First attempt at pipe bending...

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endecotp

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Dear experts,

I am attempting to bend 15mm copper using a spring for the first time. My very first attempt seemed to be fine, but since then I keep getting kinks. Any advice? Maybe my knee is the wrong shape; any suggestions for a substitute to bend over? Do I need something firmer or softer?

Please help before I ruin any more pipe. (Though - how much of a kink like this can I get away with?)

Thanks, Phil.

(Sorry if images are messed up, dodgy wifi...)

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Do you just put the pipe over your Knee and pull, or take your time, by pulling a little, move the pipe slightly one way, pull a bit more, move pipe back the other way, pull a bit more and keep going like that until finished? You don't want to concentrate the bending all in one place.

You can't just give it a quick tug and think that will do. ;)
 
That's certainly what I was trying to do...
I suspect my knees are too pointy.
 
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Mark the area in which you are going to bend. Heat that area with a blow torch to red heat, bit at a time, and allow to cool or quench in water. Softens the copper and bends more easily.
 
Resuscitating this old thread of mine:

Mike10 said:
A proper pipe bender is only £40, takes some of the chance out of the operation.
Click to expand...

So I bought one of those and tried it out for the first time today. Here are the results:

7B6E6F0F-7DBD-4BF3-B596-D01D4B6A56F6.jpeg
209D8385-C1D7-4581-8AFA-0EA2628BADD4.jpeg


What do you experts think? I think it’s too kinky, but then maybe I don’t know how kinky I can get away with without getting into trouble???
 
Not good, did you use the correct size former and wheel on the bender?
 
Yes, I used the right former and wheel.

Question is whether the schit results are just aesthetically poor or whether they will cause problems e.g. weakness.

Maybe there is some trick to get better results?
 
endecotp said:
Yes, I used the right former and wheel.

Question is whether the schit results are just aesthetically poor or whether they will cause problems e.g. weakness.

Maybe there is some trick to get better results?
Click to expand...

If your benders are stiff, loosen them up a bit by lubricating and perhaps slackening the nuts a fraction. Make sure the guide roller actually rolls and that everything is in alignment. The benders require a little breaking-in, as does the user ;)

Edit: another thing to check is that some benders don't have a long enough guide to pull a proper 90 and you may have to slide the guide further round the wheel, during the bend so you don't run out of the end of the guide.
 
1. As dilalio above.
2. Try annealing the copper per post #5 above.
3. Try pulling the bend in one smooth pull. Go over by about 3 to 5 degrees to allow for spring back.
 
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