How to bend a copper tube correctly

How to bend a copper pipe with your own hands?

Bending copper pipes is a technically simple task, but it requires attention and accuracy from the performer. Copper, as a fairly plastic material, is easily mechanically affected, and therefore the pipe can easily be bent at home using human physical strength. But accuracy is very important, because... If the load is exceeded, the metal may deform and become unusable.

To bend a copper pipe, you do not need complex equipment: all the work can be done at home using simple devices, for example, an ordinary spring or river sand, or using a special tool - a pipe bender.

Features of working with copper pipes

Copper pipes are often used for arranging intra-house and apartment utility networks. Hot and cold water supply, heating system based on copper shows itself to be durable and retains the thermal energy of the coolant well.

During installation of a system based on copper pipes, it is necessary to change their direction and lead it around obstacles. Sometimes plumbers use flange and coupling connections, tees and elbows, but in practice they reduce the reliability of the system and leak over time due to wear of the seals.

Bending the pipes maintains the tightness of the water supply, giving it the required shape. You can physically bend the pipe manually: the thinner the diameter and wall, the easier it is to be mechanically affected.

Important! Essentially, bending a pipe involves stretching the metal surface on the outside of the bend and compressing it on the inside. If you apply more force to the pipe than required, the surface may become deformed, creating a wavy section where the metal structure is less strong. In this case, it will be almost impossible to restore the original structure of the pipe.

Methods for bending copper pipe

To manually bend a pipe made of any metal, high temperature is always used. The metal surface is heated using a gas burner or blowtorch at the bend. After reaching the required temperature, the pipe can be carefully shaped into the desired shape by carefully bending it at the required angle.

With a spring

A simple metal spring is the easiest way to bend a pipe at home. This requires a strong steel spring, whose internal diameter coincides with the cross-section of the pipe.

The pipe is bent in the following way:

• the spring is put on top;
• the pipe is heated completely or partially using a burner;
• after heating, the metal can be bent by physical force;
• When it takes the desired shape, you need to let it cool.

Important! The pipe must be heated carefully, avoiding overheating. Under the influence of high temperature, the metal should darken slightly, after which you can begin bending. After finishing work, you should not immediately remove the spring: the product must cool down along with it. To speed up cooling, you can lower the tube with the spring into cold water.

Using sand

Another way to bend copper pipe is with sand. In this case, you will also have to heat the pipe in the bend area. Sand, like a spring, serves to maintain the shape of the product during deformation.

It prevents uneven redistribution of the metal structure and prevents the tube from breaking if physical force is exceeded. Using sand, the pipe is bent like this:

• one end is closed with a plug or stopper;
• clean and dry sand is poured into the cavity of the product;
• the other end is closed with a stopper;
• at the bending point the metal is heated by a gas burner;
• the outer end is pressed against a support (table, wall);
• the other end is carefully bent at the desired angle.

Attention! It is advisable to use personal protective equipment for your hands to avoid burns. Wear cloth or rubber gloves with low thermal conductivity to avoid accidentally touching heated metal.

Giving the pipe the required shape, you need to let it cool , after which you can remove the plugs and pour out the sand. While filling the pipe with bulk material, you need to periodically shake and tap it on the table so that the sand is evenly distributed in the cavity of the pipe.

Using a pipe bender

For professional pipe bending at any angle, a special pipe bender is used. This is a manual, hydraulic/pneumatic or electric device equipped with special rollers, replaceable attachments and clamps that allow you to work with pipes of any diameter.

Manual pipe benders are the simplest and most affordable method of professional bending that can be used at home. The advantages of a manual device are mobility and light weight; such a pipe bender does not take up much space in the garage or pantry. It has one drawback - the need to apply significant physical effort, which is why it can be used to bend relatively thin pipes.

Hydraulic and pneumatic pipe benders do not require the use of force on the part of the performer, allowing them to bend pipes of any diameter. The disadvantage of mechanical devices is their higher price and larger dimensions. Not everyone can afford to buy professional equipment, especially when the work is urgent.

The electric pipe bender, which offers maximum performance, is usually used in industrial settings. The principle of its operation is the same as that of a hand tool, but with the help of an electric pipe bender you can more accurately adjust the bending angle.

For one-time work, it is not practical to buy complex and expensive electrical equipment. If you need to bend thick copper pipes, you can look for rental offers on the Internet.

How to bend a pipe into a spiral

The pipe bending methods described above are suitable for relatively simple tasks: bending a pipe at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees. Sometimes you need to do more complex work, such as shaping a pipe into a spiral shape for a heating system design project and other non-standard tasks. Doing this manually is not difficult, but it is a more labor-intensive and time-consuming process that requires accuracy.

The easiest way is to bend it into a spiral using a cylindrical blank. For bending, it is also necessary to fill the cavity of the pipe with sand and close it with plugs at both ends. One end of the copper tube is fixed between a strong vertical support and a cylindrical workpiece, and the bending area is heated with a torch.

After reaching the required temperature, the outer end of the pipe is wound in one direction or the other using muscular force. The pitch between sections of the spiral must be controlled by lightly tapping the pipe with a rubber hammer.

