A roll cage is a type of vehicle armor that provides safety for occupants in the event of an accident.
Roll cages are typically installed inside the passenger compartment and around the cabin’s perimeter with metal tubes to protect against injury during collisions.
To construct safe and sturdy roll cages, you need a tube bender. There are many different types of tube benders, but only two major categories: manual and hydraulic/pneumatic.
Manual tube benders require you to use your strength to operate them. While hydraulic or pneumatic models use hydraulic fluid or pressurized air respectively as their power source.
Creating a car roll cage by yourself can be difficult without the right tool, so we recommend using one of these ten best tube benders for roll cages.
This article will cover everything you need to know about each product. After reading the reviews of each tube bender and you are not sure which will work best for your needs and the metal you intend to bend. Check out our buying guide below.
We have carefully explained some factors to consider before buying a tube bender just for you. Upon reading it, you’ll learn about all sorts of factors to consider when purchasing a tube bender.
[wptb id=1096]Our 10 Best Tube Bender For Roll Cage:
Here are the detailed reviews for you-
1. Woodward Fab Tube and Pipe Bender, Model #WFB2
Woodward Fab is a company that manufactures unique cost-saving metalworking machinery. One of their outstanding product is this WFB2 tube bender. It is a heavy-duty tube bender that will help you create the perfect car roll cage. Woodward Fab has been in this business for more than 50 years, giving them the experience and knowledge to make sure you get the most out of your tube bending project.
The WFB2 tube bender can bend up to 2-inch round or square steel tubing, as well as copper, brass, and aluminum. However, it won’t work with tubes with walls thicker than .25. It also features an easy-to-use CNC machined depth gauge for precise measurements. This tube bender has a 9-inch handle and engraved degree ring. With its versatile design, you can use it on a benchtop or mount it on a stand with an optional base plate (sold separately).
The WFB2 tube bender is a bit pricey, but it is worth every penny because the quality is top-notch. It’ll outlast other brands and won’t let you down whenever you want to make high-quality bends in your tubing. Keep in mind that it doesn’t come with dies.
The Woodward Fab dies are the only dies that can work for it. They have many dies with different sizes for bending tubes of different diameters. When you get these dies, ensure to de-burr the surface on both sides. The dies are available at 90°, 120°, and 180°. So, you will be able to make bends at these angles. However, the dies qualities aren’t so good. The welds on the dies do not penetrate deep enough, which makes them snap off during use.
Benefits
- It comes with a 9-inch handle and engraved degree ring.
- You can use it on a benchtop or mounted in a stand (sold separately).
- It can bend copper, brass, and aluminum tubing up to 2-inch in diameter.
- It features a user-friendly CNC machined depth gauge for precise measurements.
Drawbacks
- It’s pricey and doesn’t come with dies or the stand.
- The dies aren’t so good because they tend to snap off.
2. Happybuy Pipe Tube Bender
The Happybuy Pipe Tube Bender is a professional tool for car enthusiasts to make their cars safer. It is made from steel, making it sturdy enough to bend your pipes without breaking. You can use it for a wide variety of tasks that require bending pipes or tubes without risking damage to your hands because of its ergonomic telescoping handle. This handle makes it easy to bend 10mm to 25mm solid round metal pipe, stainless steel pipe, wire pipe, circle-steel pipe, to mention a few.
In addition, this unit will not only work well for home use but welding shops too! Its price makes it one of the best budget-friendly tube benders in the market that comes with everything needed to bend tubes right out of the box.
This tube bender can bend rounded tubes and pipes with a wall thickness of 0.03-inch to 0.08-inch. But, won’t bend square tubings. It features a unique sliding mechanism that places dies quickly in the correct position for bending different materials and sizes of tubes. Whether you’re making bends in ⅜” to 1″, this machine has your back covered! However, it has no degree markings for precision.
When you buy this tool, it comes packaged with seven dies (⅜”, ½”, 9/16″, ⅝”, ¾”, ⅞”, 1″), seven half-circle bending molds (100mm, 119mm, 139mm, 159mm, 179mm, 225mm, 225mm), and a user manual. However, it doesn’t last for long without encountering faults.
