If you could have only one bender what would it be?

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Mule

Mule

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Oklahoma
I know that a crazy question, but Im needing to upgrade from my hand benders to something that will bend both rigid and emt as I'm doing more commercial and industrial lately. I been looking at a chicago bender..This one will do 1/2 through 1 1/4 rigid and 1 through 1 1/2 emt....pro's con's?

http://www.chicagobender.com/chicagobender/5500.html

I can only afford one right now, so what would be the best to have?
 
theyre pricey but a greenlee smart bender is the way to go. theyll do 1/2 to 2 emt imc or rmc with the flip of a switch, automatically adjusts for springback, digital display. its a cadilac
 
mattsilkwood said:
theyre pricey but a greenlee smart bender is the way to go. theyll do 1/2 to 2 emt imc or rmc with the flip of a switch, automatically adjusts for springback, digital display. its a cadilac
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that sounds good, but that sounds expensive....maybe ebay? haha
 
Mule said:
I know that a crazy question, but Im needing to upgrade from my hand benders to something that will bend both rigid and emt as I'm doing more commercial and industrial lately. I been looking at a chicago bender..This one will do 1/2 through 1 1/4 rigid and 1 through 1 1/2 emt....pro's con's?

http://www.chicagobender.com/chicagobender/5500.html

I can only afford one right now, so what would be the best to have?
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This is a great bender for the price when you upgrade to the triple nickel aka 555 you will apreciate it more. I wouldnt hesitate to buy a chicago on ebay I have bought many great tools from them.
 
I've owned 2 555 smart benders. (555 smart preceeded the 855 smart bender, they aren't available any more). One got stolen, and I promptly bought #2. They are the Caddilac of benders.
 
mattsilkwood said:
theyre pricey but a greenlee smart bender is the way to go. theyll do 1/2 to 2 emt imc or rmc with the flip of a switch, automatically adjusts for springback, digital display. its a cadilac
Click to expand...

Not sure I agree, they are nice benders but they do seem to break a lot. The shop I used to work for had four or five "Smart Bnenders" If they get a lot of use unless they get preventive maintains the drive chains loosen up crawl up on the sprockets and snap. The shop kept spare chains on the shelf. Then there is the small 1/4" x 1.25" 1 or 2 amp control fuse for the electronics. Better keep spares of those as well. :rolleyes:

I can deal with spring back and ofset calculaions myself. :)

I think the old school 555s are more durable.
 
Mule it sounds like recently started out in business? I think that the 555 or triple nickel would be a great choice.
 
Mule said:
I know that a crazy question, but Im needing to upgrade from my hand benders to something that will bend both rigid and emt as I'm doing more commercial and industrial lately. I been looking at a chicago bender..This one will do 1/2 through 1 1/4 rigid and 1 through 1 1/2 emt....pro's con's?http://
Click to expand...


If you are not doing really big jobs it's good to have a bender that you can easily move from place to place. Even transporting from one job to the other is easier with a smaller bender.

If you are going to do really big jobs and bend lots of conduit then the bigger more expensive benders may pay for themselves in a short time.

Choose your bender based on the type of work you are going to do. That chicago may be all you will need for a few years.

This is just my opinion but I think that you should never buy a tool that you are not going to use very much. If you only use it a couple times a year then rent it.
 
growler said:
If you are not doing really big jobs it's good to have a bender that you can easily move from place to place. Even transporting from one job to the other is easier with a smaller bender.

If you are going to do really big jobs and bend lots of conduit then the bigger more expensive benders may pay for themselves in a short time.

Choose your bender based on the type of work you are going to do. That chicago may be all you will need for a few years.

This is just my opinion but I think that you should never buy a tool that you are not going to use very much. If you only use it a couple times a year then rent it.
Click to expand...
Chicago bender 1000$ Triple nickel 3000$ You do the math. I have an old blackhawk I could sell you cheap. Just kidding.
 
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