Bent pipe end 5. How to bend a metal or PVC pipe without a pipe bender: we work at home. Choosing the right tool

Pipes bent at an angle have found application in the oil and chemical industries, machine and apparatus building. Not a single architectural or construction project can do without them.

For turns, you can use all kinds of fittings, but then leakage may occur, and sometimes this is simply unacceptable for aesthetic reasons. More attractive appearance and high reliability is ensured by pipe bending - a process that does not violate their integrity.

We'll tell you how best to bend metal pipe both cold and hot technologies. The article presented by us describes the specifics of bending pipes made of various materials. The features of working with profile and ordinary round pipes are given.

Each metal has its own characteristics, without taking them into account it is impossible to give metal rolled products a complex shape. The bending pipe is subjected to radial and tangential forces.

The former deform the section, and the latter contribute to the appearance of folds. The main requirement for the final result is that the pipe section should remain unchanged, and there should be no corrugations on the walls. Bending allows you to minimize the number of welds when laying pipelines with all sorts of bends.

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During repairs, during construction works there is a need for installation of plumbing, heating systems. And if there is an opportunity to attract professional team to solve the problem, the process is completed quickly, the result pleases. But what if you have to do without the help of a specialist, and you don’t have the necessary tools at hand - how to bend a pipe without a pipe bender on your own? Consider possible options.

Simple ways to bend pipes

Bent by hand

Do not despair if you have to install a complex structure using curved pipes, but there is no professional tool available. Even if it was not possible to purchase blanks with the desired bending angle in advance, you can make parts for the work yourself, at home and with a minimum of tools.

How to act? Grab the structure with your hands, hold it tightly and gradually bend it. Be careful not to damage the part. Smoothly, centimeter by centimeter, move along the length of the pipe. You need to repeat the manipulation in 5-6 approaches. Manual work is not suitable in all cases, since bending an aluminum pipe, for example, is much easier than doing the same with a metal product.

Tip: practice on an unnecessary section before starting to work "finishing". Act smoothly so as not to deform or break the part; the number of "approaches" depends on the diameter and length of the structure.

The pipe can be bent without a pipe bender - by hand

Manual way effective when working with pipes with a diameter of 16-20 mm. With a larger cut, the process will stretch and be more laborious, but this is real.

Using the hot method

We figured out aluminum, but how to bend a metal pipe on your own so that the result does not disappoint? A gas burner will solve the problem.

Action algorithm:

1. We fix the metal segment in a vice.
2. We warm up the section of the future bend.
3. When scale appears, proceed to bending.

How do you know when to start work?
If the material is aluminum, hold a sheet of paper close to the surface of the pipe. The signal will be its ignition or the appearance of smoke. If other metal, the heated area will turn red.

Please note: the heating method is not suitable for working with galvanized parts - damage to the coating is guaranteed, the coating will become unusable.

Tip: since it is more difficult to bend a square pipe without creases and deformation, use a powerful blowtorch or burner, warm up all sides of the product before starting work.

Heating - effective method safe pipe bending

We use fillers - sand and water

The use of fillers makes it possible to bend both the corrugated pipe and large-diameter aluminum pieces.

How to work with sand:

• we fill the sand inside the structure, put plugs on the ends of the pipe (watch for tightness);
• fix the part in a vice;
• we heat the place of the bend with a soldering iron or a gas burner;
• when the area heats up, bend the structure with a rubber mallet or a wooden mallet, gently tapping on the heated surface;
• upon completion of the manipulations, we remove the plugs, remove the sand from the cavities - everything is ready.

Sand protects the pipe from deformation and uneven bending.

1. Galvanized parts are bent in this way without heating
2. Fill cavities tightly so that the interior is filled to the brim.
3. Treat square pipes on each side - it will help to avoid bumps.

Watch out for the tightness of the closure of pipes when working with sand and water

The principle of working with water is almost identical - we pour water into the part, put plugs. Before bending a PVC pipe or a product made of another material, let the water freeze (expose it to frost or place it in a refrigerator). Upon freezing of the liquid, with translational movements we give the structure the desired bending radius.

