Pipe bending by hand versus pipe bending tools

[GreensandsParticipant @greensands]

I have heard it said before that some people have more success bending small gauge soft copper pipe using hand pressure than by using purpose bending pipe bending machines. Certainly this has been my experience backed up by some recent bending exercises. I would be interested to hear other people’s views on the topic.

 

 

 

 

[vintagengineerParticipant @vintagengineer]

I use table salt it’s very effective and you can wash it out.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I think a lot depends on how dextrous you are, I know people who are good machinists but are rank amateurs when you put a file or hacksaw in front of them.

[Michael CallaghanParticipant @michaelcallaghan68621]

It all depends on the bend you want. I always had problems with bending the copper tube. I purchased lots of pipe benders, made my own and just got bad results on longer bends. I now 3D print formers with the correct radius and bend the tube by hand over the former. Much better results.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

You can certainly get away with mild bends without a bender. Try experimenting with some pipe to see how far you can get before a kink starts.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Do you know what grade of stainless it is? 304 is one of the best to bend.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Errr… He asked about copper tube, but I expect similar applies to stainless-steel!

A general rule seems to be minimum bend radius = 3 X diameter but that might rely on a proper former.

The secret does seem to be, as Michael indicates, the former profiles. He 3D-prints his but there are ways and means to machine them conventionally with a semi-circular groove: a form-tool in the lathe, or milling with the blank on a rotary-table perpendicular to the cutter rather than axial to it.

Plenty of designs for tube benders have been published, but really I regard this a tool to buy rather then make. The making time is your own and of course there is the satisfaction in making it; but by the time you account for the materials and electricity you’d probably spend more than the commercial item!

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