Are benders just benders?

[OffshoreGas]

Looking at ordering a few sets of benders, I’ve always used Rothenberger ones. Are they much of a much mess? Obviously we all have our favourites.

 

[sammathias]

Cheap rubbish or old school decent ones...old school hilmor or record benders for me... Definitely a different in quality thesedays

 

[OffshoreGas]

Cheap rubbish or old school decent ones...old school hilmor or record benders for me... Definitely a different in quality thesedays

Are the modern Hilmors any better than the cheap ones? A few brands look like they’ve come out of the same factory but have had different stickers put on.

 

[Aire]

I use these
https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/rothenberger-pipe-bender-15-22mm/88794
Had them 8 years always bent fine, never rippled. Only now are they starting to get a little stiff when bending 22mm, not sure why that is.

 

[sammathias]

You can get old record or hilmor benders on eBay at a decent price... Asking as you don't mind abit of missing paint. I've used my mates rothernbergers before and thought the where poor bending 22mm but each to their own.

 

[OffshoreGas]

I use these
https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/rothenberger-pipe-bender-15-22mm/88794
Had them 8 years always bent fine, never rippled. Only now are they starting to get a little stiff when bending 22mm, not sure why that is.

Cheers I’ve got a set of those too, no real complaints about them. Only copper benders I’ve had so wasn’t really sure if crap or good.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

bend it now

 

[Jerry]

Well, I guess that's the whole nature vs nurture debate. Some can swing both ways too. They come in a range of sizes and colours. There are also some that don't identify with your binary hetero-normative definition and refuse to be categorised.

Wait. What are we all talking about?

 

[OffshoreGas]

Well, I guess that's the whole nature vs nurture debate. Some can swing both ways too. They come in a range of sizes and colours. There are also some that don't identify with your binary hetero-normative definition and refuse to be categorised.

Wait. What are we all talking about?

I was looking for some relationship advice but these lot are just talking about pipes.

 

[townfanjon]

Why are you buying a few sets , are you a rough ***** or do you think they are going to get nicked .

Hilmor’s everytime lol

 

[OffshoreGas]

Why are you buying a few sets , are you a rough ***** or do you think they are going to get nicked .

Hilmor’s everytime lol

Staffing up a new business so need to provide basic tools.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Why are you buying a few sets , are you a rough ***** or do you think they are going to get nicked .

Hilmor’s everytime lol

Even new Hilmor’s?

 

[Aire]

If your staffing up a new business I would think it would be power tools, fga's etc you should be supplying. I would expect most plumbers to have hand tools and a set of benders.

 

[Stu-B]

Agree, would be the difference between hiring or not if they got decent tools.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Agree, would be the difference between hiring or not if they got decent tools.

2 are very competent guys I plan to move over from another business and put through the gas pathway scheme. Two will be experienced hires which is proving harder to find a decent fit.

There are advantages from a health and safety perspective of providing tools ie ensuing they are fit for purpose etc.

I’ve always worked that hand tools were the responsibility of the employee, other tools the employer.

 

[SimonG]

I have a cheap set from tool station. Celebrating their 14th birthday.

 

[richard978]

Are the modern Hilmors any better than the cheap ones? A few brands look like they’ve come out of the same factory but have had different stickers put on.

Yes they are. I've got a new set of Hilmor after my van was stolen and they are still the best in my opinion.

I've got a cheap pair my employer gave me and they are stiff and horrible.

You can't cheat on tools, I dont have a lot of tools but what I have are high quality

 

[richard978]

If your staffing up a new business I would think it would be power tools, fga's etc you should be supplying. I would expect most plumbers to have hand tools and a set of benders.

It depends, British Gas and many others provide them. A recent death of an apprentice electrician at Western Power was the result of using his own hand tools and the HSE concluded that the employer must provide hand tools.

So if you employ then it's down to your risk assessment. If your employee is injured from using a hand tool then you could find yourself liable.

 

[Jim09876]

I always buy the cheapest hand tools possible, my benders lasted 20 years so far. Can’t beat the pound shop for tools too, sold all my Snap On on when started gas engineering

Pound shop tape measures...wicked
Pound shop spirit levels...love

 

[OffshoreGas]

I always buy the cheapest hand tools possible, my benders lasted 20 years so far. Can’t beat the pound shop for tools too, sold all my Snap On on when started gas engineering

Pound shop tape measures...wicked
Pound shop spirit levels...love

All personal preference and everyone has there own way of working. To me it generally make sense to have the right tool for the job, what it costs you up front pays its self back in the long term. It’s enough of a struggle without the tools you have fighting you too.

 

[OffshoreGas]

It depends, British Gas and many others provide them. A recent death of an apprentice electrician at Western Power was the result of using his own hand tools and the HSE concluded that the employer must provide hand tools.

So if you employ then it's down to your risk assessment. If your employee is injured from using a hand tool then you could find yourself liable.

Employing people is a liability nightmare these days. No matter what eventuality you think of some have a way of finding creative ways of f-ing things up

 

[king of pipes]

Did you see the news today ! no more gas boiler fitted by 2020 I would be thinking get your new guys trained in alternative forms of heating and push part of your company that way by being a accredited installer MCI and what ever else is needed , heating is gonna change dramatically in the next 5 years get ahead now take your company well part of it down the new road and get ahead of the rest , as for tools any decent engineer will have his hand tool kit , supply good quality battery gear ( Metabo ) and hilmour benders if you do go that way . Kop

 

[OffshoreGas]

Did you see the news today ! no more gas boiler fitted by 2020 I would be thinking get your new guys trained in alternative forms of heating and push part of your company that way by being a accredited installer MCI and what ever else is needed , heating is gonna change dramatically in the next 5 years get ahead now take your company well part of it down the new road and get ahead of the rest , as for tools any decent engineer will have his hand tool kit , supply good quality battery gear ( Metabo ) and hilmour benders if you do go that way . Kop

I agree diversity is key to a business and it would be foolish not to prepare for these changes but it can also be dangerous to follow the latest fad. If they ban new installs after 2025 (the 2020 date has been confined to be wrong) as the proposal suggests 85% of heating is still from natural gas. You’ve got a massive install base that’s still going to require repair. They’ve been saying for 15-20 years every home must have a source of green energy but that’s never happened either.

I agree it will come but as it’s going to take 20 years to build the generating capacity for all these battery powered cars etc I think it’s a while off yet.

Just the usual daily mail scaremongering.

 

[Jim09876]

Metabo

Supply Milwaukee, at least start out them guys out on the correct path.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Metabo

Supply Milwaukee, at least start out them guys out on the correct path.

I don’t think you can go far wrong with Metabo for drilling/grinding machines. Some of there other tools are fairly woeful.

For 18v stuff I’ve gone down the Makita route as that’s what we use elsewhere, they make a reasonable tool of each type and are generally good value for money.