FAO people with Hilmor Pipe Benders

[neds]

I thought this would be more relevant with the plumbing contingent so thought I'd post in here.

Just a quick question, I picked up one of these Hilmor GLM pipe benders:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/63880...r;jsessionid=F0ZTS5TISI5SYCSTHZOCFGA?ts=59367

They are very good benders, however I just want to confirm that the formers you use are all flat on the back rather than having a groove? Can people confirm?

Cheers!

 

[gas4you]

Back of the formers are flat, pipe side are 'grooved' to fit the copper tube.

 

[keego]

I think he means a groove on the back of the former, the Rothenberger ones
(I think) have a V shaped groove running the full length of the former.

 

[neds]

I thought they should be flat. The ones I used before had grooves in them but were Rothenberger ones and Record ones. Just wanted to double check!

I have to admit these Hilmor ones are much better than the Rothenbergers, which seems surprising since they are more expensive!

Cheers!

 

[bengasman]

Interesting!
In what way are they better?

 

[corgiman]

Must say That its confusing me to

how are they better they both bend pipes dont they?

 

[neds]

Well even the cheapest Screwfix benders will bend pipes

The rothenbergers I used kept kinking the pipe, the Hilmors gave perfect bends every time. Could be a duff pair I was using but even my tutor used to say he much preferred Hilmor's than anything else.

 

[corgiman]

had em all over the years

could not say which I liked best, all pretty much of a muchness really

 

[snb]

my hilmor guides have the grove in the back. Usually if they start to ripple the pipe you need to lubricate the roller bearing. Unless your pipe is below about 5 degree celcius then it is likely to ripple every time