TBR

Pro-Tools BRUTE

Quick take: The Pro-Tools BRUTE scores 36/100 on our published, source-cited 100-point system, at a complete-system price of $3605–$5800. Strongest category: Max Diameter Capability (10/10).

Pro-Tools BRUTE

Highlights

  • Highest capacity at 2.5" tube capability • 15-ton hydraulic cylinder with 16" stroke • 1" thick main bending frame

✔Pros

  • •Highest capacity at 2.5" tube capability
  • •15-ton hydraulic cylinder with 16" stroke
  • •1" thick main bending frame
  • •Integrated CNC machined degree ring
  • •100% USA designed and assembled
  • •Professional production capability

!Cons

  • •Highest price point in comparison
  • •Requires compressed air for operation
  • •Heavy unit requiring permanent installation
  • •Dies sold separately at premium pricing

Key features

15-ton hydraulic cylinder1" thick frameCNC machined degree ring2.5" capacity

Materials compatibility

Based on manufacturer documentation and test use; not a substitute for checking your exact material spec.

Aluminum

How this score was earned — every point, with sources

36 / 100

Each line shows the points, exactly how that category is scored, how this machine did, and the sources behind the data. Click any line to expand.

Value for Money8 sources3/20
How it's scored

Value = capability points earned (of 67 possible — the sum of the 10 capability categories below) ÷ the complete-system price, expressed per $1,000, on a fixed published scale: ≥30 per $1k → 20 pts · 25–29 → 17 · 20–24 → 14 · 15–19 → 11 · 12–14 → 8 · 9–11 → 5 · 6–8 → 3 · under 6 → 1 · no documented price → 0. The scale is fixed, so a score never shifts when other machines change.

This machine

Capability points = Ease of Use 1 + Max Diameter 10 + Bend Angle 7 + Stress/Materials 2 + Dies 2 + Upgrades 4 + Mandrel 0 + S-Bend 0 + Single-Source 2 + Warranty 2 = 30 of 67. 30 ÷ $3605 complete-system price = 8.3 capability points per $1,000 → 3/20 on our fixed value scale.

Sources
Ease of Use & Setup7 sources1/10
How it's scored

Two parts, capped at 10. PORTABILITY (0–3): rolling as standard = 3 · portable with a rolling option = 2 · portable = 1 · fixed/bolt-down = 0. EVIDENCE CHECKLIST (0–7): +1 each for a downloadable manual, on-machine operating instructions, a built-in bend-angle reference, published springback/overbend help (a specific overbend number OR a written measure-and-compensate method — not a vague 'expect springback'), a real rotation aid (clamp-on analog/digital or chuck/indexer — a magnet-on-tube or none scores 0), a documented quick-die-change aid, and official YouTube content for this exact model.

This machine

Portability: 0/3. Evidence checklist: 1/7. Manual=No, On-machine instructions=No, Angle reference=Yes, Springback guidance=No, Rotation aid=magnet_on_tube, Quick die change=No, Mfr YouTube model content=No.

Sources
Max Diameter Capability1 source10/10
How it's scored

Largest round-tube OD the machine runs with catalog tooling, on fixed tiers: ≥2.5" = 10 · ≥2.375" = 9 · ≥2.25" = 8 · ≥2.0" = 7 · ≥1.75" = 5 · ≥1.5" = 3 · any smaller documented size = 2 · no published OD = 0. (CLR is shown for reference but not scored.)

This machine

Fixed OD tiers. OD=2.5 in. CLR is display-only (not scored).

Sources
Bend Angle Capability1 source7/9
How it's scored

Maximum published bend angle, on fixed tiers: ≥190° = 9 · ≥180° = 7 · ≥120° = 4 · any smaller documented angle = 2 · no published angle = 0.

This machine

Fixed angle tiers (≥190°=9, ≥180°=7, ≥120°=4, >0°=2). Angle=180° → 7/9.

