If you are starting a renovation, you may need pipes. But in this case they do not always have to be perfectly even. This raises the question of how to bend a pipe without a pipe bender. If you are familiar with the tricks of this process, then you can solve the problem quite simply.

How to bend a pipe at a right angle

Metal acts as a fairly strong material, but under special pressure it can be bent. Today there are several ways to solve this issue. The first technology is the use of pegs. But you must remember that this method may damage the pipe or even break it. This can be avoided by filling the internal cavity with dry sand. Plugs should be installed at both ends.

At the next stage, you can begin bending. To do this, pegs are dug into the ground. You will use them as leverage. If you are not confident in your abilities, then first you should practice on unnecessary sections of pipes. If you are faced with the question of how to bend a pipe without a pipe bender, then using this technology you can change the shape of the product, the diameter of which varies from 16 to 20 mm. For pipes of larger diameter, this technique is not suitable, as the process will be quite complicated. It is also important to take into account the material that underlies it. For example, for galvanizing it is recommended to use other methods.

Using heating technology

Before bending a pipe without a pipe bender, you should think about which technology is best suited for this. Perhaps heating would be a great solution. This method is usually used for steel and aluminum piping. For the procedure, the product is fixed in a vice, but first it should be filled and heated with a gas burner in the place that you plan to bend. The temperature is determined quite simply: when a piece of paper approaches the pipe, it should begin to smoke. When a steel billet is used, it should turn red when heated. For safety, the technician should wear gloves.

Plane-parallel plate

If you are faced with the task of how to bend a pipe without a pipe bender, you can use a plane-parallel plate. This technique involves fixing the product in a clamp. After this, you can bend it, and this must be done along the plate. This technique is considered not only economical, but also simple. In order to achieve a positive result, several plates should be used, each of which has a different curvature. The main condition is the use of steel pipe. The length of the product should be quite impressive.

Using a metal spring

Quite often, home craftsmen think about the question of how to bend a pipe without a pipe bender at home. You can use a metal spring for this. This technique is excellent for pipes made of non-ferrous metals, which have good ductility.

A spring is used to prevent deformation. To get good result, the spring size must be taken into account, which must correspond to the internal diameter metal structure. This requirement is due to the fact that the pipe must be inserted into the cavity. After this, you can bend it by tying the spring with a wire to simplify the process of further removal.

If you need to bend profile pipe without a pipe bender, water can be used as a filler instead of sand. The pipe cavity is filled, after which the product is sealed on both sides with plugs. The water should be frozen and then the material should be heated. However, this method cannot be used for galvanized workpieces.

Profile pipe and its modification

This type of metal structure is quite popular in the construction of greenhouses and gazebos on personal plot. Main feature The disadvantage of a building material is that it can be damaged when bent. A way out of this situation may be to fill the internal cavity with fine sand or water. These actions eliminate the possibility of pipe damage and achieve excellent result. This technique is suitable for brass and duralumin pipelines.

If you are thinking about the question of how to bend a pipe without a pipe bender for a canopy, then you can use it for this. It is used for square profile products. The pipeline is installed on reliable supports, and then a mallet is used. Actions must be careful and smooth to eliminate the possibility of damage. If it is necessary to achieve a large angle, then to facilitate the process it is necessary to heat the pipe in the place where it is to be bent.

Methods for bending metal-plastic

Quite often, country property owners wonder how to bend a pipe themselves without a pipe bender. When metal-plastic is available, you can use own strength without using improvised means. The product is clamped and bends smoothly. In this case, it is important to eliminate the possibility of an inflection. It is important to follow the rules that state that for every 2 cm of the workpiece, the bending angle can be 15°.

If you are faced with the question of how to bend a pipe without a pipe bender for a greenhouse, then you can use pieces of wire that fill the internal cavity. This allows you to achieve an even and smooth bend in the most short terms. Dry fine sand can be used as filler. It is poured inside, and the edges are closed with plugs. Then one end of the product must be fixed, ensuring the reliability and strength of the fastening. Use a gas torch or blowtorch to heat the bend area. The material is checked for readiness with a piece of paper.

