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FAQs

What materials can be bent?

The most common material is mild steel, which is why you will find minimum and maximum wall thicknesses based on that. DOM, Chromoly 4130 and 303 or 304 Grade Stainless Steel can also be bent. 316 Grade Stainless Steel can not be bent. If you are using aluminium, please contact your supplier to determine if the grade you are working with is bendable. We also recommend our special delrin inserts when bending aluminium to prevent scratching. Please note, delrin inserts are not available in square die sets and therefore, we can not guarantee that aluminium will not be scratched.

How are die sets measured?

Die sets are measured by outer diameter (OD) and centre line radius (CLR). OD refers to the outer diameter of the tubing or pipe to be bent.

The centre line radius refers to the distance from the centre of the die to the centre line of the tubing. If you bend a piece of tubing 180 degrees and measure from the centre of one side of the tubing to the centre of the other, you will have the centre line diameter. Divide the centre line diameter by two to get the centre line radius. A smaller CLR will produce a tighter bend.

See Find a die for more instructions on how to work out which die you need.

What range of wall thicknesses can a particular die set bend?

The minimum wall thickness required to make a nice smooth bend depends on the OD and CLR. A chart of minimum wall thicknesses for mild steel tubing can be viewed by clicking "Die Sets" on the menu on the left. Bending tubing with less than the minimum wall thickness can result in wrinkling or breaking. Bending tubing thicker than the maximum wall thickness can damage the bender.

What is the difference between tube and pipe?

See What is the difference between Pipe and Tube? The OD is the measurement by which we classify all die sets.

Are die sets interchangeable between Models 3, 4 and 32?

Die sets are only interchangeable for Model 3 dies in a Model 4 bender. The reverse (Model 4 dies in a Model 3 bender) will not work. No other current models are interchangeable. To ensure that customers who still use Model 1 and Model 2 benders can purchase dies, the Model 1 uses Model 4 dies and the Model 2 uses Model 3 dies.

The Model 3 and Model 32 benders do not come with a stand. Why not?

Most of our customers purchasing a bender have told us that they have the capabilities to make a stand or would rather mount the bender to a table or a rolling cart. Shipping costs tend to be pretty expensive so you can save if you build your own. We do sell a stand separately if you would like to purchase one.

I've seen several benders that look very much like your Model 3. What makes this the best?

There are several places that build a copy of the famous JD Squared Model 3 Bender. The original Model 3 Bender was designed in 1990 by Bob Hughes, Founder and Owner of JD Squared, Inc. Twenty years later, it is still a top seller because it is an affordable, high quality machine - just as it was designed to be.

Although other companies claim to have made improvements, none have actually improved the quality of the bend and some have actually only increased the cost. There is one thing we provide standard with each die set that no one has been able to replicate. We specially make the tube contact inserts in the pressure die from a bearing-grade alloy that provides unmatched tube support and protection from scratching and galling. We also provide delrin inserts if you are bending aluminium and need the extra protection from scratching. Please contact customer service for more information on our delrin pressure die inserts.

If you are looking for the original, and the best, Model 3 Bender - it is right here at JD Squared Australia.

When considering which company's product to buy, what questions should you ask to help you decide?

We've provided the answers for our products right here for your convenience:

Benders

  1. What is the thickness of the frame? JD Squared has increased the standard thickness on the Model 3 Bender from 1/2" to 5/8" - and this upgrade did not come with a price increase. The Model 32 Bender has always had a rugged 3/4" frame. The Model 4 frame is 1" thick.
  2. What are the minimum and maximum wall thicknesses that your die can support? Our minimum and maximum wall thicknesses for each die set are posted on this site. As a general note, the Model 3 can bend solid up to 1"OD, the Model 4 bends solid up to 1.25"OD and the Model 32 bends solid up to 1.5"OD.
  3. Does the bender come with a handle included in the price? The Model 3 and 32 come standard with a 36" telescoping handle.
  4. Does the bender come with a degree ring included in the price? All JD Squared benders come with a degree ring included.
  5. Can the bender be used manually and with hydraulics? The Model 3 comes manual and can be converted to hydraulic with a small adapter kit and the hydraulic equipment. The Model 32 comes manual or hydraulic, but you can always convert it to the other style with a couple of add-ons. The Model 4 is only hydraulic. See Hydraulics Add-ons.
  6. Where was your product manufactured? All JD Squared, Inc. products are Made in the USA.

Notchers

  1. How much does the notcher weigh? Our weights are provided on the notcher comparison chart so that you can see how heavy duty these products are.
  2. Does the notcher do angled notching? All JD Squared notchers can do angled notches.
  3. Does the notcher do offset notching? Both the Notchmaster and The Beast do offset notches.
  4. Does the notcher do notches in a bend? The Beast can notch in a bend.
  5. Where was your product manufactured? All JD Squared, Inc. products are Made in the USA.