Steel Tube bender

Well as much as I would have liked to build one I bought one instead. Its compact, doesn't have to be mounted to work, its cheap, its compact for storage, and it has a long history of DIYers using it on The Tube of U.  Even the DIYers who state some other benders are superior do acknowledge it works within its claimed range.
Which brings us to the first of its two major drawbacks.
1.  It only bends a little more than 90 degrees.  I think I recall some users saying that it will bend up to 110 degrees if you reposition the tube once after the first bend.  This is a real drawback, because there are a couple things I'd like to make that would look better with 180 degree bend instead of a welded joint, but my welding is getting better, and I do own an angle grinder or two.
2.  The other drawback is its dead slow.  It uses a manual 8 ton hydraulic jack to operate.  One of the most popular upgrades is to swap out the 8 ton manual jack for a 12 ton air over hydraulic jack.  Its a finicky upgrade, and older models (I ordered a newer model) need the frame cut and welded to fit.  That's a definite upgrade, and if I can get the unit fixed on on my 12 ton press I'll use that jack.  I finally swapped over to an air over jack on my 20 ton press, and I doubt the 12 ton will ever get used again.  If for some reason its the best tool for the job or I need to setup multiple presses I still have the original 12 ton manual jack.
I really can't beat the price.  Its $399 (01/23/2026) and includes one standard bending die of choice.  Of course I bought the option that comes with five (5) bending dies.
There is still one problem, but its self imposed, and its part of why I chose to buy one at this time.  The kids (young men and women) on the BAJA SAE engineering team are having issues with a bender they were loaned by a local fabrication shop.  The die size they need didn't come with it, and a die to fit that bender costs the same or more than this whole machine.  The problem.  This manufacturer doesn't make exactly the right size die.  It comes with a die the right size for the tube, but the kids did their work around a 6 inch bending radius, and the die that comes with the machine comes with a 5 inch bending radius.  There is about 20% higher strain when bending to 5 inch radius.  I invited them over to spend an afternoon making a die just right for their application.
There are guys who have made limited production plastic dies using 3D printed parts sandwiched between steel plates.  I am 100% sure I can make aluminum "cores" to sandwich between steel plates to do the same job much stronger in a fraction of the time of 3D printing.  6061 would probably last well enough for atleast a few dozen bends, and 7075 would probably last long enough for hundreds if not thousands of bends.  I have both on the shelf, but the 7075 WAS planned for "other" projects.
I also have some A356 I could cast, but I think making a pattern would take quite a bit longer than just machining a finished part from wrought/extruded bar or plate.
If you scrolled through all of that just wanting to know what the heck I ordered, I ordered the Affordable Bender with 5 bending dies.
https://www.yumabassman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Affordable-Bender.webp
https://www.yumabassman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Affordable-Bender-Jack.webp
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Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff