Pipe Notcher and Bender Questions

[quadzilla570]

Ive just ordered a pipe notcher. It can be hooked to a bench or drill press and you use a arbor bit to cut the notch.

Question.......... To notch the pipe to create a nice welding point and tight fit, lets say for example im using 7/8 tubing. Will i use a 7/8 arbor bit??
Or will it be slightly larger or smaller bit???

Also i got a harbor freight pipe bender im looking at. Are they hard to use?? Trail and error basically?

[Woodchuckscustoms.com]

Ive just ordered a pipe notcher. It can be hooked to a bench or drill press and you use a arbor bit to cut the notch.

Question.......... To notch the pipe to create a nice welding point and tight fit, lets say for example im using 7/8 tubing. Will i use a 7/8 arbor bit??
Or will it be slightly larger or smaller bit???

Also i got a harbor freight pipe bender im looking at. Are they hard to use?? Trail and error basically?

Yes notch the pipe with the same size bit as pipe. I use one of those Harbor Freight notchers when I make mini chopper frames and it work alright. Check out this link for a Free program to help with your project.
http://www.woodchuckscustoms.com/Free%20stuff%20page.htm
It's the Tube Miter Program
:cheers:

[sniffles]

Hey woodchuck,
Does your notcher make the hole saw just slightly higher than the tubing, leaving overhang? Mine does, its kind of annoying because then you have to clean it up with a grinder.

-Jesse

[voodoo_stepchild]

Hey any of you guys ever use conduit benders for your tubing bend projects? Im not talking about the hand held ones with a handle, hydraulic units. I have a couple of old greenlee hydraulic units with shoes that range from 1/2" emt to 4"emt, 1/2" ridgid and I.M.C. to 4" I.M.C

The half inch emt is actually 5/8' O.D, the 3/4" is 7/8" O.D, the 1" is 1-1/8" O.D etc etc etc, ridgid is next size up for thinwall but I dont use them that much. The cool thing about it is the shoes fully stay in contact with the bend at all times and theres no crushing or distortion what so ever. It works pretty slick. I guess the cost factor for most is a problem as they arte pretty spendy unless you can score on on ebay pretty cheap. I will post some pics of it in action, works good