How to bend a copper tube at home. Effective ways to bend copper pipes at home. How to bend a pipe without a pipe bender - simple methods

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.

Copper pipes are often used for arranging interior and apartment buildings. utility networks. Hot and cold water supply, heating system based on copper, proves to be durable and holds up well thermal energy coolant.

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, pipe bending is stretching the metal surface by outside bending and its compression - 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. Metal surface heated with gas burner or a blowtorch at the bend. Once the required temperature has been reached, the pipe can be carefully adjusted the required form, carefully bending it at the required angle.

The average length of copper pipes is 50 meters. Accordingly, their installation is impossible without the need to make bends on the pipeline elements. Products can be bent in several ways.

Spring method

Provides bending of the product at virtually any angle. Usually used in confined spaces. Total data cost installation work very small. Installation of copper pipes is quick and easy;

Lever method

The price of lever equipment is quite high, but you can always rent it. Used when installing copper pipes with the same diameter. The maximum level of bending with this method is 180 degrees. Lever tool allows for easy installation;

Manual method

Most economical option relative to the cost, but at the same time quite effective. Usage manual pipe bender at home, it eliminates the risk of cracks and deformations appearing on pipes. With all this, there are also disadvantages: the pipe bender requires the application of certain physical strength, it is not suitable for mounting long products;

Hydraulic method

The most expensive of the proposed options. It is very easy to bend a part with its help, because hydraulic mechanism ensures maximum ease of operation. It is used for bending products of various diameters due to the presence of a set of segments.

The easiest way to bend parts is made of annealed copper due to their ductility. It is even possible to bend the product to a large radius with your hands. One bend can be done only once, since in the future the elasticity of the product decreases. A gas heating pad allows you to return to its previous quality. It is enough to heat the part a little and quickly bend it;

Products made from unannealed copper can be bent in a similar way. The copper part is heated using a gas burner, then bending is performed.

Small radius tools

If you need to bend a small radius, use special tools: springs and pipe benders.

Pipe bender

When using a pipe bender, you can make the required bend without heating or annealing. The pipe bender should be fixed on the working area, then the product should be bent to the desired radius. Parts with a diameter of 28 mm allow you to make almost any bend, but you must maintain a minimum internal diameter of 14 mm. Otherwise, difficulties may arise in transporting liquids.

Spring

When using special spring at home, you need to preheat the pipe to 450-550 degrees. Only then is the required bending made.

Recommendation: Copper product, inner diameter which is above 28 mm, requires heating before bending, regardless of the method in which you carry out the work. Heating up to 450-550 is required for both fired and unfired parts.

It is also important to remember that copper products with large diameters cannot be bent by hand. Heating, a pipe bender and other tools are required. Otherwise, there is a high probability of deformations and fractures.

Copper pipes are easier to install than steel pipes. This work is within the capabilities of every person who has the desire to understand all the intricacies of the work.

The popularity of copper pipes in the installation of heating and water supply systems is understandable - they are durable, elastic, and resistant to corrosion. But the layout of apartments often forces us to change the shape of the existing workpiece. This is not so easy to do at home, but there are several ways. How to bend copper tube at the right angle? You will learn about this from this material.

The physical properties of the material largely determine the features of working with copper. Due to plasticity, the workpiece at the bend may decrease in diameter or even break. But you can deform a copper pipe manually. Methods for increasing bending strength will be described later.

The second feature of copper pipes is the need to heat them to effect deformation. Of course, it’s easy to handle thin-walled workpieces without a soldering iron or a gas torch, but it’s better to heat thicker elements (where there will be a bend) to make your work easier.

The third feature of bending copper pipes at home is mandatory use compensating elements. This is necessary to minimize the appearance of “corrugations” (waviness) on the inner wall of the tube. Examples would be sand, a steel spring, sometimes ice. Now let's look at the known methods of how to bend a copper tube at home.

Bending methods

Methods for giving a curved shape to a copper pipe are divided into two categories:

• industrial;
• household

Industrial flexible tube bending refers to the use of special equipment - pipe benders. The most common are hydraulic and mechanical (manual). The former make it possible to minimize human physical effort, have replaceable nozzles for selecting a suitable bending diameter, and are used for large copper tubes. The latter are compact, work using human muscle power, and also have replaceable attachments in the form of a semicircle.

When repairing or installing copper pipelines, you don’t always have a pipe bender at hand. Therefore, users make do with improvised means.

Household methods for bending copper pipes

These methods are distinguished by their applicability in limited space, that is ordinary apartment. There is no need for large equipment; bending a copper blank will not be much slower. Among the methods for bending copper tubes are:

1. Spring-loaded. Allows you to bend metal pipe from any angle. A spring is used, the length of which is equal to the length of the pipe. When bending forms of large diameter, it is placed inside the workpiece so that it rests against the walls; smaller diameter - put on outside. If it is necessary to deform a small section of the product, the spring is pushed to the place of the intended bend.