Benefits
- It is budget-friendly.
- It comes with seven dies, seven half-circle bending molds, and a user manual.
- It can make bends from 10mm to 25mm in round metal tubings.
- You can use it as a stand-alone tool or mount it to a bench.
- It features an ergonomic telescoping handle that makes bending tubes easy.
Drawbacks
- It doesn’t last long.
- No degree markings for making precise bends.
3. RIDGID 38048 Model 608 Pipe Bender
This RIDGID 38048 model 608 pipe bender is manufactured with high standards of quality and strength. With it, you can make bends in stainless steel, steel, titanium, copper, etc. It is a well-known and highly rated pipe bender with ½-inch O.D. capacity and 1½ -inch bend radius.
The RIDGID 38048 Model 608 Pipe Bender finds use in tight spaces and around corners due to its compactness. It features a dual-stage design for in-place bending from 90° to 180° without ever crossing handles. The two ergonomic handles are 16-inch long and come with comfortable cushioned grips, making the tool easy to use for long periods. Thanks to the vise clamp block built into the bending form, you can attach it to a table for extra stability.
The RIDGID 38048 Model 608 Pipe Bender features roll dies in the bending carriage, which helps to reduce force and tube flattening. You can lock and unlock the roller by just making a simple half-turn rotation of the bending handle. There are easy-to-read gain marks that help ensure you make bends at the proper alignment you want. However, the markings aren’t so accurate. The only issue with this tube bender is that it may damage your tubing if not used carefully. But, once you master how to use it, you would no longer experience this issue.
Benefits
- It is well built and the best tube bender for tubings with ½-inch O.D. capacity and 1½ -inch bend radius.
- It has two 16-inch ergonomic handles with cushioned grip for a firm and comfortable handling.
- There are easy-to-read gain marks for accurate bending.
- It can make 90° to 180° bends.
- RIDGID has a lifetime warranty on it.
Drawbacks
- It can’t bend any tubing larger than ½-inch capacity.
- The markings aren’t so accurate to the book.
- It may damage your tubing when you first start to use it.
4. Mophorn Pipe And Tube Bender
Mophorn pipe and tube bender is a flexible and durable tool that will meet all your tube and pipe bending needs. It’s made of high-quality 40CR steel, which possesses corrosion resistance properties, and 45# steel, which possesses high strength and stability. So, it won’t break or bend under pressure. One of its most appealing features is that you can use it on both round and square steel to aluminum pipes and tubes with diameters ranging from 10mm to 25mm with 0.8mm to 2.0 mm wall thickness. This makes it perfect for any DIY project you might have on your hands!
The extra-long handle of the Mophorn pipe and tube bender enables you to bend pipes up to 180 degrees with thickness up to 2.0mm. This handle is ergonomically designed to ease the bending process. Thanks to the rubber at the top, you will have better leverage and control with less effort. This easy-to-use tool can be used by anyone who wants to build their car roll cage or other projects that requires bending pipes. With the Mophorn pipe tube bender, you get an excellent price point for great quality!
The Mophorn bender is similar to the Happybuy tube bender in design, mechanism, and packaging. It also comes with seven dies (⅜”, ½”, 9/16″, ⅝”, ¾”, ⅞”, 1″), seven half-circle bending molds (100mm, 119mm, 139mm, 159mm, 179mm, 225mm, 225mm), and a user manual.
Benefits
- It is heavy-duty and affordable.
- It comes with seven dies, seven half-circle bending molds, and a user manual.
- You can use it for both round and square tubes and pipes.
- You can mount it to a table for more comfortable use.
- It has an extra-long handle.
- It’s very easy to use.
Drawbacks
- The user manual is poorly written.
5. Affordable Bender ab103 1½” Hydraulic Tube Bender
The Ab103 1½” Hydraulic Tube Bender is a professional-grade, affordable tube bender with 1½” on 7″ radius die set for bending 1½” round metal tubings. It is perfect for making roll cage, frame, or boat railings. This machine functions with an 8-ton hydraulic jack that provides maximum power with minimum effort. It won’t stress you like manual benders. You can upgrade the 8-ton jack to a 12-ton jack for more strength by grinding down the diameter of the post on the top of the jack and shorten the jack plate.