Methods for bending polypropylene pipe

If it is necessary to change the direction of the bend, one of two possible methods can be used. The first involves heating the bend area. For this it is usually used construction hair dryer. Optimal temperature heating is 150 °C. Hands should be protected with gloves that are resistant to high temperatures.

On final stage the product is bent to the required shape. The thickened wall should be located on the outside of the bend. Once the material has cooled, it will need to be checked for cracks and dents. Another way to bend such a pipe is cold. However, the bending radius should not be more than 8 diameters, otherwise the product may break.

How to bend a plastic pipe

In order to bend a PVC pipe, you need to buy fiberboards. From these you can build a frame that will be needed to give the structure a certain shape. As soon as you give the slab the desired shape, you should sand it; it is better to use fine sandpaper for this.

The next step is to form a silicone shell for the plastic blank. It will act as a fastener for the PVC structure in the frame. In addition, it will play a protective role against chips, mechanical damage and scratches. The object is placed in a prepared protective shell, and then the bending area is heated. The plastic softens and sits on the frame. Such actions will allow you to obtain the desired shape of the plastic blank. The product is left until it cools down. 15 minutes will be enough for this. Afterwards, the PVC pipe can be removed from the frame, leaving it until it cools completely.

If you are faced with the question of how to bend aluminum pipe without a pipe bender, then to carry out the work you can use a grinder, with which you need to make several thin cuts at the site of the intended bend. The product is pre-clamped in a vice. As soon as the cuts are made, they should be cleared of chips, only then can you begin to bend the pipe.

Sometimes the product needs to be bent into a circle. As soon as the ring is closed, the holes are welded, and some craftsmen even use a soldering iron for this. In order to make the bend area neat, it is additionally sanded and coated. protective agent. This eliminates corrosion and premature failure of the connection.

Conclusion

It doesn't matter what material is at the base of the pipe. The ideal bend is quite difficult to achieve. But if you first get acquainted with the theory, then you can bend a pipe even without a pipe bender.

The task of how to bend a profile pipe very often faces home craftsmen. Structures made from profile pipes are multifunctional and convenient. They are used to create greenhouses and canopies, fences and supports for plants, shelving and more. The result is a very durable, stable and relatively inexpensive design. At first glance, the task of bending a profile pipe without a pipe bender seems impossible to solve. However, if you know some of the subtleties of the upcoming task, giving a profile pipe an arched shape yourself, at home, is not so difficult.

The task: bending a profile pipe without a pipe bender is solvable!

Before bending a profile pipe at home, you need to clearly understand what lies at the heart of bending. Regardless of the shape of the profile pipe, we have to give it a bend of a given radius. The result is achieved either by purely mechanical action, or by using additional heating of the profile. In this case, two different forces act on the pipe at one moment:

• From the side of the profile into which it is folded, the compression force works.
• A tensile force acts on the outer surface of the workpiece.

It is precisely because of the multidirectionality of the acting forces that bending a profile pipe at home is not so easy. A fragment of the workpiece may lose alignment, resulting in a multi-level arrangement of pipe segments. The outer surface at the bend may burst under stress. From the inside, a profile pipe can be folded by compression, making the surface look like corrugation. In addition to not being aesthetically pleasing appearance, such an outcome makes the profile fragile.

Possible pipe deformation

If you do not comply technological nuances, it will not be possible to give a profile pipe a curved shape at home without defects. You can spoil a bunch of blanks without achieving the desired result. So it is imperative to take into account the physical and chemical parameters of the material from which the pipe is made, the cross-sectional dimensions of the workpiece and the thickness of its walls, the radius of the intended bend, ideally it is necessary to carry out. Knowing all these parameters makes it possible to bend a profile pipe without damaging the workpiece.