Sources
Stress Capacity & Materials1 source2/10
How it's scored

Two parts, capped at 10; if no wall spec for 1.75" OD DOM is published the WHOLE category is 0 (no inferring strength). WALL THICKNESS (0–6): ≥0.875" (solid bar) = 6 · ≥0.250" = 5 · ≥0.188" = 4 · ≥0.156" = 3 · ≥0.120" = 2 · ≥0.095" = 1. MATERIALS (0–4): count of documented materials from steel, stainless, 4130, aluminum, titanium, copper, brass — 7 = 4 · 5–6 = 3 · 3–4 = 2 · 1–2 = 1 · 0 = 0.

This machine

0" published max wall for 1.75" OD DOM (below scoring threshold). Documented materials (4/7): steel, stainless, 4130, aluminum.

Sources
Die Selection & Shapes1 source2/8
How it's scored

+1 point for each die family the maker documents for this frame (8 max): round tube, pipe, square tube, EMT, metric round, metric square, plastic/urethane pressure dies, and any other clearly documented shape.

This machine

Documented die coverage for: round tube, pipe. Points are awarded only for die families the bender manufacturer explicitly documents as compatible for this frame, including any clearly claimed third-party die ecosystems.

Sources
Track Record (Years in Business)1 source3/3
How it's scored

Documented years the brand has operated: ≥25 yrs = 3 · ≥10 = 2 · >0 = 1 · no founding date published = 0.

This machine

Scored from stated years in business: 1989.

Sources
Upgrade Path & Modularity8 sources4/8
How it's scored

+1 point for each documented, factory-supported upgrade (8 max): power upgrade path, length/back stop, rotation indexing, angle measurement, auto-stop, thick-wall tooling, thin-wall/quality tooling, and wiper-die support.

This machine

Documented upgrade path covering: power upgrade path, rotation indexing for bend-to-bend alignment, built-in or machine-mounted angle readout, auto-stop for bend angle.

Sources
Mandrel Compatibility1 source0/4
How it's scored

Documented mandrel support for this specific frame: bronze/nickel-class system = 4 · economy (plastic/aluminum/steel) mandrel = 2 · none or not documented = 0. No guessing.

This machine

Mandrel tier is explicitly none (or not documented clearly enough to score). This category scores 0.

Sources
True S-Bend Capability1 source0/3
How it's scored

A true S-bend — two opposite-direction bends with ≤0.125" straight (tangent) between them, proven by specs, photos, or repeatable test pieces: yes = 3 · otherwise (or marketing 'S-bends' with inches of straight) = 0.

This machine

No published/entered S-bend capability data for this frame; this category scores 0 rather than guessing.

Sources
USA Manufacturing Claimno source yet0/2
How it's scored

Scores the maker's own origin CLAIM only (not verified origin): a flat, FTC-unqualified "Made in USA" = 2 · a qualified/loose claim ("assembled in USA", "American made", or "Made in USA" with imported parts disclosed) = 1 · no USA claim = 0.

This machine

No published USA-origin claim (imported, foreign, or silent); this category scores 0.

Sources

No source recorded for this category yet.

Origin Disclosureno source yet0/8
How it's scored

+1 per major component whose specific origin the maker documents — USA or imported both count (we reward disclosure, not country): frame +2, dies/tooling +2, hydraulic/power unit +2, pump/motor +1, controls/electronics +1 (8 max). A part the machine doesn't have (e.g. no hydraulics on a manual bender) isn't counted against it.

This machine

No component-level origin documentation published; this category scores 0. We reward disclosing where major parts come from, not any particular country.

Sources

No source recorded for this category yet.

Single-Source System1 source2/2
How it's scored

Can a normal buyer get a complete, working system — frame + dies + the required power/lever — from one primary manufacturer/storefront? Yes = 2 · anything requiring you to source a major part elsewhere = 0.

This machine

Complete, fully functional system (frame + dies + hydraulics/lever) available from one primary manufacturer/storefront.

Sources
Warranty (Published Terms Only)1 source2/3
How it's scored

Strength of the published written warranty only: strong/lifetime on the frame or ≥3-yr comprehensive = 3 · a clear 1–2-yr warranty = 2 · a short or heavily limited but documented warranty = 1 · none, as-is, or not mentioned = 0.

This machine

Clear written warranty with roughly 1–2 years of coverage on the machine or major components. This category is based strictly on published terms; we do not score how well the warranty is honored in practice.

Sources
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