Aside from bending 1½” tubings, the Affordable Bender ab103 1½” Hydraulic Tube Bender can also bend .080 to .120 wall HREW or ERW and .080 to .095 DOM, or 4130 Chromoly tubings. It has a solid steel frame, and it can bend up to a 110° angle. You can achieve this by making a 90° bend, slipping the tube through the die, and making another 20° bend totaling 110°.
This tube bender is affordable, and it weighs less than 50lb. With it on your side, you will be able to finish your projects in no time! One of the best features of the Affordable Bender ab103 1½” hydraulic tube bender is that it produces nice clean, smooth bends that meet and exceed NHRA, SCORE, SCCA standards. Plus, you don’t need to mount it on any surface to get the best out of it.
Keep in mind that this tube bender should not be used to bend thin wall tubings because it will damage them. Furthermore, you can get other die set in (1″ & 1¼” ) on 5” radius, and (1½”, 1⅝”, and 1¾”) on 7” radius to use with the tool.
Benefits
- It requires less human effort to make bends.
- You don’t need to mount it anywhere to utilize its full potentials.
- It creates bends that meet and exceeds NHRA, SCORE, SCCA standards.
- It lasts for years.
Drawbacks
- None
6. KAKA Industrial HB-8 8 Ton Hydraulic Tube Bender
KAKA Industrial is a company with decades of experience in designing and manufacturing tools for the automotive industry. Their HB-8 8-ton hydraulic tube bender is designed to bend steel and chrome-molybdenum tubings for roll cages, customizing tube components, and transmission mounts into an appropriate shape. With its 8-ton hydraulic pump, it will produce more than enough force to bend steel without you breaking a sweat. With this tube bender, expect high-quality bends every time! It costs a lot, but it’s worth it.
The KAKA Industrial HB-8 8 ton hydraulic tube bender has a solid steel frame and cast-iron base that can handle tough jobs and last for years. It creates precise bends in tubes with the help of steel-forming dies and cast followers without flattening or deforming the tube’s edges. Furthermore, it can make bends up to 90°. It is hydraulically operated, but can also be manually operated, making it one of the easiest to use tube benders in the market today.
This tube bender comes with five dies with diameters of ¾”, 1”, 1½”, 1⅝”, and 1¾” for bending round tubings with these diameters. Thanks to the quick-change mechanism, you can switch between dies easily.
Benefits
- It makes perfect bends without damaging the tube.
- It comes with five different dies for bending several tubes with different diameters.
- It is both hydraulically operated and manually operated.
- It has a solid steel frame and cast-iron base, which makes it last for years.
Drawbacks
- It is expensive.
7. Eastwood High Capacity Pipe Bender Machine
Eastwood has a full line of benders and accessories. On this note, we’ll be reviewing their high-capacity tubing bender that is perfect for making a car roll cage. This tube bender is sturdy, durable, and versatile enough to bend any round tubings be it aluminum, copper, steel, stainless steel, or Chromoly. It has a degree ring and a pointer for making precise bends.
You can effortlessly make an accurate and smooth bend in 1-inch to 2-inch OD of .120 inch wall tubings into curves, circles, and up to 240° angle using this tube bender. It is made from durable 0.60” and 0.45” solid steel plate construction. So, it will last for years with little maintenance needed.
Eastwood also offers an optional stand and handle support that attaches to the machine to help stabilize long pieces of tubing before they are bent. With this addition, you’ll be able to easily bend up to 2″ diameter tubes. Note that the handle and stand are sold separately.
The Eastwood high-capacity tubing bender doesn’t come with any die. You’d have to buy Eastwood dies before you can use them. Eastwood has about 11 different-sized dies compatible with this tool for making bends in different-sized tubings. It weighs 52lb, which may be considered heavy given that this weight does not include that of the handle and stand. On the brighter side, without the handle and stand, it is easy to store.
