Bending 15mm copper 180 degrees?

I have a Draper 34212 lever bender. I know it isn't a Hilmor but I don't bend 3/4" much so it does the job. The one thing that is difficult is bending 180 degrees. Do you guys have any tips? Obviously I can do two 90 degree bends with a gap between but often I need a 180.

I was thinking of adding another catch to the frame so I could bend once then move the pipe forward some and finish the bend.

I am in the states so there isn't any help available to me as not many guys bend copper and when they do it is usually with a different style bender.

| BAHCO

Bacho 180 degree bender have a look at pb plumbers vid on it

If your in the states, is your copper 15mm or 1/2"

It's 5/8" on the Outer Dimension, we call it 1/2" as that is the inside dimension and pipes are called by their ID. Tubing is referred to by it's OD. Both copper pipe and tubing have the same dimensions but are named differently because of their physical properties. 1/2" water piping is 5/8" tubing size.

The physical differences being that tubing is used for HVAC and is softer so you can bend it by hand and it has been cleaned and filled with nitrogen. Tubing also comes in rolls precovered with either yellow or orange for gas or fuel oil. Water piping comes in straight lengths and doesn't have plugs in the end. Water piping comes in DWV, the thinnest, for drains, M which is used for heating, L which is the standard for potable water, and K which is the thickest and used underground. Tubing comes only in K thickness, the thickest.

The 1/2" pipe I bend is a bit of a tight fit in the lever bender, the 3/4" fits perfectly. I actually like the tight fit of the 1/2" as it makes it easier to hold everything together.

I was hoping you guys had a trick for bending 180's on a lever bender as it seems most of you use lever benders for water piping. I guess I will have to try to add another catch.

You had a look at hilmor hvac tube bender ?

I also have the hilmor 1926598 Compact Bender Kit but it won't work because it is for soft copper. The 1/2" L pipe we get is "hard" copper. I put that in quotes because there are different grades of hardness/temper. For the most part we get mueller streamline which is bend temper. That means you can bend it with a lever or geared bender but it is still relatively hard and difficult to bend by hand. Soft copper can easily be bent but costs more because it takes more gas to heat up the copper and make it softer.

You really don't want soft copper for water piping as it will more easily erode, won't hold as much pressure, and doesn't look as neat. It will require more hangers to support it.

Maybe I will just make some 180's at the shop with the geared bender and keep them in the van. I usually only need them for toilet tempering valves and frost-free hose spigots under kitchen sinks.

Craig Watson said:

| BAHCO

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That looks very nice!

It does look really nice, can't find any sites that ship to the states though

Pickwickpick said:

That looks very nice!

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Yeah, there's a video on YouTube of PB reviewing them. Search life of a jobbing plumber and scroll through his videos to find it. Very good but only available in 15mm at the moment, don't know if they'll do a 22mm version at some point.

skoronesa said:

It does look really nice, can't find any sites that ship to the states though

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They're available on Amazon and they will ship to the United States.

Hi not to sure if you have found a solution yet but here is how i would do it hope it helps

Sam madden said:

Hi not to sure if you have found a solution yet but here is how i would do it hope it helps

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Thanks!!

Not sure how I haven't seen that video of his, I watch/listen to a lot of his stuff when I am driving between jobs or on lunch.