Source: https://InfoTruby.ru/svoimi-rukami/sognut-mednuyu-mednuyu-trubu

How to bend a copper tube

Copper products are in great demand in the field of housing and communal services, namely when arranging water supply and heating networks, as well as when carrying out various repair work.

Copper tubes are integral components of the heating system when installing heated floors.

The popularity of this chemical element is due to its excellent characteristics: strength, flexibility and corrosion resistance.

And since copper products are laid mainly at a certain angle, the information - how to bend a copper tube at home - will be very useful for many.

Spring to the rescue

For this procedure, regardless of the bending method, a heating instrument will be needed.

Therefore, work should be carried out in the fresh air or in a room with good ventilation.

An excellent option would be a yard or garage with an open gate.

There are several methods of bending at home, but they all differ in the level of complexity, price of materials and the use of specialized equipment.

The most common method is to bend a copper tube using a steel spring, which must consist of frequent turns and a thick wire, and its diameter should be smaller than that of the tube.

This condition is necessary so that the spring easily enters the product. The best option is when the lengths of the products are approximately equal.

In the case of a short spring, you will need a piece of wire that is attached to it, and then the whole thing can be easily removed.

Many people do not know how to bend small diameter copper tubes. In this case, the size of the spring must exceed the diameter of the pipe that will fit inside it.            

Next, the workpiece is heated using a heating device. A gas heating pad or blowtorch is suitable for these purposes.

By changing the color of the pipe, you can understand that it is heated well enough and has become plastic.

Now you can easily give the copper tube any shape and you can leave it to cool.

Do not forget that you can remove the spring from the pipe only after final cooling.

You can bend pipes using sand

The next method - how to bend a copper pipe at home - is quite simple, because... no steel springs or specialized devices are needed. The steps are the simplest - heat the tube and bend it.

But in order to avoid deformation of the copper product due to its increased flexibility, it is better to use useful advice from experts:

1. Prepare a supporting surface, a heating device, a couple of pieces of wood with diameters corresponding to the size of the future pipe, and sand.
2. To avoid deformation when bending copper tubes, the building material must be dry, sifted, river, without bulky components.
3. Plug one edge of the workpiece with a wood plug, fill the hollow space with sand, shaking the pipe repeatedly for more uniform filling.
4. Use the remaining stopper to seal the second edge of the tube.
5. Then heat it and, leaning on a solid base to avoid tearing the walls of the product, carefully bend it.
6. Do not overheat the pipe due to the pressure of sand on its walls.
7. When the product has taken the appropriate shape, it must be immersed in cold water.
8. After the copper pipe has completely cooled, remove the plugs and pour out the sand.
9. It is advisable to blow through the finished product to remove any remaining debris.

Application of pipe bender

Let's consider another way - how to bend a copper tube without applying any additional effort.

A reliable assistant in this matter will be a special device - a pipe bender, thanks to which you can save time, speed up and facilitate the bending procedure itself.

What kind of device is this? This is a mobile tool that bends a pipe according to a given parameter, fixing one end of the pipe and moving the other. And the bend point is always in a stable position.

All pipe benders, according to their operating principle, are classified into:

1. Lever (manual), including a pair of levers with a shoe and a bending template. To set the desired angle, you need to take a reference from the marks on the surface of the levers. Then fix the workpiece in the bracket, combine the zeros and do the main work. Using this pipe bender, you can bend a pipe at almost an angle of 180° at home.
2. Hydraulic, which are professional-level devices and bend the tube much more quickly than the previous ones. Thanks to the hydraulic operating principle of the pipe bender, you don’t have to strain yourself too much.
3. Electrical, which are used in industrial production or business. With the help of such devices it is quite possible to fulfill a serial order. Electric pipe benders are powered by an electric drive and are very similar to their manual counterparts. The tubular product is placed in a bracket and bent according to the parameters specified by special segments.

Having understood the topic - how to bend a copper pipe, you still have to choose the right equipment in accordance with the parameters of the workpiece to be bent.

For example, a manual pipe bender, spring or sand will come in handy when bending a product of small length and diameter.

But only hydraulic and electric tools can change the profile of a large workpiece.

How to bend a copper pipe using the spiral method

Sometimes it is not possible to bend pipes using conventional methods due to non-standard parameters, for example, the square rather than cylindrical shape of the workpiece.

To understand how to bend a copper pipe in this case, you need, first of all, to purchase a rubber mallet and a pair of supports.

Then fill the tube cavity with sand or fill it with ice (in winter); install the product with its ends on supports; warm up the bend; Using a mallet, give it the appropriate shape.

Often craftsmen have to bend a copper pipe into a spiral to order.

To do this you will need:

1. Fire the workpiece for greater flexibility.
2. Let cool completely.
3. Pour sand inside the pipe or freeze water there.
4. Bend the product by hand or using a blowtorch, which will significantly speed up and facilitate the bending process.

When bending a copper pipe, you can use a cylindrical support, and then the spiral will turn out perfectly smooth.

As you can see, many methods have been invented for bending copper pipes. But no matter which one you choose, you must strictly adhere to the basic rules.

