Sometimes, the pipework in your home can be manageable such that you don't need to call in a specialist to do it. Whether you are working on plumbing or heating and ventilation pipe connections, you can handle some straightforward tasks. However, most DIY piping jobs seem difficult whenever you need to bend pipes to make them go around obstructions or change the direction. Thankfully, there are many options, with a few steps and handy tools to help you deal with bends when fitting pipes yourself. Here are the alternatives you can use:

Go for Pre-Made Joints

When working in tight corners where you need perfect rights angles, you can go for pre-made right angle joints to connect the pipes. Here, cut the pipe using a hacksaw at the point where you want to bend it and fit the cut ends of the pipe into both ends of the joint. Pre-made right angle joints are available in piping and pipe accessory retail stores. The only shortcoming of this alternative is that the pre-made joints are limited to certain angles and they are not versatile enough to meet all the bending needs that you may have.

Use a Spring Bender

In this method, you need protective gloves, a spring and a source of heat to soften the sturdy pipes and make it bendable without breaking. If possible, you can use a handheld butane torch. Here, you should heat the pipe until it is red hot at the particular point where you want to bend it. Thereafter, slip the pipe through the spring quickly while the pipe is still hot. Twist it gently to bend the pipe at an angle that you desire. The spring supports the pipe and keeps it from pleating especially when you want to create sharp bends on the copper pipe.

On the downside, spring benders are limited to particular sizes of pipes, and you will need different springs for pipes with different sizes. Therefore, the method is not ideal when you have many pipes that vary in size.    

Pipe Benders

Pipe benders have a pair of arms, a stay, guide, roller and formers that resemble semi-circles. The formers accommodate different sizes of pipes while the stay firmly holds your pipe in position when you are bending. The roller and the guide keep the pipe from crushing. In this method, you pull the arms to bend your pipe as you desire. Unlike spring benders, there is no need to heat the pipe.  

For more information, contact Inductabend Pty Ltd or a similar company.

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