Griswold
02-07-2006, 08:04 PM
This is what we are dealing with, A JMR 1000 hydraulic bender.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4090&stc=1&d=1139368289
I ordered this bender last Thursday and it was here in six boxes from CA on Monday afternoon. A+
The packaging for the 3 die set that came with the bender was not good. 12 pieces totalling about about 60lbs in a bread box size package surrounded by packing peanuts. Not good. The box was split open at the seams and there was some damage but none in the important areas of the dies or followers, so I am lucky. The ram was packaged just as bad and the mounting studs were poking out of the box but not damaged. The single die I purchased was packaged well.
I assembled it last night. There are not step by step instructions for assembly so if you don't know anything about benders you will have a hard time putting this thing together. The plumbing diagram did not match the equipment that I was sent but with only four hoses I was able to figure it out pretty easily.
The dies are beautiful and the tig welds are great. Far better than the undeburred mig welds on my JD2 dies. The followers are just as tough looking made from one piece of 4131(?). The one gripe I have about the dies is the retarded 3/8" clamp screw. One of them was actually bent into a U shape when I took it out of the poorly packaged box. This bolt should be 3/4"+.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4091&stc=1&d=1139368289
The ram diameter is impressive.;) Tig welded everywhere and lines up the die holes and bender holes perfectly when fully retracted.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4092&stc=1&d=1139368289
The degree ring is pretty blingy. I like it.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4093&stc=1&d=1139368289
Last gripe is that all the pins for this bender are the same diameter except the one for the 1" die. (the one I painted pink) This pin is .070" smaller than the rest in order to clear the upper bender rail when it is dropped into the die. This is a design flaw that is covered by giving you an oddball pin but should be addressed.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4094&stc=1&d=1139368289
Now for the good stuff. I made new templates tonight with this bender. I started with 1" mild steel and just like I thought, it bent like soft butter. On to 1.5" mild. Once again soft butter. Now I wanted to see how 1 3/4" .120 wall 4130 chromo would do. To my suprise this bender performed just as well as the sales pitch said it would. The tubing bent just as fast as the 1" mild.
Overall I am very happy so far. The rack/stand should last forever since it has to do nothing but support the weight of the bender and tube that you are bending and the SOB is on wheels. It was a good chunk of change, but now that I have seen the quality of the bender and used it, I am glad that I made the purchase.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4090&stc=1&d=1139368289
I ordered this bender last Thursday and it was here in six boxes from CA on Monday afternoon. A+
The packaging for the 3 die set that came with the bender was not good. 12 pieces totalling about about 60lbs in a bread box size package surrounded by packing peanuts. Not good. The box was split open at the seams and there was some damage but none in the important areas of the dies or followers, so I am lucky. The ram was packaged just as bad and the mounting studs were poking out of the box but not damaged. The single die I purchased was packaged well.
I assembled it last night. There are not step by step instructions for assembly so if you don't know anything about benders you will have a hard time putting this thing together. The plumbing diagram did not match the equipment that I was sent but with only four hoses I was able to figure it out pretty easily.
The dies are beautiful and the tig welds are great. Far better than the undeburred mig welds on my JD2 dies. The followers are just as tough looking made from one piece of 4131(?). The one gripe I have about the dies is the retarded 3/8" clamp screw. One of them was actually bent into a U shape when I took it out of the poorly packaged box. This bolt should be 3/4"+.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4091&stc=1&d=1139368289
The ram diameter is impressive.;) Tig welded everywhere and lines up the die holes and bender holes perfectly when fully retracted.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4092&stc=1&d=1139368289
The degree ring is pretty blingy. I like it.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4093&stc=1&d=1139368289
Last gripe is that all the pins for this bender are the same diameter except the one for the 1" die. (the one I painted pink) This pin is .070" smaller than the rest in order to clear the upper bender rail when it is dropped into the die. This is a design flaw that is covered by giving you an oddball pin but should be addressed.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4094&stc=1&d=1139368289
Now for the good stuff. I made new templates tonight with this bender. I started with 1" mild steel and just like I thought, it bent like soft butter. On to 1.5" mild. Once again soft butter. Now I wanted to see how 1 3/4" .120 wall 4130 chromo would do. To my suprise this bender performed just as well as the sales pitch said it would. The tubing bent just as fast as the 1" mild.
Overall I am very happy so far. The rack/stand should last forever since it has to do nothing but support the weight of the bender and tube that you are bending and the SOB is on wheels. It was a good chunk of change, but now that I have seen the quality of the bender and used it, I am glad that I made the purchase.