First of all, perform all actions carefully and slowly to avoid deformation and rupture of the pipe walls.

Sometimes an unexpected sudden movement can lead to negative irreversible consequences and rejection of products.

Listen to our useful tips, and you can easily bend a copper blank at home for your future plumbing or heating system.

Source: https://steelfactoryrus.com/kak-zagnut-mednuyu-trubku/

How to bend a copper pipe with your own hands? — Prof Pipes

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Copper products are in great demand in the field of housing and communal services, namely when arranging water supply and heating networks, as well as when carrying out various repair work. Copper tubes are integral components of the heating system when installing heated floors.

The popularity of this chemical element is due to its excellent characteristics: strength, flexibility and corrosion resistance.

And since copper products are laid mainly at a certain angle, the information - how to bend a copper tube at home - will be very useful for many.

Is it possible to bend a copper tube at home and how to do it

Copper pipes are often used in plumbing and heating systems. Copper is a flexible and durable material that does not corrode, so it is in demand when arranging communications. The question of how to bend a copper pipe at home arises among many owners who have gathered to carry out repair work in their home.

Bending Copper Pipe

Standard requirements for bending radius

During bending, the walls of the product must maintain their profile, cross-section and internal diameter. Therefore, the standard establishes that the bending radius of copper pipe must meet special requirements.

Minimum rounding limits can be obtained in different ways: using mandrel pipe benders or heat treatment. They make it possible to make the size of the circle smaller.

This indicator is also calculated depending on the material from which the product is made and its size. According to GOST No. 617-90, the minimum radius for bending copper pipes is:

• outer diameter up to 10 mm with a minimum required bending angle of up to 20°;
• with a diameter of more than 12 mm, the radius should not be less than 24°.

using sand

If you don’t have special equipment, you can bend a copper pipe by heating. but to prevent it from deforming, you will need a supporting surface, a heating device, 2 pieces of wood and sand. to reduce the risk of deformation, river sand is used. it should be sifted and dry. work process:

1. one side of the product is plugged with a wooden stopper, then sand is poured inside. To ensure that the sand lies evenly and tightly, the pipe is constantly shaken and tapped.
2. then it is plugged with a cork on the other side.
3. Before bending, the copper tube is placed on a hard surface and gradually heated.
4. It should not be allowed to overheat, because the pressure of sand may cause the pipe to burst.
5. As soon as the product takes the desired shape, it is placed in cold water.
6. when it has cooled completely, pour out the sand. To ensure that no debris remains inside, the product is blown out.

using a pipe bender

A special pipe bending tool works with pipes of any diameter and allows them to be bent professionally at any angle. it has clamps, removable attachments and special rollers. The tool can be electric, manual and pneumatic:

1. manual models. It's a portable, lightweight device that can be stored in your closet or garage. When working with a manual pipe bender, physical effort is required. Since it can only bend thin pipes, the device is used at home.
2. pneumatic models. When working with the tool, no physical strength is required, so it is suitable for working with products of various diameters. This is professional equipment, large in size and high in cost.
3. electric models. Unlike other models, the electrical device has high performance and is used in industrial environments. allows you to more accurately adjust the bend angle.

There is no need to purchase expensive professional equipment to work at home. because it can be rented.

how to bend a pipe into a spiral?

Sometimes the pipes have a non-standard shape, such as square, and bending them becomes a problem. To work with such products you will need: 2 supports and a rubber mallet. bending process:

1. the pipe cavity is filled with sand. if the work takes place in winter, then the cavity is filled with water and frozen to ice.
2. the product is fixed on supports, and the bend is heated.
3. then, using a mallet, the pipe is bent.
4. Before bending a copper tube into a spiral, it must be burned. it will become flexible and when it cools down, it can be shaped by hand.
5. To facilitate the bending process, use a blowtorch.

a cylinder-shaped support will help form an even spiral.

How to make an effective pipe bender with your own hands?

To make a pipe bender itself, you need good and durable materials:

• 2 steel rollers;
• welding machine;
• metal pipe - with a diameter of more than 1.5 mm and a length of 1.5 m;
• metal strips measuring 0.15×0.6 mm, thickness 5 mm - 4 pcs.;
• metal plate 6 cm wide, 3 cm thick, 25 cm long;
• 2 bolts with a diameter of 2 cm and 1.3 cm;
• metal plate 30x30 cm and 0.3 cm thick;
• vice, hammer, ruler and sandpaper.

You can begin the process of manufacturing the device after preparing all the elements and a drawing that shows the location of the main parts:

1. First, check the holes in the rollers and the diameter of the bolts. They must match each other.
2. 2 holes are drilled in the metal strips - 2 cm and 1.3 cm. The distance between them should be 8 cm.
3. A hole with a diameter of 2 cm is made in the center of the supporting frame and a bolt is inserted into it. In this case, it is welded to the plate without being removed from the back side of the frame.
4. Then a U-shaped structure is prepared. To do this, use plates measuring 150x60 mm, a bolt of 1.3 cm, a small roller, a steel strip of 3.5x6 cm. Before welding all the parts together, a bolt with a roller is inserted into the holes.
5. The two ends of the bolt are fixed to steel strips, resulting in a slingshot-shaped structure with a large hole, which will be located on the open side of the product.
6. A pipe is welded to the slingshot. For this, a support strip is welded to the steel frame. In this case, the distance between the line of the strip and the axis of the main bolt should correspond to the radius of the large roller + 1.3 cm.
7. A 150x 60 mm strip is fixed at the bottom of the frame.
8. A large roller is inserted into the slingshot. The structure is placed on the main bolt and tightened with a nut.

