How to Make Your Own Tubing Bender

Bending tubing helps speed installation as opposed to soldering or crimping angled fittings. The procedure, though, takes great care because tubing that's pinched or not properly bent can fail if any high-pressure water or gas are fed through the tube. Tubing benders curve a tube and ensure the tube remains round throughout the length of the bend. Tubing is measured by its outside diameter. The pressure a tube can resist increases with the wall thickness. One-half inch, 500-psi (pounds per square inch) tube rated will have a larger hole but smaller wall than 1/2-inch, 1,500-psi tubing.

Things You'll Need

• 3 feet of threaded pipe (up to 1 inch inside diameter)
• Matching pipe T connector
• Lubricant

Instructions

Making the Tubing Bender

1. Attach the T connector to the 3-foot length of pipe. The pipe size will match the tube size. One inch tube will slide into 1-inch pipe, 1/2-inch tube into 1/2-inch pipe and so on.

2. Make a pipe/T connector combination for each size tubing.

3. Avoid using a tubing bender tool with an inside diameter larger than the tubing. This can dent or crimp the tube. Common sizes are 1 inch, 3/4 inch, 1/2 inch and 3/8-inch tubing.

Using the Tubing Bender

1. Mark on the tube where you want the bend to start.

2. Place the tubing bender on a hard surface (concrete, asphalt, wood or solid work table).

3. Slide the tube into the tubing bender T connector at a right angle to the 3-foot handle to the mark you made where the bend will start. Use lubricant if necessary so the tube slides easily.

4. Gently pull back on the handle and bend the tubing no more than 5 degrees from the straight line of tubing.

5. Slide the tube-bending tool forward on the tube. Repeat the step the length of the bend until the tube is bent to the radius desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Use short bends and "walk" the tube-bending tool around the curve of the bend.

• Bending too much with one pull can crimp or crack the tube.

References

• Metal Tube-Bending Made Simple