Benefits
- It has heavy-duty steel construction for durability.
- It can bend any round aluminum, copper, steel, stainless steel, or Chromoly tubing.
- It is easy to store.
Drawbacks
- You’d have to buy dies, stand, and handle separately.
- It is heavy.
8. Baileigh RDB-050 Manual Tube Bender
The Baileigh RDB-050 manual tube bender is the most easy-to-use tube bender in the market today. Not only is it so easy to use, but it has more than enough power to make bends out of any metal tubings. Its aluminum-bronze bushings and thrust washers pivot points guarantee it will last for years. This tube bender can bend up to 2.5” OD mild steel with a wall thickness of .120″ and 2” OD Chrome Moly with a wall thickness of .120”.
It features three bending speeds to suit metals with different hardness. The first speed setting produces 4° per pull, which is perfect for bending thick tubings up to 2.5” OD in mild steel and 2” OD in Chrome Moly. The second-speed setting produces 8° per pull for materials not too strong. And the third-speed settings make 12° per pull for lighter gauge metals. The price point of this bender may scare some people away. However, you’ll get value for your money in the long run.
The Baileigh RDB-050 manual tube bender can make bends up to 200° at a go. Thanks to the anti-spring back mechanism, your tube will stay firm in place as you ratchet forward. Baileigh equipped it with quick-release hook arm inserts that make it easy to switch between tubings of different sizes, which boost productivity. Also, it comes complete with the stand, bend handle, and a degree dial. But, you’ll need to buy dies separately, and they aren’t cheap. With a weight of 290lb, you don’t need anybody to tell you that this bender is extremely heavy. So, you won’t be able to move it around.
Benefits
- It is simple to use.
- The 3-speed setting allows you to bend tubings of different hardness smoothly without damaging them.
- It will last for years because of its heavy-duty construction.
- It comes with a stand, bend handle, and a degree dial.
Drawbacks
- Very expensive.
- You’ll still need to buy dies.
- It weighs 290lb, making it heavy.
9. Flexzion Tube Bender Tool
The Flexzion tube bender tool is a new product that makes the process of bending metal much easier. It’s designed to take away the difficulty of hand bending, especially for novice and DIYers. With this tube bender, you can bend ¼”, 5/16”, and ⅜” O.D. copper, brass, aluminum, and thin-wall steel tubing. Note that it can not bend stainless steel thicker than 1mm because it may get damaged.
That said, the Flexzion tube bender tool puts you in complete control over how your metal bends, and it also has adjustable handles for a comfortable bending experience. You don’t have to worry about slipping with this tube bender because it has a non-slip knurled grip on both handles. It is perfect for any project where you need a specific bend shape, such as making car roll cages or anything else that requires precision bending.
This red Flexzion tube bender tool is the cheapest tube bender you can find in today’s market. The only problem with this tool is that the clamp doesn’t hold tubes in place firmly, causing them to slide out during operation. However, if you carefully use it, you won’t experience this problem. It has gauge markings for making accurate bends at 0°, 45°, 135°, and 180°. With a weight of 14.1 ounces, this tool is perfect for quick DIY projects around the house.
Benefits
- It is very affordable and makes clean bends.
- This tube bender is lightweight.
- There are gauge markings on it for making precise bends.
- It works well for almost all metals and alloys.
Drawbacks
- None
10. Erie Tools Manual Square Tube And Pipe Rolling Bender
Erie Tools is a company that manufactures automotive tools and equipment for professionals and DIYers alike. Their manual square tube rolling bender is an affordable tool that can be used by anyone looking to construct a car roll cage of their own. It has a heavy-duty construction with durable ball-bearing rollers that are designed to take years of abuse without wearing out.
The Erie Tools manual square tube rolling bender is a manual tube bender for bending square mild steel, copper, and aluminum tubes up to a 1-inch diameter. It’s designed for tight spaces and comes with an adjustable guide arm to accommodate tubing from 3/4″ to 1.5″. This tool weighs 46lbs and has a maximum bending radius of 220mm, making it perfect for car enthusiasts looking to construct their custom roll cages.
