What is this used for please?
- Thread starter sparkypenguin
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- copper pipe pipe bending
As you have figured, it's a pipe bender.
Thanks but what type of pipe?
I tried on 15mm copper and it did not seem strong enough to bend it.
I tried on 15mm copper and it did not seem strong enough to bend it.
Difficult to tell from a photo, but most are suitable for 15mm or 22mm copper pipe. If the pipe you are wanting to bend sits snugly into the shoe / former it should be the right size. If you have a look on youtube there are lots of videos showing how they work.
1. Those benders are for soft copper pipe.
2. The mostly commonly used type of copper pipe used in domestic plumbing is "half hard".
3. Those benders can't handle half hard copper.
4. If you heat the copper to bright red, then quench or allow to cool in air, it will become soft and you might be able to bend it.
2. The mostly commonly used type of copper pipe used in domestic plumbing is "half hard".
3. Those benders can't handle half hard copper.
4. If you heat the copper to bright red, then quench or allow to cool in air, it will become soft and you might be able to bend it.
If the pipe doesn't sit tightly into the groove (former) then it's too large, as suggested those hand formers are usually for 8/10mm copper
Would the heating and quenching make the copper weaker and therefore unsuitable for domestic plumbing?
That is for 8mm & 10mm pipe , that is why it has 2 formers (grooves) one for each size of pipe
1. Annealing makes a metal more ductile and easier to work. Like a number of other metals, copper work hardens when it is hammered / squeezed through an extrusion die.
2. There isn't much practical difference between the strength of soft and half hard copper, and either is quite suitable for domestic plumbing.
3. There is much wider use of annealed copper in air conditioning / refrigeration work, which tend to use narrower pipes. These lend themselves to bending more easily and can be used to form much tighter (small radius) curves.
2. There isn't much practical difference between the strength of soft and half hard copper, and either is quite suitable for domestic plumbing.
3. There is much wider use of annealed copper in air conditioning / refrigeration work, which tend to use narrower pipes. These lend themselves to bending more easily and can be used to form much tighter (small radius) curves.
Thanks for that, I think I will give it a go!
Give what a go? Whatever you do to a 15mm pipe you aren't going to successfully bend it with a tool which is designed for 8mm & 10mm pipe. If you can get the 15mm pipe soft enough to bend with that tool it will just get crushed.Thanks for that, I think I will give it a go!
1. That type of bender is typically used in HVAC work with smaller tube sizes.
2. If a 15 mm pipe will fit into the former (the semi-circular piece with a radial groove in it) then it may well bend 15 mm annealed tube.
3. If the tube won't fit into the groove without force it won't bend it.
2. If a 15 mm pipe will fit into the former (the semi-circular piece with a radial groove in it) then it may well bend 15 mm annealed tube.
3. If the tube won't fit into the groove without force it won't bend it.
It does have various sizes noted on it, including 14mm and 16mm so one of those may work.
