Using the Harbor Freight Compact Bender for Steel Target Hangers.

Today we n the Harbor Freight compact bender through it's paces while bending some shepherd hooks to use as steel target hangers. This compact bender has come in very handy with our business and does a fantastic job.

[@chaosplan]

I bought one of those from the HarborFreight corporate headquarters in 1995. Never used it, even moved to a different state 1200 miles away. The reason I’ve never used it is because I never had a dedicated spot to use it and didn’t want to drill the holes in the floor. Your video inspired me and I’m going to mount mine outside on an old 3‘ x 3‘ chunk of concrete. I’ve been buying HarborFreight tools for 29 years and I’m not stopping. Sure, some of the stuff is sketchy, but a professional level tool would cost 3 to 5 times more. HarborFreight lets me dip into interesting hobbies without going broke.

[@jeffreyhill3960]

I noticed that you have all round die’s in use. If you expect the bend to happen on the middle die, you have to make the stationary die stay with the lever piece, if that makes sense. In other words any of the die’s may roll at any time and bend on the stationary side, middle or lever side depending which die rolls with the steel. To control where the bend happens, use the four way flat die and a set of vice grips behind the square die so the steel won’t creep down the die. This will force the steel to bend around the middle die……hope this makes sense.

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

Junior... Harbor Freight is my go-to for expendables... painting gloves, drill bits and especially grinding media like flap sanders, angle grinder disks & sand paper. I used my nephews HF bender to make a chicken catch hook. Worked great!

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Thanks William, Harbor Freight has got me out of a jam more than once.

[@lambertpastoor2383]

You are right about the tools from harbor freight for normal use you can not beat them, if needed they have even items in different levels of quality, I love the place for my small business. Liked your video and will check back in again.

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Right on

[@bump6469]

Harbor freight is my place of worship

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Yes sir.

[@burningdinosaurs]

Right there with ya buddy! HF is great to get you started and when you only use them every once in a while, they usually get the job done no issues. Thanks for the video on that bender, I've definitely had my eye on one for a while, but just can't pull the trigger yet.

[@shootersoptiontargets]

You got that right!

[@CaptainKleeman]

i can see a lot of good uses for that bender. solid demonstration and thanks for sharing with us!

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Any time! Thanks Captain

[@JohnnyThrobber]

Awesome video! Answered all my questions about this bender. I just bought one and wanted to see if anyone was bending 1/2" rod because all the other videos I found were only doing 1/4" steel. Thanks for taking the time to make such an incredible and informative video!

[@DennysCountryLife]

@ 7:51 I believe I saw a "Gerrald Farms" cutout. Great guy. Thanks for the video! I think I'm gonna buy this bender.

[@shootersoptiontargets]

You might have seen just that!

[@venganzamujer354]

Thanks

[@lawrencebishop7801]

Brother, You are awesome, but honestly, grab that bender by the very end to increase your leverage. Keep on with the awesome videos!

[@johnsellers2999]

Yea I was thinking same thing. I remember moving something once and those rubber ends on the handle was sliding off and I didn't notice it till it came off and nearly killed me. So now with anything like that I am very careful about pulling heavy stuff,paying attention to those grips. If they move I will put glue or electrical tape to keep from moving.

[@TheSkyriders]

Nice demo! Thanks Man. Probably gonna pick one up and make almost exactly what you’re makin’ . . . Plus I learned a new word! Fandy-Dandy! Kinda like a mix between fancy and handy-dandy! 🤣 Thanks again for the demo and also read in the comments how you mounted it 👍🏼

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Thanks for watching!

[@kennymysak2079]

Great idea for the targets should do a double one and see what your shooting buddies think. I use a lot of harbor freight tools in my shop. Hope everyone has a Happy Easter and stay safe and healthy and like the beautiful CEO MRS SOT Says wash your hands with hot soapie water. Keep up the great videos

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Thanks kenny and we hope you have a blessed Easter.

[@fulltiltgrading8366]

Great video and neat tool. I might try one of them to make rebar hoops for concrete 👍🏻

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Hard to beat that tool for the money.

[@gordonbright7106]

I use Harbor freight they have their place. Awesome work hope everyone has a good Easter.

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Thanks Gordon, hope you have a blessed Easter as well.

[@ldr4278]

Excellent

[@dirtediggin]

Can't beat harbor freight on some stuff, I use some of it as well. Great video Junior

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Thanks buddy.

[@eliteearthworksllc]

Nice work buddy looks like a handy tool 👍🏻

[@shootersoptiontargets]

I love it, it's worked out pretty good.

[@leopoldoschroeder76]

Hey farmer, hi from Spain

[@mannsjm]

We are on the fourth year of using SOT's hanging steel pistol targets at the sportsmen club and they have all held up. We did manage to shoot through a shepherds hook when we used them for rifle (AR15) targets. Junior does have a nice option for hanging rifle targets that are AR500 and those have been "shooter" proof. Nice to have options that fit different peoples needs.

[@bodiehayden3803]

dunno if you guys gives a shit but if you guys are bored like me atm then you can stream pretty much all of the new movies and series on InstaFlixxer. Have been streaming with my girlfriend during the lockdown xD

[@camdynvalentin9051]

@Bodie Hayden definitely, I have been watching on InstaFlixxer for since december myself =)

[@harpermarley5217]

@Bodie Hayden Yup, I've been using InstaFlixxer for since november myself :)

[@JesseMcFie]

Thanks for the video, looking to see if this bender would do what i need it to. very helpful. Side question on your cnc machine. I actually in the process of getting a quote from shop sabre on their 4x8 sidekick... looks like the same thing as what you have there? I currently have a table with stepper motors and a lighter frame. Are you happy with your table? Can you cut 16guage material fine detail at book settings? My current table can not go fast enough through the details to not make a pile of dross on the back side.