The pipe bender is ready, it is clamped in a vice and tested.

You may also find it useful:

Source: https://trubyda.ru/sgibanie/mednoj-truby

How to bend a copper pipe for water supply at home

When carrying out work on water supply and heating communications, as well as when installing heated floors, copper pipes are often used. Copper is generally a popular material in this area.

Products made from it are durable, yet flexible and not subject to corrosion. When laying copper pipelines, there is often a need to bend the pipe at a certain angle.

And since many owners make repairs on their own, the question arises: how to bend a copper tube correctly at home?

Copper pipes are bent using several methods, one of which involves the use of a pipe bender

Bending pipes using a spring

Before you get to work, you should prepare. Make sure that work is carried out in a well-ventilated area or in an open area. A yard or garage works great if the gate is open. Additionally, you will need a heating tool regardless of the bending method.

There are several ways to bend a pipe at home. They differ in the degree of complexity, high cost of materials and the need to use special equipment.

A popular method is bending with a spring. First you need to choose the right tool: the spring must be made of high-quality steel, have frequent turns and a thick core. The size also matters: make sure that the spring fits freely inside the tube. It is better if both products are approximately the same in length. If the spring is still shorter, attach a piece of wire to it so that you can remove it later.

If you need to bend a very thin pipe, then the spring for bending copper pipes needs to be selected a little larger so that the pipe itself fits inside it.

With the help of a spring it is easy to give the copper pipe the desired shape, you just need to choose a spiral of the appropriate size

Now we heat the workpiece using a device: at home you can use either a gas heater or a blowtorch. When the temperature is high enough, the color of the pipe will change and it will become flexible enough that you can easily shape it into any shape you like. After bending, leave the workpiece to cool.

Helpful advice! Remember that you should only remove the spring after the pipe has cooled down.

Bend the pipe using sand

There is another option for bending a copper pipe at home. To do this, you do not need special equipment or even devices like metal springs. You can simply heat the pipe and bend it. However, to avoid deforming the product by improper action (this happens often because copper pipes are very flexible), resort to the following method.

All you need is a supporting surface, a heating tool, two pieces of wood having a diameter to which you want to bend the product, and the usual building material - sand.

Helpful advice! It is better to take river sand, without large inclusions, dry and sifted. It will reduce the risk of deformation when bending copper pipes.

First, plug one end of the pipe with a wood plug, then fill the cavity with sand, periodically shaking and tapping the pipe to ensure maximum uniform and dense filling. Then plug the other end of the product with the same stopper. Now you can heat and bend. Do this very carefully, resting the tube on a hard surface, because it heats up quite quickly and is easily deformed.

A pipe filled with sand should be bent very carefully so as not to deform it.

Try not to overdo it with heating: the sand puts pressure on the walls, and they may simply burst. Having given the product the desired shape, place it in cold water to cool quickly. Then remove the plugs and pour out the sand. You need to pour out the sand only after the workpiece has completely cooled. In addition, it is recommended to blow out the pipe so that there is no debris in the future water supply.

Pipe bender: classification and application

How else to bend a copper tube at home without extra effort? This can be done using a special prior - a pipe bender. With its help you will save time, and pipe bending will be easier.

The device is a mobile tool that performs bending according to the parameter you specify by fixing one end of the pipe and moving the other. In this case, the place where the pipe is bent is fixed in one position.

Depending on the principle of operation, pipe benders are divided into three types:

1. Lever (manual). The design consists of two levers with a special shoe and a bending template. To set the desired angle, refer to the marks placed on the surface of the levers. Fix your workpiece in the bracket, align the zero marks and you can do the job. Using this device, you can easily bend pipes at home, even at an angle of 180 degrees.
2. Hydraulic – professional level devices. They are able to bend much faster, and the hydraulic principle of operation eliminates the need for great effort.
3. Electric ones are perfect for industrial and commercial purposes, as they are designed for large volumes of work. They operate using an electric drive and are similar to their manual counterparts. The pipe is placed in a bracket and bent according to the parameters specified using special segments.

It is best to use a special tool for bending pipes - a pipe bender.

Helpful advice! Select equipment according to the parameters of the product being bent. If you are bending a pipe of small diameter and length, then a manual pipe bender, spring or sand will be sufficient. Only hydraulic and electric tools can handle large workpieces.

How to bend a pipe into a spiral

Sometimes problems arise with bending pipes. Especially when the bending parameters are non-standard. For example, when the workpiece is square rather than cylindrical. In this case, you will need a rubber mallet and two supports. In addition, be sure to fill the cavity of the product with sand or fill it with ice (this is allowed when working in the cold season). Place the ends of the pipe on the supports, heat the bend and give it the desired shape using a mallet.

