bending copper

d o'c

doing some 90 bends with 3/4 copper tube. I'm finding a bit more deformation than I'd like. The pipe is going slightly oval on the curve. I'm using a metric record hand bender and former.
Is this likely to be technique, materials or the equipement I'm using.
thanks.

sullzz

Its the benders and former thats the problem you would only use the metric benders on metric pipe (22mm). I presume your using irish (imperial) copper

d o'c

yes, I suspected this.. I mesured the 3/4 I'm bending and it's just over 21mm O/D, so I guess this small amount makes the difference when using the 22mm bender/former.

I spoke to a mate on the phone and he said he was using a metric bender on Irish pipe and he had good results.I will try and get an imperial bender

JohnnieK

d o'c wrote: »

yes, I suspected this.. I mesured the 3/4 I'm bending and it's just over 21mm O/D, so I guess this small amount makes the difference when using the 22mm bender/former.

I spoke to a mate on the phone and he said he was using a metric bender on Irish pipe and he had good results.I will try and get an imperial bender

Best of luck getting the imperial benders.:)

d o'c

hens teeth?

mossy2390

fill it with water and freeze it before you bend it, helps hold the shape.

saw it somewhere on tv before, might be worth a shot

JohnnieK

Or use dry sand. Smiths play sand. Or just live with the distortion, it wont affect flow rates.

gdavis

the rothenberger benders is a1 imo for bending three quarter but when bending it a lot it doesnt have a long life.

d o'c

had a rothenberger on loan to see if results were better, but the formers were lost, and different depth to the record ones,so that was a no go.


Agreed can't see the distortion affecting anything just being a bit fussy guess

gdavis

u can pick up a formers for few quid

Joey the lips

JohnnieK wrote: »

Or use dry sand. Smiths play sand. Or just live with the distortion, it wont affect flow rates.

This is how i learned it. Dry sand in the pipe with benders. Its a good method for harder pipe as well. dont be tempted to cap the pipe just let the sand move and change shape with the bend.

Sounds obvious but if bending does not work soldering can produce very close corner bends and with a little practice you can become good for standard stuff like water.

GASMANN

d o'c wrote: »

had a rothenberger on loan to see if results were better, but the formers were lost, and different depth to the record ones,so that was a no go.


Agreed can't see the distortion affecting anything just being a bit fussy guess

ah, come on now ....