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Dross is always an issue, mainly because I'm self taught. The shopsabre is one of the best on the market and the people that work there are always friendly and helpful. check out my table review and i go into a little more depth.

[@DirtPerfect]

nice i need to get one of those have eyed them a few times

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Really surprised how well it works.

[@user-xz9hu4rd2v]

Nice HFT sunglasses, I use them too! 😎

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Yes sir!

[@sonofmontezuma3732]

I always wonder if they were any(good) bueno? Know you cleared that up ,thanks

[@rickburns8492]

Nothing wrong with harbor freight if you know what you are buying, nice video JR Happy Easter to all of ya down south.

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Than Rick Happy Easter to yo as well.

[@RandWFarmstead-TonyWalsh]

Great work my friend. Take care and Happy Easter to you and Mrs. SOT.

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Thanks walsh farms and have a blessed Easter

[@CaptKirk1701]

Pretty slick!

[@kieranjohnburke]

Will it bend 3/4” rebar ?

[@CMDSR]

I’ve had both good and bad results with Horrible Freight.

[@nicklira467]

Could this thing do 3/4 inch emt?? Great video

[@shootersoptiontargets]

It doesn't like regular tubing so I am good say more than likley not.

[@nicklira467]

Thanks for saving me the money lol i just got a traditional step-on bender. Making chairs with it!

[@user-qu6jf6ot5o]

Bought this to do hand rails out of sch. 40 water pipe 1 inch hoping it works if not ima make rebar cowboys or something 100 bucks I'll do decorative names if nothing else

[@user-qu6jf6ot5o]

Still trying to figure out operation ima weld it to a receiver for a hitch cause I gotta be Mobile

[@laceysaquic8305]

How can you bend a circle???

[@mikemph7779]

Do you think it would be practical to mount one of these horizontally?

[@shootersoptiontargets]

More than likley not but it would depend on what you plan to bend with it.

[@lafinest47]

do you think i can use it to bend 1 1/2 16g square tubing? TIA

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Nope I don't believe so.

[@tmacie2]

Speaking of useful but "cheap" tools. Check out the Ironton 7 1/4" dry cut chop saw. It uses a carbide blade and makes really quick work of those rods. I've got one and its great when I need to cut steel quickly. Right now its $170 at Northern Tool.

[@shootersoptiontargets]

I have seen some of those, may need to pick one up.

[@tmacie2]

@@shootersoptiontargets If I can remember...I'll get a video of mine in action. I have some flat bar to cut in the near future.

[@Davincisgarage]

Can u get pipe dies for these?

[@jeffouimet]

Will this tool bend 5/16" aluminum rod 360° with an inside radius of approximately 1 inch?

[@shootersoptiontargets]

I would say yes but with the 360 degrees i have not tried that yet. i have tried aluminum rod and it does work with the softer metal.

[@jeffouimet]

Thanks for your reply. I'm considering buying this bender.

[@tomt9543]

@@jeffouimet Although I can’t remember which ones, be aware that some aluminum alloys are surprisingly brittle and prone to cracking or totally breaking when bending is attempted! I learned the hard - expensive way! Dang good bender though!

[@richhowell6874]

Can you bend rebar with the H. F. bender?

[@shootersoptiontargets]

yes,should be no issues.

[@richhowell6874]

@@shootersoptiontargets Thank you for the quick reply.

[@thtmnbhndthecrtn]

Will it do 3/8 or 1/2" square rod?

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Yes should be no issue there. might have to work at keeping it squared up.

[@cliffdariff74]

does it tell u how to attach base to floor?

[@shootersoptiontargets]

I don't believe it did. I used 4 3/8" anchors and drilled holes.

[@hobbyhermit66]

Say what you want about HF, but how many other dedicated tool stores are there out there? I've been shopping online for one of those benders, and most are $175 to $199. I found one that's probably better, but costs $325. Guessing the less than 200 models are probably made in China. Might all be.

[@joeherrick2530]

could this bend 1 in. Diameter, 0.083 in. thickness pipe?

[@shootersoptiontargets]

no sorry, i think that would be a little to much for this bender.

[@mrs.eliteearthworks]

I was here 😎

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Hey there, are you working hard trying to quarantine Mr Elite or do you have him locked out of the house?😀😀

[@mrs.eliteearthworks]

S.O.T. Metalworks lol! We’re both still working regularly so he’d not driving any more crazy than usual 😂

[@carpballet]

Even sped-up, why would you show every stabilizer leg being welded on? Lol time 100

[@carrgrienier7726]

Exactly on what you said you know what your buying from harbor freight you know it’s not made in the USA you know it’s not going to last forever but if it works it works if it doesn’t return it. Stop your crying about “it’s sucks and I will never buy from harbor freight again” I like buying stuff from there that I know I am not going to use it everyday and it does the job. If your going to use it everyday buy a name brand. Good job on the bending will check this out myself thanks!

[@shootersoptiontargets]

Thanks Carr, Harbor Freight definitely has it's place around my shop.

[@slowcountryboy476]

3 minutes and 34 seconds and you still have not demonstrated the tool. I'm out of here.

[@dp97303]

I need a good bar bender I want to make custom tent pegs and sell them out of rebar the electric benders are over 2 grand no one in salem Oregon sells them so I hope it would work as good