Often the craftsman is faced with such a difficult task as the need to bend a copper tube into a spiral. To do this, you need to burn it so that it becomes more flexible. After cooling, you can simply bend the product with your hands, pouring sand or freezing water inside it. Some craftsmen also use a blowtorch to facilitate the bending process.

Helpful advice! To make the spiral even, use a cylindrical support when bending.

There are many ways to bend pipes. But any of them requires accuracy and slowness, since sudden movements can lead to deformation and rupture of the pipe walls.

Source: http://TrubaMaster.ru/vodoprovodnye/kak-sognut-mednuyu-trubku-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html

How to bend a copper tube at home - Metalworker's Guide

Copper is a ductile and easy-to-work metal with excellent thermal conductivity properties. Copper pipes are often used for arranging pipeline systems and installing household appliances. In the process of working with this metal, many owners encountered the problem that when the copper pipe is heated, the bends become deformed and look sloppy. Coping with this task is quite simple. You just need to know certain subtleties of how to bend a copper pipe into a spiral.

How to bend a copper pipe - an overview of methods

There are several options for carrying out the work, each of which has its own characteristics.

Spring

The spring method is most often used when working in confined spaces of a small area. It allows you to bend copper pipe at almost any angle.

To do this, use a spring whose diameter corresponds to the size of a piece of copper pipe. You can buy it at construction stores. To bend large-diameter pipes, the spring is inserted between the inner walls of the workpiece; for thin structures, it is put on top.

If it is necessary to bend a section of a copper billet that is distant from the end, the spring is moved towards it.

Tip: to make it easier to pull the spring out of the bent workpiece after completing the work, before immersing its pipe on the edge of the last turn, it is better to attach a piece of steel wire of the required length.

The efficiency of the spring directly depends on the thickness of the cores and the frequency of turns

Having placed the spring inside the workpiece, the surface of the copper pipe is heated using a blowtorch or gas torch. The degree of heating is determined by the change in surface shade. A well-heated section of pipe is bent at the required angle and left until it cools completely.

To give the workpiece a rounded shape when bending, you can use steel pipes and disks of the appropriate diameter as a template. When the cooled pipe takes its final shape, all that remains is to pull out the spring.

The choice of how to bend a copper pipe depends on the wall thickness and outer diameter of the product

Manual

A pipe bender is a portable tool that, by fixing one of the ends and the bending point of a hollow pipe and then moving the second end of the workpiece, bends it to a given diameter.

Depending on the type of device, pipe benders are divided into three types:

• Lever - the structure is formed by two levers, the first of which contains a shoe, and the other has a bending template. There are marks on each side of the levers, based on which it is convenient to give the workpiece an exact angle of inclination. Having aligned the zero marks and fixed the tube in the bracket, bend it using levers. With this tool, copper blanks can even be bent at an angle of 180°.
• Spring - are steel springs, one end of which resembles a funnel. A piece of pipe is inserted into the spring and bent, giving the desired angle of inclination.
• Hydraulic – belong to the category of professional. They are famous for their high speed and the ability of hydraulics to take on all the operator’s loads.
• Electric - the operating principle of the tool is similar to its manual lever counterpart. The bend radius is set using removable segments. By placing the workpiece on a pipe bender, bending is performed using an electric drive. This type of pipe bender is advisable to use for large volumes of work.

You can accurately bend a copper tube into a spiral using special tools.

Tools of the spring and lever operating principle are effective for bending short sections of copper tubes with a small diameter. Only hydraulics can handle large-diameter structures.

Sand

To give the pipe the desired angle of inclination, the work is carried out in several stages:

1. One of the ends of the workpiece is clogged with a wooden plug. Then the cavity of the pipe is filled with clean sifted and well-dried sand, while tapping its end on a wooden base. Having filled the cavity almost to the top, put the same plug on the open end of the workpiece.
2. The area to be bent is heated with the same blowtorch or burner until the bark surface turns a darker shade. The easiest way to check whether the heating is sufficient is to hold a sheet of paper to the surface. If it catches fire from contact with metal, there is no need to heat it anymore. When heating the workpiece, it is necessary to rotate it around its axis so that the flame covers all sides of the pipe.

   Since copper is a fairly soft metal, to prevent deformation of the product when bending, craftsmen recommend using sand

3. One end of the heated pipe is pressed against the support, and the other is bent in the desired direction. Warm metal will bend easily. In order not to damage the walls, causing them to crack, the work should be done very carefully. If the bend is not very neat, you can straighten the surface by tapping it with a hammer.
4. Having given the tube the desired shape, the workpiece is cooled naturally or using cold water for this purpose.
5. The plugs are removed from the cooled workpiece, sand is poured out and the holes are blown out.

-instructions: bending pipes at home

The easiest way to bend workpieces is made of annealed copper. When heated, they become more plate-like and pliable.

If the bent pipe has not acquired the desired shape, you can correct the situation by reheating the metal. But it should be borne in mind that it will take much less time to heat up the sand that has not yet had time to cool. Therefore, when the surface overheats, the metal, instead of acquiring plasticity, will simply begin to melt.

