James
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 posted on 28/9/14 at 07:00 PM |
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kinky bender.... help!
So I'm turning out to be a far less successful bender than I'd hoped!
I'm trying to put 90° bends in 22mm copper tube. I've perfectly happily Done loads of 15mm. It a new bender so nothing should be worn
out.
However after the first 22mm attempt which was successful the pipe is now kinking every time.
[img]
 
kinked1
[/img]
.
[img]
 
Kinked3
[/img]
It always happens at the start of the bend, it's like the end of the tube is being pulled towards and into the former.
I've tried lubing the former and the slider, i've lubed the wheels so they spin freely. I've cleaned the former and slider and pipe
with scotch pad. I've even bought new pipe in case the original had got old and 'brittle' or something. Oh, and I've tried
mounting it both ways up in the workmate!
I've done it loads with 15mm but never with 22mm before... What the hell am I doing wrongly?
help!
James
P.s. the panic is because a plumber is turning up tomorrow to fit a new boiler and he's expecting to find a complete heating system to connect
it to!
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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James
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| posted on 28/9/14 at 07:02 PM |
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Also, if I just say 'fek it' and use the kinked pipe, is it going to be a weak spot that's going to leak?
This is getting expensive in piles of wasted pipe!
Give up and use Yorkshire fittings?
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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mark chandler
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| posted on 28/9/14 at 07:39 PM |
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Copper tube comes in different grades, you have a thin cheap grade by the look of it which buckles and kinks.
Just look at copper pulled out of an old building, difference is night and day.
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Andy S
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| posted on 28/9/14 at 07:40 PM |
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Could be the tube is not fully annealed or its has started to age harden - Cheaper tube and thinner wall tube also causes problems - could drop a
spring in it?
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prawnabie
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| posted on 28/9/14 at 07:40 PM |
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Will one of those plumbers springs work whilst bending it in the bender?
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Wadders
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| posted on 28/9/14 at 07:44 PM |
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Check your u2u's James.
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Angel Acevedo
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| posted on 29/9/14 at 03:22 AM |
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Fill tube with water or oil, crimp ends, then try again
Tightly packed sand may work, although may be difficult to get rid of.
HTH
Beware of what you wish.. for it may come true....
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James
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| posted on 18/10/14 at 09:51 AM |
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I ought to follow this up in case anyone else has the same problem...
Short version:
Turns out the bolt holding the curved former was slightly loose.... the former was then moving as the arm was pulled and 'folding' the
pipe around the sharp end of the former. Bolt tightened, problem solved! 
Longer version:
I had the day off work so I waited till the plumber got there in the end and asked him to have a go with my bender. Same problem.
So I borrowed his bender with the aim of finishing off my work with his bender while he got unpacked and setup etc.
There was some waiting as his oppo was stuck in traffic with the boiler so I thought I'd wash up.
Turns out, having your hand inside a pint glass when it turns into 3 razors isn't a good idea! So plumber had to take me to A&E where I
waited for 4 hours to get my finger put back together!
So I did the bends the following night with his bender, 1 handed with my girlfriend helping!
Don't you just love DIY!
Cheers for the suggestions!
James
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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DIY Si
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| posted on 18/10/14 at 05:33 PM |
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DIY clearly wasn't the problem. Proof, should it be needed, that household chores are bad for you!!
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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