Tools

[mildmanneredjanitor]

I am looking to purchase a pipe bender (fed up with struggling with a spring) is the one from screwfix any good? or is there a better one of similar price available on-line?

Also, I wouldn't mind getting a flaring tool (for joining) any suggestions?

 

[kevplumb]

dont know about the bender i use a rothenberger
if by flaring you mead forming a socket monument do one reasonable

 

[sr72]

ive got one of those silverline pipe benders(£24.95).it was a special offer from the local plumbers merchants(normally £30 summat).its alright for 15mm but struggles a bit with 22mm.i think the roller needs tweeking.other than that it does the job ok.hilmor do one which ive used and they seem fine(£40 odd i think?).i dont know bout rothenberger but expect to pay a little more, although as the saying goes,"you get what you pay for".have a look round mate. also the socket formers are in the screwfix catalogue(monument).

 

[ChrisR]

ALL pipe benders are awful in my opinion! I've used Hilmor, Monument, Record, Rothenberger. I think I dislike the Record one least, its handles are at least straight. The Roth one splits its rubber caps the very first time you put a handle end on the floor and it's harder to get the pipe out once you've bent it, and its wobbly from day 1.

 

[Handyman]

I bought a Hilmor recently from my local merchants. £40 incl VAT. Works absolutely fine with both 15mm and 22mm pipe. No complaints at all.

 

[sr72]

ALL pipe benders are awful in my opinion! I've used Hilmor, Monument, Record, Rothenberger. I think I dislike the Record one least, its handles are at least straight. The Roth one splits its rubber caps the very first time you put a handle end on the floor and it's harder to get pipe out once you've bent it, and its wobbly fromthe day 1.

could always buy a bag of sand then
sorted your clock yet ChrisR??

p.s never eat yellow snow

 

[kevplumb]

sand you are showing your age havent done that for at least 20 yr

 

[sr72]

sand you are showing your age havent done that for at least 20 yr

you could also bend it like the old "BULLWORKER" : AAAG GA GA GA GA GA

 

[ChrisR]

Apart from the rough way they're all made, the design is pathetic - they're all the same. You can't set a stop for instance to do several identical bends or a right angle. And if you have to bend 22mm on a cold day, especially the not-quite-so-soft cheap pipe, a lot of users would say the handles are too short. An unfolding bit wouldn't take much to add., nor would keepers for the aluminium formers - which needn't be separate anyway.

Plenty of other things they could do too.

I'd willingly pay £200 for a bender which did what I wanted. I mean we pay a couple of thou to get the kit to make holes in walls, by the time you add all the bits up - 24v sds, mains sds, diamond dril & cores, right angle doobries etc.

 

[breezer]

right angle doobries etc.

I havent heard that since my father became my late father.

Havent got a couple of spare ones have you?

 

[kevplumb]

tottally agree i'm sick of the apprentice losing formers
(and they aint cheap) formers not apprentices
and the handles aint to short we are getting past it

 

[2scoops0406]

Apart from the rough way they're all made, the design is pathetic - they're all the same. You can't set a stop for instance to do several identical bends or a right angle. And if you have to bend 22mm on a cold day, especially the not-quite-so-soft cheap pipe, a lot of users would say the handles are too short. An unfolding bit wouldn't take much to add., nor would keepers for the aluminium formers - which needn't be separate anyway.

Plenty of other things they could do too.

I'd willingly pay £200 for a bender which did what I wanted. I mean we pay a couple of thou to get the kit to make holes in walls, by the time you add all the bits up - 24v sds, mains sds, diamond dril & cores, right angle doobries etc.

Maybe you could see it as an opportunity to design some good pipe benders. Make yourself a fortune and retire.

And who said screwfix are any cop, they don''t even stock right handed doobries, amateurs!

 

[Handyman]

You can't set a stop for instance to do several identical bends or a right angle.

The Hilmor has some markings on the bending wheel thingy which show 30deg, 45 deg, and 90 deg. Not like a stop, I know, but better than FA.

 

[brumylad]

I noticed the Rothenberger flaring tool is capable of doing both 15 & 22 mm pipe. The monument tools one do one size. I have not used one yet but I might ask for one as a christmas present.

 

[Griggsy]

I recently bought a Silverline bender from Toolstation for £27. It is crap. It takes a stupid amount of effort bend 22mm copper which gets squashed. The 15mm is a bit better but you get quite bad throating.

What is the most common method for bending pipe?

Also if a spring is used, should heat be applied to the pipe?