Source: https://ssk2121.com/kak-sognut-mednuyu-trubku-v-domashnih-usloviyah/

How to bend a copper tube at home? — Handyman's Handbook

Copper is a ductile and easy-to-work metal with excellent thermal conductivity properties. Copper pipes are often used for arranging pipeline systems and installing household appliances.

In the process of working with this metal, many owners encountered the problem that when the copper pipe is heated, the bends become deformed and look sloppy. Coping with this task is quite simple.

You just need to know certain subtleties of how to bend a copper pipe into a spiral.

How to bend a copper pipe at home: how to bend a copper pipe with a spring without a pipe bender into a spiral

Copper products are often used when carrying out work on heating and plumbing. Durable, flexible copper products are popular for their resistance to corrosion. When organizing a pipeline, it is often necessary to bend a copper pipe: to do this correctly, you need to become familiar with the basic bending methods.

Features of the use of copper

When it comes to organizing a heating or plumbing system, it’s hard to think of anything better than a copper pipe. This material has excellent contact with liquids of different temperatures, so it can be used equally well for both plumbing and heating. Features of copper products include:

• versatility: in addition to the listed areas of application, they include the installation of heated floors, as well as ventilation systems;
• copper products are used wherever liquid is used;
• resistance to rotting and corrosion: water is not subject to fungal growth and does not bloom;
• ductility: subject to certain temperatures, copper pipe can be bent perfectly;
• wide temperature range: inside the water supply you can use liquid with a temperature from -100 to +250 degrees.

Copper products are presented in a wide variety of diameters

If you install copper products on the water supply, the water from it will not have a metallic taste. This is another feature of the material, which is complemented by pleasant decorative qualities: a copper pipeline can be decorated in a retro style.

What properties should a pipe have when bending?

The ability to bend is determined by the physical properties of a given material. Due to its plasticity, the workpiece can easily deform and also break at the bend, so when bending yourself, you should adhere to the set temperatures and do everything gradually.

Some of the material is offered to the buyer already bent in large coils

The main condition for bending is heating. Some thin-walled copper tubing can often be bent without the use of a torch or soldering station. A large number of copper products have thick walls, so heating is indispensable. Several conditions for bending products:

• temperature - copper cannot be heated above 1083 degrees: at such levels the material begins to melt, this deforms the product;
• the presence of a compensating element - sand, spring, other substances and objects can be used as a compensator;
• gradual implementation of the procedure.

In the absence of a compensator, the chances of deformation increase sharply. Sand or a spring inside a small-diameter product will prevent it from taking an irregular shape or allowing corrugation to occur.

The need to bend pipes during repair work: advantages

Bent pipes are common when carrying out installation and repair work of water supply and heating systems. Craftsmen often choose the bending method themselves, preferring it to standard welding. The need to bend metal arises when you need to get around a small area on a wall or floor with obstacles. In order not to use fittings, not to screw threads for connections, and also not to leave welds, you can use bending.

Before you bend a copper tube yourself, it is better to learn about the advantages of their use:

• reduction in labor intensity;
• improving the hydro-aerodynamic characteristics of pipe passages;
• reducing the amount of additional material;
• better sealing;
• attractive appearance.

The need for bending is due to the desire to give the pipeline strength and integrity

Bent copper piping does not have the risk of breakage and leakage that occurs when connecting pieces are used instead of bending. The bending point is not subject to friction, loads and other impact factors, so the chances of damage to the integrity are minimized.

Bend a copper pipe at home: a selection of methods

You can bend a copper tube without involving plumbers. There are proven, effective methods for this. Craftsmen use metal springs, river sand, bend pipes into a spiral, and also use a pipe bender.

Using a spring

The first thing you need to do is select a spring. To bend large-diameter copper pipes, you should choose a strong metal spring made of thick wire with frequent turns. Several features of bending with a spring:

• a metal spring is inserted inside;
• It is better that the length of the spring matches the length of the pipe;
• if the spring is shorter, a wire must be inserted into it so that it can be easily removed in the future;
• You can use a blowtorch or gas burner as a heating tool;
• the heating element is placed in place of the bend, as soon as the pipe changes color, it means it can be bent.

The metal spring acts as a compensating element for the copper material

The compensator in the form of a spring will not allow the product to deform. If you need to bend a thin tube, select a spring with a diameter larger than the product itself. The pipe is inserted inside the spring, then the procedure is repeated.

Application of sand

For manual bending, you can use river sand; it will be a good compensator. It is better to work in a spacious room or outdoors, as you will need a lot of space. A metal plug is useful as a material - it will serve as a plug for one end of the product. A piece of wood with the required diameter will act as a circle for bending. The procedure looks like this:

1. The pipe is closed on one side with a plug.
2. Sand is poured inside the product.
3. The copper is heated using a lamp or torch.
4. The product becomes plastic, so in order not to deform it, use rounded wood and make a bend on it.

The main thing is to follow the technology of bending the material and do everything according to the rules

Using this simple but effective method, you can bend a copper tube yourself without a pipe bender.