Features of different types of profiles

Profile pipes are produced with a wide variety of cross-sections: in the form of a circle, square, rectangle, oval. At home, craftsmen prefer to use square and rectangular rolled metal. The explanation for this choice is simple: the external coating is attached to pipes of this type easier and more reliably.

At home, craftsmen prefer square and rectangular rolled metal

To determine the permissible bending radius of a square or rectangular profile, you need to know its height and adhere to these rules.

• With a profile height less than or equal to 20 mm, a pipe without defects can be bent on sections that are longer than 2.5 times h, where the letter h denotes the height of the pipe section.
• Rolled metal with a profile of greater height is allowed to be bent in areas calculated according to the formula 3.5 * h. If the length is shorter, the workpiece will most likely be damaged.

Before bending a profile pipe at home, also pay attention to the thickness of its walls. If they are thinner than 2 mm, it is better to refuse bending: a high-quality bend will not work. When using such rolled metal to create pipe structures, it is better to connect them by welding.

Bending a profile pipe made of low-alloy or carbon steel has its own characteristics. Such blanks spring back after bending, returning to their original form. So the master will need to re-fit according to the template. In some cases, secondary bending can be avoided by initially setting the bend radius larger than required. Then springing will lead the pipe to the planned result at the end of the process.

The degree of springback is characterized by the plastic moment of resistance, denoted Wp. Its parameters must be included in the documentation for rolled metal products. The lower Wp, the less the workpiece will spring when bending.

Metal bending methods

It is possible to bend a profile pipe either cold or by heating. Heating is carried out with a gas burner; at the same time, the plasticity of the material increases noticeably, and achieving bending will take less effort. However, workpieces with a small cross-section have sufficient plasticity even without heating, so that you can do without a burner.

Clear rules regarding the use of heating are developed exclusively for pipes with a cross-section in the form of a circle. It is considered mandatory when bending workpieces whose diameter is more than 10 cm. When working with square or rectangular profile pipes, you have to rely either on your own experience or on the recommendations of other craftsmen. As a first approximation, you can focus on the following tips:

• If the profile height is less than 10 mm, heating can definitely be avoided.
• If the cross-sectional height of the pipe is more than 40 mm, it is necessary to heat it before bending.

At intermediate values For this indicator, the bending method is left to the discretion of the master. To decide on a method for bending a profile without a pipe bender, you can carry out a simple test. One end of the workpiece is clamped with a vice. A piece of pipe having larger diameter internal section. Pressure is applied to the resulting lever with your hands. If the rolled metal can be bent, then further bending according to the desired template can be done using a cold method.

Cold bending

Without heating

profile pipe small size without a pipe bender, they are actually bent by hand, using simple devices.

• To bend the workpiece under a not very significant radius, securely fixed plates equipped with stops, roller devices, and a vice are used.
• If it is necessary to obtain a bend of a significant radius, devices in the form of fixed mandrels or plane-parallel plates with a mounting clamp will be required.

To obtain a smooth bend, pipes with a profile height greater than 10 mm are recommended to be filled with filler. Medium-grained sand or rosin is usually used as it. An alternative method to bend a workpiece without heating and a pipe bender is to use a densely wound spring instead of a filler. This method is especially good in cases where the walls of the rolled metal are too thin. The spring is selected in such a way that it fits freely into the profile pipe, but at the same time fills it quite tightly. To make it easier to remove the “filler” after bending is completed, a wire is securely attached to the end of the spring.

Bending process

If you have some metalworking skills, you can make a spring of a given size yourself, from steel wire 2 mm thick.

Hot bending method

If you decide to bend the pipe using heating, you must fill it with filler. Since we have to deal with high temperatures, the mandatory set of “equipment” includes protective mittens made of tarpaulin.

Hot bending method

The order of work is carried out as follows.

