All about the bending tool
Bending of copper pipes is performed using several methods. The safest and most qualitative of them is the bending of the pipe bender manually, lever and hydraulic. The cost of the lever is quite high, so it is often rented. Manual - a cheaper option, but its effectiveness is not less. Consider all types of these tools:
- Spring - used in a limited space. Allows you to bend at almost any angle. The use is very simple, but the price is low.
- Lever is also easy to use, but can be used with pipes of only one diameter. The maximum bending angle is 180 degrees.
- Hydraulic - unlike spring, the mechanism is amplified by hydraulics, which allows you to spend less effort on the job. Can be used with different diameters, thanks to a set of segments. The most expensive of all types.
Manual pipe bender for copper pipes completely eliminates the possibility of deformation of the walls, but it must be taken into account that when working with large diameters, considerable physical effort is expended. Pipe bending is inconvenient for working with long pipes.
Note! To work with long profiles it is better to use a lever tool.
Rolling as an important stage of working with copper
Speaking about the methods of processing, we can not fail to mention rolling. Rolling is a technological process aimed at deforming the material in the right direction. Any soft metal can be used as the processed material. Rolling for copper pipes is a tool with various nozzles, aimed at expansion.
Used to enlarge the holes for their further joining and soldering. Standard rolling is designed for diameters of 4-22 millimeters. The quality of the rolling directly affects the efficiency of the entire system, so the surface after the operation should be free of chips and cracks. There are several types of rolling:
- With an eccentrically mounted cone. This method is most effective due to the fact that the eccentric works like a roller, and distributes the force over the entire surface.
- Without eccentric. This is the most universal method, takes up little space, but is less qualitative than the first method.
- Without eccentric and ratchet. The cheapest way of rolling. In addition to its value, there are no other advantages.
Note! There are various additional tools for rolling, but they increase the price of the tool.
Pipe cutter for copper pipes "in a popular way"
When deciding how to bend a copper pipe, you can recall the folk ways. The main one is the use of sand. The sand is poured inside, and both ends are closed with stoppers. This allows you to flex without any fear. This is easy enough, because sand makes this easier. Also, the sand "breaks", and the walls will not crumple inward. After the work is done, the pipe is washed from the grains with an ordinary garden hose.
Important! For this method, use only dry sand.
Another way how to bend copper pipes is similar to the method using a tubular bend. To do this, you need a spring with a diameter so that the profile enters it. The material is put on the spring and bends at the right place. You can do it even about the knee. After the work is finished, the material simply gets out.