How to bend a Pipe?

[Helix666]

I have a couple of ideas bouncing round my head at the moment.
(Mainly a result of me doing a Hulk Smash on my mum's PC. :redface: )

What I want to know is, how can I bend a copper pipe (dimensions as yet unknown. it depends on what I find in the shed.) to a shape like this:

/* WARNING: Crappy artwork to follow. */
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t293/James_Penk/Pipe_bend.jpg

Yeah, like that. ^^^.

Bearing in mind I have minimal tools (read almost nothing), and fairly minimal skills.(Read, If there was qualifications for pounding something with a large sledge hammer, I would only just have passed.)
Any help would be appreciated.

[jdbnsn]

For subtle bends I would pack it with sand, seal the ends, heat and bend. But for an angle that sharp, I think you will need to saw some wedge shaped slices out of the side to prevent kinking. I am not really an experienced metal worker, just a dabbler but Tribaloverkill could tell you for sure.

[Luke122]

^^ Agreed.. anything over 90degrees and you risk kinking the pipe. Even an actual pipe bending machine would have trouble making a bend like the one you want.

There would definitely be cutting involved to get that angle.

[Deadeye]

For the first bend (counting down from the top) you should have no problem heat bending it since it is copper. For the 2 bend, that looks to be about a 45 degree you might try using an elbow...

-deadeye 8)

[Eclecticos]

You could do it the old fashion way. You take the pipe and put it between Two Posts O\O
. . and you have someone hold the torch to the outside of the pipe while you pull backward on it.
Don't forget your gloves.

Note: The Diameter of your fulcrum post will be the radius of the bend.
In other words if you use a couple of trees as your posts your gonna have a big bend. . :D

Example:
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2118/p2530532vp0.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8149/p2530533tf7.jpg

[Helix666]

ah, OK. Thanks.
As soon as the weather clears up I'm gonna try that.

[Spawn-Inc]

in place of the sand you can fill it with water and freeze it. might be easier and less messy. thats what they do for trumpets on how its made after all

[Helix666]

I don't think it'd quite fit in my freezer. :D
I've not done anything about it yet, mainly because it's still raining.

[tybrenis]

it's still raining.

Location: England, UK

[slytherock]

Location: England, UK

ROLF :D

[Omega]

Haha, oh, christ, ty, that killed me :D

[Helix666]

Location: England, UK

Yup... That just about sums it up.
WTF?!? I just looked out of the window, and it's now snowing...

EDIT: well, it was, briefly...

Um... I've decided that the current weather here now, isn't rain. It's an upright sea, with slots in...

[Drum Thumper]

WTF?!? I just looked out of the window, and it's now snowing...



You sure you don't live in Montana? :p

And I have to agree with Eck, the way he posted looks to be the easiest for someone who has limited access to tools, like yourself.

[Redundant]

Location: England, UK
Funniest thing ever. :D

Those talking GPS systems need your kind of humor. lol