Bending 1/4" copper fuel/gas pipe

[fredrussell]

I'm about to plumb in my Taylors 079D heater. In the past I've always put bends into gas pipe using my bare hands. Once or twice in the past though, I've caused kinks doing it this way. Does any one know a method for bending these small copper pipes without the risk of kinks?

Pipe is 6.3mm or quarter inch OD.

 

[vyv_cox]

A spring is cheap and easy. For small diameter the spring goes on the outside unlike 15 mm upwards where they go inside.

 

[Poignard]

https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/han...-8-10mm-3-in-1-mini-pipe-bender/p/KEN5886100K

I used one of these. They used to be much cheaper. Perhaps you'll find one on eBay.

Pay the postage and you can borow mine (if I can find it!).

The bending spring recomended by Vyv Cox would be cheaper, and work as well.

 

[solent clown]

https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/han...-8-10mm-3-in-1-mini-pipe-bender/p/KEN5886100K

I used one of these. They used to be much cheaper. Perhaps you'll find one on eBay.

Pay the postage and you can borow mine (if I can find it!).

The bending spring recomended by Vyv Cox would be cheaper, and work as well.

Ditto that, if you are solent based you can borrow mine ;-)

 

[ghostlymoron]

When installing my microbore central heating, I used a cheap plastic former from a plumbers merchants. Very effective and 100% success. I also used it for my boat gas pipe. I have 6 and 8mm sizes. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find them for sale anywhere on interweb.

 

[ghostlymoron]

This looks pretty good though.
https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/...__qZYgJdFXzpqQh134zYIVCPo0ymd1VMaAhNxEALw_wcB

 

[Freebee]

This looks pretty good though.
https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/...__qZYgJdFXzpqQh134zYIVCPo0ymd1VMaAhNxEALw_wcB

+1

 

[<152587>]

simple way is find a piece of tube approximate of the radius of bend required and wrap the tube around it, scaffold pipe is good. Used to make nice radii in brake tube with this method.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have a set of pipe-bending pliers which I've used for fuel and brakes lines on cars. They need care and some practice beforehand to use, but they do a nice job and can be used to do all sorts of funny curves in situ. This sort of thing:

Thirty quid on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-4261-Brake-Bending-Pliers/dp/B002T3XVQQ

 

[rogerthebodger]

simple way is find a piece of tube approximate of the radius of bend required and wrap the tube around it, scaffold pipe is good. Used to make nice radii in brake tube with this method.

No when bending thin wall tube the tube must be supported otherwise it will collapse.

This is done either by internal spring or plug but mostly by supporting the outside with a former.

I used to design tube making bending machines for a living lots of years ago.

 

[elton]

I used a "bending spring" when I plumbed my new bathroom. Very effective, unbreakable, and cheap. https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p61380?searchstr=pipe spring

 

[vyv_cox]

I used a "bending spring" when I plumbed my new bathroom. Very effective, unbreakable, and cheap. https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p61380?searchstr=pipe spring

Unfortunately that type is far too big for the tubing the OP wants to bend. For 6 and 8 mm tube you need an external spring. Like these https://www.koolairconsupplies.com/..._ZZFxEG2tWJTDlbxJFU03vKO98YE4gQAaAkb_EALw_wcB.

 

[Daverw]

Easy to use an external spring as you can move it along as you fit the tube

 

[mogmog2]

https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/han...-8-10mm-3-in-1-mini-pipe-bender/p/KEN5886100K

I used one of these. They used to be much cheaper. Perhaps you'll find one on eBay.

Pay the postage and you can borow mine (if I can find it!).

The bending spring recomended by Vyv Cox would be cheaper, and work as well.

I use both a bender & spring for my copper work .Either will do the job. The bender is better for tight angles.
I bought a cheap bender from Hamilton Gas products & that has worked fine. Caution, do not buy a cheap eBay one-I did that first and it was so badly made, it just didn't work.

 

[lw395]

I'm about to plumb in my Taylors 079D heater. In the past I've always put bends into gas pipe using my bare hands. Once or twice in the past though, I've caused kinks doing it this way. Does any one know a method for bending these small copper pipes without the risk of kinks?

Pipe is 6.3mm or quarter inch OD.

You're not supposed to use copper pipe with diesel.
It causes th diesel to form black tarry deposits..

 

[Malish]

It may be wrong but copper pipe has supplied diesel to my engine since 1978 with never a problem.

 

[fredrussell]

Thanks to all. Will give that eurocarparts one a go, seems good value.

 

[vyv_cox]

Thanks to all. Will give that eurocarparts one a go, seems good value.

Now that I have opened the link I agree, didn't realise how cheap they are. I used one last year when installing new fuel pipes, quite effective. You need to plan ahead a little more than with a spring but it makes a tidier job.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

My late father once told me that the traditional way to bend pipe was to plug one end with a bung, fill it up with sand, bung the other end and then bend it round a suitably radiussed former.

 

[vyv_cox]

My late father once told me that the traditional way to bend pipe was to plug one end with a bung, fill it up with sand, bung the other end and then bend it round a suitably radiussed former.

I did that a few years ago with 1 inch stainless tubing. Only bending it about 10 degrees but it worked fine without kinking.