According to this principle, you can both bend a sheet of metal into a pipe (only without the use of water and sand), and give a bend to the pipe itself.

Pipe bending tools

Plano-parallel plates

If heating and cooling is not your thing, use a plane-parallel plate. A primitive, but trouble-free and proven way.
Plate - a curved blank made of wood or metal with a groove. Suitable for working with steel and metal-plastic products with a diameter of up to 45 mm.

Operating principle:

1. The pipe is placed in a clamp on a plane-parallel plate, fixed (clamped).
2. We bend, repeating the shape of the workpiece along the groove, and extract it.

A fast, reliable and cost-effective way. The disadvantage of using plane-parallel plates is the invariable curvature of the workpiece. The use of plates with a different radius of curvature will help to solve the problem. The steel structure will also succumb.

The peculiarity of the method is the limitation in length, it is easy to change the shape of short tubes, and in this way it will not work to bend a product whose length exceeds the length of the workpiece.

Plano plate - a reliable, affordable way to bend the pipe yourself

Consider how to bend the pipe with a spiral with your own hands or give the product an angle of up to 90 °.

A metal spring is best used for working with parts made of ductile non-ferrous metals. The spring prevents deformation of the structure. The choice of size depends on the internal "girth" of the tube.

How to proceed:

1. Insert the spring into the part (insert to the bend).
2. Gradually give a bend at the knee or after clamping the structure in a vise.

The spring simplifies the process by taking the compression / extension force and the load on itself. When working with soft, pliable materials, choose springs of medium stiffness and small diameter. Precautions will not allow the part to burst or tear.

Please note: before placing the steel spring inside the pipe, attach a strong cord or long wire to one of its ends. This step will make it easier to remove the spring after bending.

Metal springs serve as a "frame" for the pipe when bent

Radical measures - welding

Bending of sheets of metal and pipes is also carried out using a grinder. Welding is a cardinal way, problem-solving if other options are not suitable for objective reasons. The required tool is a welding machine and a grinder.

Action algorithm:

1. Make calculations - estimate the radius of curvature of the product (for fidelity, you can sketch a drawing and make markings on the parts).
2. Three transverse cuts are applied along the length of the bent section (on three sides).
3. Details give a twist.
4. The sawn sections are welded.
5. The bent end of the pipe at the welding site is ground, removing "sawdust" and irregularities.

The bend is neat, aesthetic and durable.

As you can see, there are enough answers to the question of how to bend a pipe - it will not be difficult to choose the method that is relevant for solving your problems. It is enough to have the right tool and desire. Consider the diameter of the product, its length and the material with which to work.

There are two downsides to these methods:

1. The likelihood of damage to the product, breakage and tearing.
2. Getting a uniform aesthetic bend at home is problematic.

Welding - fast way give the pipe the desired bend

If you do not have the skills and experience in pipe bending, you can insure yourself from troubles in one way - to attract a professional.

If there is no desire or opportunity to use the services of a specialist, do not despair. Before starting the event, carefully study the mat. part, watch videos or master classes from professional builders (there are plenty of them on the Internet).

Video recommendations: how to manually bend a metal-plastic pipe

Prepare the right tools- and for the cause. Dare, the road will be mastered by the walking one.

In this article we will talk about how and where to bend the pipe so that it does not crack and is fully exploited for a long time. The topic of the article is relevant, since today the market offers a wide range of pipes made of various materials.

Some materials withstand deformation and subsequently do not crack at the bend, while other materials are not designed for such loads. But almost all the rolled metal required for the construction of pipelines can be bent with your own hands, using special devices.

What can be bent and what can't

Many compatriots are wondering whether it is possible to bend polypropylene pipes and how to do it correctly ().

Consider which materials are subject to mechanical deformation without prejudice to subsequent operation, and which are not.

