Help! > Machines, Tools and Fixtures
Bending 1/8" copper pipe
PaulR:
I need to bend some right angles into 1/8" copper pipe but it's too small for my plumbing pipe bender and I don't want to buy another tool as it's not something I plan on doing regularly.
I've read about filling the pipe with water and washing up liquid and freezing it but I'm not sure that would work for this small bore. Has anyone tried it or can offer an alternative solution? Would any heat be needed during bending? It's new pipe, would it need annealing first?
(I've also read about buying soft plastic rod to fill the pipe but again I'd like to avoid the expense if possible.)
Cheers
Paul
Jo:
I have some Woods metal which I use to fill the pipes when bending really small pipes. I would still make up a bending jig to make sure the bend was smooth.
Jo
gbritnell:
I have a drawing to build a small bender which can be used from 1/8-5/16 tubing. Send me a PM with your email address and I will send it to you
Keith1500:
I would bend the pipe around something that’s the right diameter held in the vice. Anneal the copper pipe first and allow for a straight bit either side of the bend that can be trimmed back to suit. You’ll feel the pipe start to roll around the “guide” in the vice. Don’t allow it to bend in one place but roll along the circumference of the bend. Don’t do it in one hit either. The pipe will start to oval. At this point stop and anneal then in a small smooth jaw vice gentle squeeze the pipe round. Work in from the straight sections as these are still round. Then continue with the bending.
If the bend is slightly in the wrong place you can “ roll” the bend along a little by adding to the bend at one end and easing out or re straightening the other, again using the small vice and multiple squeezes to keep it round.
All the pipe work on my Speedy was done by hand and likewise brake pipes on my car.
1500 - this years (2009) cab by GL5Keith1500, on Flickr
Cheers
Keith
tghs:
annealing is your friend along with woods metal (cerro bend) easy to turn a mandrel for the size you need.. I did get on of these a while back.. nice and small, https://www.ebay.com/itm/232496785888?itmmeta=01K3GJNWGENKE88JM09WKZ3X1K&hash=item3621e369e0:g:TtcAAOSwqfpZxEim :cheers:
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