Erie Tools manual square tube rolling bender can’t bend round tubes and pipes. The bender’s 3½” roller-wheel allows you to smoothly bend up to 16 gauge steel with a maximum ⅛” wall thickness. You can also use this bender as a straightening jig by removing the side wheels and using it as an alignment guide. However, it may leave markings on your tubings.
Benefits
- It is easy to use.
- It weighs 46lb, making it lightweight and easy to move around.
- It has a heavy-duty construction guaranteed to last for years.
Drawbacks
- It may leave marks on your tubing.
Best Tube Bender for Roll Cage Buying Guide
When you’re shopping for a tube bender, there are many factors to consider. Not all tube benders can work with every material.
So, it’s important to find out if the tube bender can work with the metal you want to bend or if it has series of dies compatible with different metals before buying. Below are some factors to consider before buying a tube bender.
The type of metal you intend to bend:
The type of metal you intend to bend is the most important factor and it determines what kind of machine will be best suited for your needs. Before buying a tube bender, you must have acquired the metal workpiece you intend to use it on.
So you have to find out if the tube bender is compatible with it. Some tube benders are specifically for bending certain metals like steel, aluminum, copper, etc. On the other hand, some can bend any type of metal.
Type of tube bender:
There are two main types of tube benders: manual and hydraulic.
Manual Tube Bender
A manual tube bender is operated by a hand crank and can only bend one size of metal tubing at a time. It is the best option for smaller operations where a single operator might be bending metal tubing.
Some manual tube benders can be mounted on a table or a bench for increased stability. This type of tube bender is also more affordable than the hydraulic tube bender.
Hydraulic Tube bender
A hydraulic tube bender is operated by pumping up and down on the handle. It can bend multiple sizes of metal tubings.
It is better for people who need to work with several different metals or have more than one operator bending metals.
The type of tubing you plan on bending:
You need to know the diameter and thickness of your metal workpiece. Knowing this will help you figure out if it’s compatible with the tube bender you want to buy.
Most tube benders are limited in what size they can accommodate. You wouldn’t want to spend money on something that doesn’t suit your needs.
The desired radius of the bend:
Some tube benders are capable of producing bends with a large radius. Others might be more limited in their capacity for this operation.
Verify that the tube bender you are purchasing can make bends with the radius you need for your roll cage project.
The length and diameter of tubings you plan on bending:
The tube bender should be able to bend the size of your metal workpiece. If your workpiece is too long to fit into the tube bender, it won’t be able to do its job properly.
Make sure that before you make a purchase, know the bending requirements of your projects.
Does it come preloaded with dies, or will I need to purchase one separately?
A tube bender uses dies to bend metals. The die sizes a tube bender has will determine what type and thickness of metal tubing it can bend. Some tube benders come with a set of dies with different sizes for bending different kinds of materials.
Others will require you to purchase dies separately. Ensure the set of dies a tube bender has matches the shape of your tubing, either square or round, and its overall size before you make a purchase. Keep in mind that dies aren’t interchangeable between brands.
Weight of the tube bender:
The weight of the tube bender is also worth considering. A heavier device will require more force to manipulate. But they are usually built with heavy-duty and sturdy materials that can withstand a lot more pressure than lighter models. A lighter one will make bending easier but may not last long.
Price:
Everyone has a budget. And the price point of the tube bender is one of the most important considerations. Try not to go overboard on price because there are plenty of budget options available which will suit all your needs without costing tools.
However, it’s worth thinking about how often you plan on using your tube bender as well. Investing in a more expensive device will save money in the long run due to less maintenance and wear and tear. In reality, you get what you pay for with tube benders, and the more expensive ones are often worth it.
Final Thought
The 10 best tube benders for roll cages have been carefully reviewed in this article. We hope you’ve been able to find the perfect tube bender for your needs. And that our buying guide has helped you consider all of the factors important before making a purchase.
At the end of it all, we want nothing more than to help make sure you have everything needed to get started on building or modifying your roll cage! Select from our list of tube benders and make a purchase. Happy Shopping!