone!

I got some spam from Harbor Freight for their latest "sale". I noticed that they have a Bench Bar and Rod Bender:

https://www.harborfreight.com/bench-top-bar-and-rod-bender-38471.html

Has anyone tried one of these?

Thanks

zog

(Edit) I want to use this for bending exhaust pipes and later on for a go kart frame.

 

[KartFab]

I have one, but mine mounts on a stand instead of a bench.

Notice the title says "bar" and "rod" bender? So when we are talking about steel, steel bar is the flat stuff, and rod is the solid round stuff. So it bends flat bar and round bar.

e.g. This bends like 3/16" x 2" flat bar, or it will bend 3/8" steel rod.

This does not, and cannot, bend tubing, or pipe.


If you want an exhaust pipe bend, you can purchase like an elbow. I bought stainless steel tubing and 90 deg elbows, 45 deg elbows for making my go kart exhaust(s) for a while.

 

[zogthegreat]

Thanks KartFab, that's what I needed to know!

 

[supermanotorious]

dont discount the bar and rod bender though, you'll need one someday as you fabricate more and more stuff

 

[mckutzy]

Although not ideal... I could see that thing being used to bend at least some simple forms. With some thought... Wood forms could be made of a good hard wood and could be used if not in a pinch.....

 

[Functional Artist]

Although not ideal... I could see that thing being used to bend at least some simple forms. With some thought... Wood forms could be made of a good hard wood and could be used if not in a pinch.....

I have one

NOT impressed

The instructions manual must have been written by a drunk monkey

Most everything is says to do is backwards or wrong

I had to watch some YouTube videos just to figure out how to work it

It does bend some stuff

...Still NOT impressed