Bending copper tube?

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Good afternoon,

I want to put a couple of small radius bends into 5/32″ (4mm) copper tube.  I have a small tubing bender but the internal radius is too large at 12 mm.  Something a little smaller would be useful.

I’ve tried an external bending spring, but the annealed tube didn’t fare too well.

My next attempt will be to make a simple bending die with a smaller radius.  Just need to grind the form tool.

Any other suggestions appreciated.

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

If you can ‘rough’ a groove for a die, 5/32″ dia. is a common size for round chainsaw files.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

You don’t need to grind a form tool just turn up a button harden and fix to a shank.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Machine a groove in a lump of metal 5/32″ wide, no need to radius the bottom and to the radius you want. Anneal the tube first.  Ali will do. Noel.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Fill the tube with fine dry sand and block both ends, that will reduce the kinking. If a second bend is to be made, repack the sand before doing it.

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