Pipe Bender

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Gents I thought some time back some kind member had shared plans for a pipe bender with me but I cannot find any reference to either a message or find any plans. I have in a couple of month time the need to bend 1/8,3/16 and 1/4 copper pipe so as any one made a pipe bend and if so would they be so kind as to share a drawing/plans ? I do have one of those cheap and cheerful hand held pipe benders which in theory be ok for the 1/4 but I find the bends bit on the large size, talking about radius of bends am I correct in think minimum bend so be 3x radius of the pipe ?

Thanks H

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Hi Harry, Awhile back I simply cut a deep groove of the required radius and width in a lump of round bar and held it in the vice to bent the pipe round it worked fine ! Noel.

[JAParticipant @ja]

Harry

I think I was one of many who replied to you some time ago.

A very nice pipe bending kit was described on https://modelengineeringwebsite.com/. I have just searched for it but failed. I am sure it is there.

There was also a pipe bender described in the ME in August 2010. If necessary I have a copy.

JA

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Thanks for the replies JA thanks for the link what a strange website and if you could a copy of the pipe bender if it’s no trouble Ill PM you

H

[JAParticipant @ja]

Harry

Please PM me with your email address. I will send it tomorrow.

JA

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

JA found it by google search  https://modelengineeringwebsite.com/artisans_pipe_bender.html

so do not need the other but thanks for the offer. The one described above is the one I had before

H

[Frank GorseParticipant @frankgorse]

I’ve got one of those part made – like so many other things- and had lost the drawings so thank you for the link.

On a related topic can anyone please advise on the choice of wall thickness for general pipe work on steam engines? M Machine,for example,list 4 different gauges of 1/4” copper and another supplier refers to ‘bending grade’.

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

I suspect bending grade just means soft enough to bend without issues so may just be fully annealed. You can, of course, anneal copper yourself just by heating it to a high enough temperature and letting it cool down.

As for wall thickness the thicker the wall the easier it is to bend to a tighter radius without wrinkling but then you lose out with a reduced bore. A thicker pipe will also be more resistant to mechanical damage on a model. If you stick to a minimum bend radius of three times the outside diameter then choose your wall based on other factors such as cost, flow rates and forces that the pipe will be subjected to in use. Thin wall may be fine for cold water or low pressure but not for high pressure steam for example.

Martin C

[Frank GorseParticipant @frankgorse]

Thanks for that Martin.Perhaps now I’ll get the tool finished and try it out.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

The one on hemingways site looks quite nice

 

[Neil AParticipant @neila]

There was a hand pipe bender in issue No 83 of MEW, if that is of any interest to you.

Neil

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Thanks Neil

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