Abstract: A tube bender construction for manual operation in bending a tube. The tube bender includes a mandrel defining a bending groove into which the tube is urged by a forming member mounted to the mandrel to swing about a bending axis of the bending groove. The tube to be bent is held against longitudinal movement during the bending operation by a tube holding member. Movement of the forming member about the bending axis is effected by manipulation of a pair of handles. The tube holding member is selectively retained in a retracted position spaced from the tube-retaining disposition by cooperating movement limiting structure on the tube holding member and structure in fixed association with the mandrel.