How is copper pipe bending done using a spring? The sequence of actions is as follows:

• place the spring outside/inside the tube;
• warm up the bend (or the entire pipe) blowtorch or gas burner;
• when the surface changes color to a darker one, begin bending;
• After deformation, leave the workpiece until it cools completely under natural conditions;
• remove the spring.

To get the product of the desired shape, you can use round metal objects as templates (for example, car rims, other pipes, etc.).

1. Sand. Here again you will need a heating element and clean, sifted, completely dry sand. The sequence is:

• one of the ends of the copper pipe is clogged with a wooden plug (a wooden or rubber hammer is used!);
• the pipe cavity is filled with sand, while the workpiece is periodically tapped with a wooden plug on the surface (table, floor);
• Having filled the product completely, put on the same plug at the other end;
• apply a blowtorch or gas torch to the intended bend of the pipe, rotating the workpiece to ensure uniform heating;
• press one end of the pipe to the support, and carefully bend the other into the right side;
• Allow the deformed part to cool (in natural conditions or douse with water).

The good thing about this method is that if the pipe bends unevenly, it is permissible to straighten it - tap the place where the deformation has gone bad with a hammer. After the tube has cooled, the plugs are removed from it, sand is poured out, washed and used for its intended purpose.

If bending is performed in winter, it is possible to fill the internal cavity with ice. However, this is undesirable - when bent, it can split, and the fragments will damage inner surface tubes. Although, if the latter does not have special requirements, it is worth adopting the method.

Complicated bending of copper pipes

It happens that you need to bend a workpiece of a non-standard profile. For example, not round, but square. Not applicable here spring method. All that remains is to use sand, a mallet, plugs and two supports. A pipe is placed on the latter, then heated, then the bend is tapped with a hammer until it is given the proper shape.

What to do if you need to bend the tube into a spiral? It's simple - you just need to find a cylindrical template with a diameter equal to the required one. The copper workpiece is slightly heated, then bent. This will create an even spiral.

There are several ways to obtain bent copper pipe. Each is good in its own way, but there are points that are always important to take into account, regardless of the chosen deformation method.

1. The main requirement for the user when working is accuracy and attentiveness. Sudden movements will lead to excessive deformation of the pipe walls and their complete rupture.
2. Parts made of annealed copper are the easiest to bend, so heating them takes a minimum of time.
3. If the bend is not made where needed, you can reheat the workpiece and bend the product back. However, no one guarantees that the shape of the tube will be the same.
4. If the surface overheats, the metal may simply begin to melt. It is unacceptable. The user must carefully follow the process from start to finish.

Manual bending of large-sized copper pipes is impossible at home - you can’t do it without industrial pipe benders with a hydraulic drive. Small blanks for installation heating system or water supplies bend easily, and with minimal effort. Even a person without experience can figure out how to bend a copper pipe at home if he is careful. Do you know other ways of working? Share with readers your experience in discussing the material.

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, then it’s hard to think of anything better than a copper tube. This material has excellent contact with liquid different temperatures, therefore it can be used equally well for both water supply 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 compliance certain temperatures, copper pipe lends itself well to bending;
• wide temperature range: inside the water supply you can use liquid with a temperature from -100 to +250 degrees.

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 designed in a retro style.

What properties should a pipe have when bending?

Flexibility is determined physical properties of this 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.

The main condition for bending is heating. Some thin-walled copper tubes 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 not allow it to accept irregular shape or allow corrugation to occur.

The need to bend pipes during repair work: advantages

Bent pipes are common when carrying out installation and repair work plumbing, 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 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.

Bent copper piping does not have the risk of breakage and leakage that occurs if pipes are used instead of bending. connecting elements. 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. For this purpose there are proven effective techniques. 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 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.

With the help of something like this, it’s not complicated, 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.

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 hand tools you need to do the following:

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.

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. With large-scale and industrial work use electric tools.

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

The technique of bending copper pipes is useful when independent arrangement communications. Graceful turns and bends will prevent loss of product integrity and also protect against leaks. Application of the proposed methods will help in short terms make a smooth and beautiful bend.

How to bend a copper tube at home: expert advice

Copper is a ductile and easy-to-work metal with excellent thermal conductivity properties. Copper pipes are often used for piping systems and installation 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 steel wire 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 it as a template. steel pipes and disks of the appropriate diameter. 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. Famous high speed and the ability of hydraulics to take over all operator 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 fill the cavity of the pipe with clean sifted and well-dried sand, while tapping its end against 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 becomes more colored. dark 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

-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 bent pipe has not acquired the desired shape, the situation can be corrected 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.

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