PPo

Gentlefolk,

What tube notcher would you recomend/do you own for building roll-cages?

The reason why I ask is that I need to make some modifications to my existing cage and it turns out the quotes I have recieved are around what I believe is the same cost as a good hand notcher (Approx. $600). A peer would be willing to help me fabricate the required changes free of charge and has the high quality welder and experience required to get the job done right. (Ex. Porsche Turbo Cup mechanic/ Porsche Master mechanic with many years fabrication experience). Since I don't require a bender for any of the changes, would it be a good decision to invest in a notcher and do the job myself? Thoughts?

Thanks in advance for all and any help..

regards,
Patrick Parato

Julian Allen

Try this from Van Sant . . .

http://www.vansantent.com/tube_notcher.htm

Cory M

If you are just making a few changes to your cage and don't need a tool that will last forever you can get the Harbor Freight notcher, the notcher only goes to 45 deg so you will need to finish them off with a grinder.

Geo

You can get the JD2 notcher direct.

http://www.jd2.com/

That is what I used to build my cage. Works great. If you have to do really shallow angles, no reasonably priced notcher will do the trick, but this will handle most everything you could need and the quality is very high.

Bryan Watts

Don't forget to factor in the cost of the steel (which is rather high right now IIRC).

RedlineMan

Hey Pat;

Try these as well;

http://pro-tools.com/

I have a lesser model from them that they do not make anymore, and it works very well. I'm sure this one is much better.

If you are doing perpendicular nothces, there is nothing that beats this rig.

http://www.lowbucktools.com/notcher.html

This thing is reliable as an anvil. It will do more nothces quicker than anything else. I can do one end of a tube in under 10 seconds. I've had mine for many years and it has required ZERO maintenance. The only drawback is that it won't go past 10* offset.

Oh... and picking up on Bryan's point, 1.75/.095 DOM is running about $75 a stick down here. Not cheap.

Julian Allen

The Pro Tools one John's talking about is actually the one I have (I thought it was Van Sant's) and it does work very well.

kurt M

if you are only doing a few cuts you can cut with a saw and finish with a $20 HF angle grinder. You can make very good MIG or TIG ready fit-ups this way if you are careful and not in a huge hurry.

I have the $$$ one from Van Sant. This notcher makes very nice cuts and can cut any angle from 90 to dead on the end. It can also be setup for offset and dif size through holes for setting sleeves.

mein51

You DO recall correctly!! The price increase will affect him as well as anyone else who does the job though.

Bryan Watts

Yeah, but I wasn't sure if his quote included the steel. If it does, he may find that after buying the steel and the notcher, he could have had the rollbar built cheaper.

PPo

Thanks for all the replies guys... these are some great suggestions and exactly what I was looking for!

Now to make a decision... even if it works out to be a little more expensive, at least I will get some great experience and have a Tube Notcher for the next time I want to improve things...

cheers,
Patrick
(Soon to be PCA SP2 driver...)

Izzy's Cages

I love my JMR Notcher (which looks to be the same as the one two posts up ^^^). I've yet to have a bad notch due to the notcher

Best thing is that I've been able to do some re-hoops on formula cars and put a fresh cope on tube while it was in the car. Very nice unit.

Mussl Kar

That a rabbit hutch in the background?

Cory M

It's a special hutch for sandblasting rabbits..

kurt M

Ha! No it was a slapped together for a long part I needed to clean and from from parts of a crappy imported blast cabinet. I spent a slightly longer time and slapped together a larger one later on. It will fit many rabbits.