Spiral method

Bending a spiral yourself is difficult. Here you can no longer limit yourself to using sand or a metal spring: another technique comes to the rescue. In order to bend the spiral you will need:

• rubber mallet;
• two supports;
• granular substance, such as sand: you can also use ice in the cold season;
• heating tool.

Due to its properties, copper material is characterized by ductility when heated

The cavity is filled with sand or filled with ice. You can also pre-fill the water inside and freeze it. Then the ends are placed on supports and the bending areas are heated. While the copper becomes ductile, it is given the desired shape using a mallet.

Bending pipes using a pipe bender

A special tool helps in situations where traditional methods are powerless. A pipe bender is a tool that fixes one end of a pipe, bending it to a given diameter. There are no deformations during this type of work; everything goes quickly and clearly. Pipe benders can be steel, lever and electric. To bend a copper tube with a hand tool, you must perform the following steps:

1. The required bending angle is selected: the parameters are indicated on the surface of the levers.
2. One end of the workpiece is fixed.
3. Flexion is performed.

A modern tool will help you make the necessary copper mold in a matter of time.

This method is suitable for bending thin copper pipes, so if you have to work with a large diameter, it is better to use a hydraulic pipe bender. For large-scale and industrial work, electric tools are used.

Recommendations from experts and possible difficulties

When faced with flexible copper for the first time, any person at home may experience difficulties. Masters advise adhering to the following rules:

• use springs for bending foreign-made 6 mm thin copper pipes;
• if the coil is bent manually, you should be especially careful and smooth in your movements: sharp maneuvers will lead to severe deformation of the heated product;
• if the pipe being bent is made of annealed copper, it will take less time to bend it;
• It is allowed to reheat the product if the initial turn is performed incorrectly;
• It is impossible to bend large elements at home: an industrial tool is needed here.

Some craftsmen recommend using a lubricant when bending. This option is not suitable for beginners, as there is a risk of heating at high temperatures. To avoid difficulties, you should exercise extreme care and caution when working.

The technique of bending copper pipes will be useful when independently arranging communications. Graceful turns and bends will prevent loss of product integrity and also protect against leaks. Using the proposed methods will help you make a smooth and beautiful bend in a short time.

Source: https://ZnatokTepla.ru/truby/effektivnye-sposoby-gibki-mednyh-trub.html

How to bend a copper tube - proven and reliable methods

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Copper products are in great demand in the field of housing and communal services, namely when arranging water supply and heating networks, as well as when carrying out various repair work. Copper tubes are integral components of the heating system when installing heated floors.

The popularity of this chemical element is due to its excellent characteristics: strength, flexibility and corrosion resistance. And since copper products are laid mainly at a certain angle, the information - how to bend a copper tube at home - will be very useful for many.

It’s worth noting right away that you can bend a pipe without a pipe bender; this is very convenient in many cases.

How to bend a copper tube correctly?

When installing heating or water systems, it is often necessary to bend copper pipes. They are in demand due to their properties: elasticity, corrosion resistance, high strength. However, it is important to know how to bend copper tubes, since when bending they can burst and become deformed, which can make them impossible to use.

Features of working with copper tubes

Features of working with copper tubes are determined by the properties of the material. Due to its high ductility, the workpiece at the bend may crack or lose the shape of the internal channel. Therefore, when bending, it is important to increase the strength of the material using certain techniques.

Due to high thermal expansion, copper can become deformed during significant temperature fluctuations. This is especially true for massive pipes. The heating method is effective for thin-walled structures.

When bending, you should use the following recommendations:

• the supporting surface must be smooth and durable, resistant to thermal influences;
• when bending pipes with sand poured into the internal cavity, the ends must be closed with wooden plugs, and during the process itself the structure must be shaken periodically;
• to prevent wall rupture, the workpiece must be heated and slowly deformed;
• overheating of the structure when there is sand inside is unacceptable;
• after hot deformation, the structure must be lowered into a container with cold water and brought to room temperature;
• after cooling, remove the plugs and pour out the sand;
• It is recommended to blow out the product to remove any remaining debris.

Bending methods

Pipe bending is performed at high temperatures. Heating is carried out using a gas torch or soldering station locally at the bending point. Once the required temperature is reached, the desired shape is given and left to cool.

Bending of copper pipes is performed in the following ways:

• spring;
• sand filling method.

Preparing to Bend Copper Tube

How to bend a pipe into a spiral?

You can bend a copper tube into a spiral like this:

• the product is secured at one end to supports;
• perform firing of the workpiece;
• fine purified river sand is poured into the internal cavity;
• heat the bend with a burner;
• using a mallet and a blowtorch, give the desired shape;
• leave the pipe in a fixed state until it cools down.

When working with hot metal, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment to prevent burns. You need to wear thick clothing and protect exposed areas of your body with gloves.

Ice can be used instead of river sand. If you use a cylindrical support, the spiral will turn out to be almost ideally shaped.

Equipment

To perform the work you will need to prepare the following equipment:

• mallet;
• burner;
• pipe bender;
• hammer;
• two supports;
• spring.

In addition to the tools, you will also need sand or ice.

How to make an effective pipe bender with your own hands?

