Ok...first, let's just oil up the bender and see how much softer this tubing is. What the?! It's no better than 2024T3, and it kinked just as badly.
Alright, well, I remembered to bring a tupperware container full of sugar to the hangar, so let's see if people's suggestion of filling the tube works...no way, jose. I filled it completely with sugar, and plugged both ends tightly (with plastic plugs). It was hellish to try to bend it, and it still kinked.
Whatever. I'm convinced that it's this stupid shitty bender that I bought. You get what you pay for. $5.99 gets you a bender that's probably OK to use on friggin' copper tubing, but if you throw aluminum at it the thing does a terrible job. The bend radius is just way too aggressive. Of course a nice, aircraft quality geared bender costs $195. Fugghettaboudit.
