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Pipe Bending

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Alan Worland06/03/2010 20:40:15
247 forum posts
21 photos
I have a bit of central heating pipework to undertake shortly and I have a 15mm pipe bender, but I was wondering what might be the tightest radius bend I could pull in annealed copper pipe?
My existing bender manages a 62mm radius bend (on pipe centre line) and I am considering making another, smaller former but thought I would put the question to the wisened forum users rather than waste my time!
Weary06/03/2010 21:33:03
421 forum posts
1 photos
You will not pull much tighter than that with half-hard 15mm copper. 
The solution to getting around such a tight bend would be to fit an elbow at the appropriate point.  
Maybe a street bend if you have one of a suitable radius, but then you would have to socket form or put a connector on one end of  your tube. 
You can also get pre-formed return bends if you are trying to make a 180 degree return. 
(You refer to annealed tube, I'm assuming that you are actually working with half-hard tube.  Fully annealed copper risks collapse in a pipe-bender, anneal the tube if you are using springs.)
 
Flying Fifer06/03/2010 23:19:01
180 forum posts
You could fill the tube with cerrobend then it should bend BUT personally I`d go for a an elbow connection. It just in`t worth the extra B*****ation factor to try anything else.
 Regards Alan
Circlip07/03/2010 11:07:45
1723 forum posts
Before making it "Look" better, consider the flow restriction properties of tight bends in C/H systems, same in airflow.
 
  Regards  Ian.
Alan Worland07/03/2010 18:09:54
247 forum posts
21 photos
I wanted a bend which wasn't as tight as an elbow - but tighter than I can make at present!
The older type 'swept' bend would do nicely but I dont believe they are made any more?
I am using standard half hard tube and annealing it, seems to bend fine.
I was trying to bend the tube rather than put a joint in as this in itself restricts the flow - a 90 degree joint is equivalent to 600mm of pipe, although I will probably end up with an elbow.
Weary07/03/2010 18:41:50
421 forum posts
1 photos
Ah - you are possibly looking for a 'slow bend', like this: clicky linky
Your local plumber's merchant should be able to supply 'off the shelf'.
(There should be no need to anneal half-hard tube for use in a bending machine.)
Alan Worland07/03/2010 18:54:12
247 forum posts
21 photos
Ah, it's called a slow bend!  Thanks - I wonder why its called slow, it should be faster than the tighter one?

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