• Two plugs are made, for which they are used wooden blocks. The base of the “plug” is twice the area of ​​the pipe, and its length is chosen to be ten times greater than the calculated width.
• One of the plugs, already adjusted to the cross-section of the element being bent, is equipped with 4 longitudinal grooves. They are needed to remove vapors that will be released during heating of the filler and accumulate inside the pipe. If the gas is not allowed to escape, the plug will be knocked out, and the workpiece will be damaged when bent.
• The area of ​​the workpiece to be bent is annealed before processing.
• The simplest, most accessible and cheapest way is to use medium-fraction sand as a filler. Ideally, cleaned construction material, but you can even take the most common one, used in children's sandboxes. Only he will have to be subjected additional processing. First, the sand is sifted to remove foreign inclusions. At the first stage, a sieve with cells no larger than 2.5 mm is used, at the last - with a cell of 0.7 mm. This step will ensure the removal of dust impurities. The sand is calcined throughout its entire volume (processing temperature - 150 Celsius). Calcination is a mandatory step: without it, the sand remains too wet, and the steam pressure inside the bent fragment during operation of the gas burner can be so great that the profile pipe will simply burst.
• One of the ends of the profile pipe to be bent is clogged with a plug without gas outlet channels.
• A funnel is installed into the second hole that remains open, through which sand is poured. Filling must be done in portions so that the bulk substance fills the cavity as evenly as possible and as densely as possible. After introducing the next portion, the pipe should be tapped with a mallet - rubber or wooden. Insufficiently dense packing leads to wrinkling of the bottom surface of the pipe or rupture of the top.
• When the workpiece is filled to the top with filler, the open hole is closed with a second plug.
• The bend location is marked with chalk.
• The bent element is fixed in a vice with a template. You can also use a pipe clamp. If there is a weld on the pipe, the workpiece is attached so that it is on the side (not on top or bottom). This rule must be followed: welds It is strictly not recommended to expose it to tension or compression.
• A piece of pipe marked with chalk is heated red-hot with a gas burner.
• Having achieved the desired degree of heating, the pipe is bent with a smooth movement, without sharpness, in maximum accordance with the template. This must be done in one movement; the efforts during bending with the arms are applied strictly in a certain plane, either horizontal or vertical. Otherwise, alignment will be disrupted. For bending, a piece of pipe with a larger cross-section is placed on the free end of the workpiece. It should fit freely onto the element being processed, but should “sit” tightly on it.
• When the pipe has cooled, the bend is compared with the template. If it corresponds to the idea, you can remove the plugs and get rid of the sand. If serious deviations from the pattern are observed, the procedure must be repeated. It is still advisable to complete the task on the first, or maximum on the second try. Otherwise, the workpiece will be hopelessly damaged.

During the pipe bending process, you need to monitor the degree of its heating. Excessive overheating is unacceptable; If this happens, you need to cool the workpiece a little naturally.

When bending is completed, the plugs are knocked out. If they fit too tightly, the plugs are burned out with a gas torch.

The hot method of bending a profile pipe is quite suitable for implementation at home. However, it is better to use it in cases where the element needs to be given a single bend. Repeated heating of the pipe entails a loss of strength in the metal.

Bending a pipe using a grinder and welding machine

Cutting method

Give the profile pipe the required curved shape with my own hands It is also possible with the participation of an angle grinder accompanied by a welding machine. To do this, cuts are made across the element in the intended area, not reaching the end. Then the pipe is bent to the required radius, and the cut points are welded. The final product will retain a fairly aesthetic appearance (to achieve this, it will be enough to carefully grind the welds) without loss of strength characteristics. The only limitation is that the outer cladding should not have too much weight. For the equipment of the same greenhouses or canopies with awning covering, this method of obtaining a bend can become perfect choice. The advantage of the technique is that the profile can be bent to any degree of curvature, which other methods usually do not allow.

How to bend a profile with your hands

Finally, we note: bending a profile by hand, in the absence of a pipe bender, makes sense only if it is not intended to bend large number elements. When there are a lot of workpieces to be processed, it is better to spend a little money and buy the appropriate device: it will significantly reduce the time and effort of the craftsman. In the same way, if you only need one element with a bend, it makes sense to think about buying it - it won’t cost you much, but it will save you a lot of hassle.