• It is possible to bend almost all rolled metal, including aluminum, copper and steel pipes different diameter. It is more difficult to change the configuration of stainless steel and similar hard alloys.

For the correct deformation of all metals without exception, a special pipe bending machine is needed. The use of a special machine will not only ensure the optimal quality of the bend, but will also allow you to complete the task with minimal physical effort.

Important: You can do without a special machine by changing the shape of the metal-layer. Products made of this material are easily deformed by hand, but in order for the cross section in the bend area to be constantly round, a special spring is used.

• It is impossible to bend pipes from various polymer materials not reinforced with a metal layer.

Some plumbers, in order to save fittings, heat polypropylene with an industrial hairdryer and bend it to the required shape. It is impractical to do this, because due to deformation in combination with heating, a curved plastic pipe will have an uneven wall thickness on the outer and inner radius.

As a result, the operation of the constructed water pipeline will be short-lived, since under the pressure of the liquid medium, cracks will appear in the thin wall over time.

Important: some polypropylene manufacturers, such as Ekoplastik, allow the possibility of pipe deformation when heated with hot air, taking into account the minimum bending radius equal to 8 pipe diameters. Therefore, before deciding on the relevance of bending work, read the manufacturer's recommendations given in the instructions.

Choosing the right tool

The spring is an effective tool for working with metal-plastic. Springs on the market are of two types: external and internal. Both types of instrument are distinguished affordable price. The tool must be selected according to the outer or inner diameter of the pipe.

The device is made of polished steel. The smooth surface of the coils allows you to remove the spring from the bent pipe. The use of a spring allows you to ensure the same diameter cross section throughout the fold.

A pipe bender is a wide range of machines or devices designed to deform rolled metal, taking into account the required bending angle and radius. The devices are actively used in the construction of pipelines for various purposes of various configurations and sizes.

Classification of pipe benders

All modern pipe benders meet the following requirements:

• the possibility of bending at an angle of up to 180 degrees;
• the ability to work with pipes made of various materials, including aluminum, copper, steel and polymer compositions.

Such equipment, according to the type of drive used, is divided into the following categories:

• Manual modifications, as a rule, are applied to work with pipes of small diameter. The device is driven by a collar, to which a significant muscular effort is applied.
• Hydraulic Modifications is the best choice for working with pipes whose diameter does not exceed 3 inches. The operation of hydraulic devices allows you to work with pipes without excessive physical effort. There are mobile and stationary hydraulic pipe benders on the market.
• Electromechanical modifications presented on the market with universal devices designed to perform high-precision bending. The main advantage of such pipe benders is the ability to work with thin-walled rolled metal products without the threat of damage.

According to the bending method and working part configuration, the tool can be:

• Crossbow, where a replaceable metal guide mold is used as a deforming element, which is selected for a certain pipe diameter.

• Segment, where rolled metal is pulled by a special segment that wraps the pipe around itself.

In the photo - a mandrel machine

• Dornov, where work with rolled metal products is carried out both from the outside and from inside pipes. This feature allows the device to be used to change the configuration of thin-walled pipes without the threat of metal rupture or wrinkling along the inner diameter.

Pipe bending technology

The instruction for changing the configuration of pipes by means of an external spring is as follows:

• The spring is put on metal-plastic;
• Then the pipe is grasped with both hands at a distance of 20 cm from the spring and bent until the desired angle is obtained;
• After the desired angle is obtained, the spring rotates around its axis and is removed.

The use of an internal spring is different in that the device is inserted from the edge of the pipe, where it can then be pulled out.

The bent end of the pipe can be obtained using a pipe bender. In this case, the device, in accordance with its modification, is configured to the required parameters. Then the pipe is inserted into the receiving gap and the device is driven by one or another drive.

Conclusion

A bent pipe according to GOST is an essential attribute of the construction of pipelines for various purposes. That is why it is so important to choose the technology and the appropriate tool through which it will be possible to ensure high quality bending and no damage to the pipe walls.

More useful information you can find out by watching the video in this article.