How to Use a Copper Pipe Bender

Plumbing, heating and air conditioning applications commonly use copper pipe. In many cases, these applications require bending the copper pipe. Copper pipe benders allow the user to manually bend pipe to the necessary angle to connect to the system fixtures.

Instructions

1. Mark, with a pen or marker, on the copper pipe where the bend should begin.

2. Move the copper pipe bender handle (the shorter handle) into an upright position. There will be a groove for the pipe directly under the handle.

3. Slide the pipe into the groove under the handle.

4. Lower the bender handle down onto the pipe.

5. Adjust the pipe so the mark on the pipe is lined up with the 0 mark on the handle.

6. Latch the copper pipe into place.

7. Apply pressure on the handle to bend the copper pipe. Keeping pressing down onto the handle until you reach the desired angle.

8. Move the handle back into the upright position.

9. Unlatch the pipe, and remove it from the copper pipe bender.

Tips & Warnings

• Copper pipe will straighten slightly after being removed from the copper tube bender. It is a good idea to bend the pipe about 2 to 5 degrees more than the desired angle. It takes some practice to correctly judge the extra bend angle to use.

References

• Hand Tube Bender Manual
• Copper Tube Handbook: Introduction