To make a pipe bender you will need the following materials:

• steel rollers 2 pcs;
• steel pipe with a diameter of more than ¾ and a length of more than 1.5 m;
• steel sheet 5 mm thick for making strips;
• 2 M20 bolts;
• steel plate 3 mm thick.

For assembly you need the following tool:

• welding machine;
• vice;
• hammer;
• ruler;
• sandpaper.

Step by step assembly:

1. The alignment of the holes in the rollers is checked.
2. 2 holes with a diameter of 20 mm are drilled in the strips at a distance of 80 mm.
3. In the central part of the 5 mm plate, a hole with a diameter of 20 mm is drilled, a bolt is inserted, and welded so that it does not protrude from the opposite side.
4. A U-shaped part is created from 3 mm plates, a hole is drilled in the center, a bolt is inserted and a roller is attached.
5. The plates are used to make a Y-shaped part, which must be attached to the open side of the part.
6. The pipe and support strip are welded to the structure. The distance between the bar and the axle should be such that there is enough space to install the roller.
7. A plank measuring 15x6 cm is attached to the supporting plate.
8. A roller is attached to the Y-shaped part. The main part of the pipe bender is attached to the supporting bolt and secured with a nut.

How to bend a copper pipe at home?

You can bend a copper product with a round or square cross-section without a pipe bender in the following way:

1. Burn the structure at the bend with a torch.
2. Wait until the product cools down to room temperature.
3. Close the structure tightly at one end.
4. Pour water inside.
5. Close the product with a stopper at the other end.
6. Secure the pipe, bend it manually or using a mallet.

Using a cylindrical support as a base will allow you to obtain an almost ideal shape of the tube after deformation.
Bending must be done carefully so that the walls do not burst. Master class: bending copper pipes // FORUMHOUSE
How to bend a copper air conditioner pipe?

How to bend a copper tube correctly? Link to main publication

Source: https://metalloy.ru/obrabotka/sgibanie/mednoj-trubki

How to bend a copper pipe without a pipe bender

How to bend a copper pipe without plumbing tools (pipe bender, etc.)

Although there is a wide variety of water pipes available today, many people prefer the durability of traditional copper pipes. There are several ways to bend copper pipes without using special pipe benders. These are some of the techniques I learned while training to be a plumber in Limousin, France.

Inventors shop at a budget Chinese online store.

Some useful plumbing tools for bending copper pipes

Soldering torchViseDry sand and funnelPipe bending springsPipe bendersPipe cuttersBucket of cold water

A square (not shown) used to check that the pipe is at the correct angle.

Protective equipment

Always carry protective gloves and safety glasses
DIY electronics in a Chinese store.
The pipe is strongly bent and pleated

If you don't support your copper pipes during the bending process, they will collapse and fold.
Not only does it look ugly, but more importantly, water will not be able to flow freely. All of the pipe bending methods described below involve supporting the pipe in some way while you bend it. Blowtorch

blow torches

Some pipe bending methods require you to heat the pipes, and you do this with a plumbing torch.

The picture shows that a small butane torch with a hand canister is ideal for soldering pipes, and you can almost bend pipes with this, but it may be difficult to get the pipe up to temperature.

If you do a lot of pipe work, you can invest in an oxy-acetylene torch, which will allow you to heat your pipes to a scorching hot temperature, at which point they will bend like butter.

Pipe bender

Pipe benders like this model are designed to only fit one size of pipe. If you have a lot of different sized pipes to bend, you need to invest in a pipe bending kit. This only makes sense if you have a lot of work to do.

Advantages

AccurateEasy

There is no need to heat the pipes.

Flaws

Each pipe size requires a different bend or kit. This can be expensive.
Pipe bending spring

Pipe bending springs

Using this method, heat the pipe until it is red hot along the length of the bend.
The pipe then slides into the spring as quickly as possible and then you bend the pipe to be supported by the spring. Note: Always use protective gloves and then cool the pipe in a bucket of cold water.
Advantages Can be cheaper than a pipe bender. Easy to store and transport.

Flaws.

Each pipe size requires a different bend.
Sand

Sand for supporting copper pipes

Yes, you can bend sand pipes. The sand must be fine and absolutely dry. Block one end of the pipe and then fill it with sand. Tap the pipe vigorously to ensure the sand is firm. Block the other end of the pipe with paper, heat the pipe until it is red hot along the entire length of the curve and bend it by hand.

Note: Always use protective gloves and then cool the pipe in a bucket of cold water.

Benefits Free

Flaws

Labor intensity

Vise

Pipe bending using a vice

You can only use your hands and a vice to bend the pipes. Heat the pipe until it turns red along the entire length of the bend, quickly insert into the vise and close the vise until it touches the pipe.

Pull the pipe up on both ends to get the correct angle before it cools.
A vise holds the sides of the pipe to prevent collapse. Note: Always use protective gloves and then cool the pipe in a bucket of cold water.

Benefits FreeEasy

Flaws

You must be fast and skillful as it is quite difficult.

Source: https://izobreteniya.net/kak-sognut-mednuyu-trubu-bez-trubogiba/