Watch a video on this topic:

During the construction of small architectural forms When making canopies, awnings, or installing heating (water supply) systems, home craftsmen are faced with the need to bend a corrugated pipe.

In the mass production of metal structures, especially in specialized workshops, industrial pipe benders are used.

Such devices allow you to quickly and without defects bend a corrugated pipe measuring from 20 to 40 mm. However, purchasing pipe bending equipment for a one-time use is unprofitable; in some cases it is cheaper to go to a workshop and pay for the work of forming the profile. If this option does not suit you, consider ways to bend a profile pipe at home.

Features of molding pipes with a square (rectangular) cross-section

Unlike round pipe, in which the tension of the material occurs relatively evenly, the profile has angles of 90°. Interior the profile cannot bend without deforming the side walls. As a result, folds are formed on the inner radius, and tears are possible on the outside.

Without going into the technology of how to bend a pipe without a pipe bender, many “homemade” craftsmen spoil the workpieces or damage the strength structure of the material.

The basic rule is to avoid critical bends, or to force (programmed) deformation of the material.

In industrial pipe benders, to evenly distribute the load, a stamping is formed on inside radius. For this purpose, a special boss is provided on the rollers or mandrel (depending on the design of the pipe bender).

All “excess” metal is bent inward without forming folds. As a result, the load is distributed evenly, and the square pipe can be bent to a fairly small radius.

We bend profiled pipes correctly without additional costs

There are many ways to bend a profile pipe at home without using an industrial pipe bender.

Sector welding

This method is available if you have a welding machine. You will also need a grinder, but you can get by with a hacksaw. The essence of the method is to make evenly distributed sector cuts along the inside.

The amount of material is reduced, and you don’t have to worry about the formation of folds and tears in the metal. After cutting out the sectors, the profile easily takes the given shape, and the resulting cuts can be welded using any in an accessible way.

The method is labor-intensive, but you can bend the pipe to any radius, including a variable radius. If you are an experienced welder, the tightness and strength characteristics of the workpiece will not deteriorate.

The only drawback is finished product doesn't look very aesthetically pleasing. The technique is not suitable for a decorative canopy over a porch, but you can bend a profile pipe for a greenhouse built with your own hands. Again, a welding machine is required.

Hot forming as a way to bend a pipe without a pipe bender

In this case you will need gas burner or a blowtorch. When heated, the metal becomes soft and malleable to tension or compression. The likelihood of wrinkles and tears is practically reduced to zero.

How the method works:
The basis of the technology is local heating of the bend using a torch.

Profile pipes are indispensable in the process of assembling frames for building structures. Greenhouses, various greenhouses, gazebos and other objects are built with their help quickly and efficiently. However, everything is not so simple.

To bend such a pipe you have to use expensive special equipment, which is not always acceptable for home handyman. Let's talk about how to bend a profile pipe at home.

A profile pipe is considered to be one that has a different round section. It can be rectangular, oval, hexagonal or square. The pipe has increased strength, because its edges take on the role of stiffening ribs.

Profile products can withstand significant bending loads, making them good choice for the construction of metal frames for buildings for various purposes.

The raw material for the production of profile pipes is most often high or low alloy steel. Depending on the manufacturing method, electric-welded, cold-rolled, hot-rolled, and seamless pipes are distinguished.

Products vary in wall thickness and profile height. Such pipes can be used to make various parts in the form of frames, stairs and railings. Most often, profile pipes are used in construction for the construction arched structures and as a replacement iron beam during the construction of frames.

Skills in bending profile pipes will be useful to home craftsmen who want to independently equip a suburban area:

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The simplest devices for cold bending

Let's look at how to make two very simple devices, which will help bend the profile pipe.

Profile mandrel

The basis for the device will be a workbench. It is important that not only work area, but the space around her was free. To secure the mandrel, you will have to make several closely spaced holes in one edge of the workbench tabletop.

The actual mandrel or template is made of plywood. However, this option is only acceptable if several parts are to be completed.

The simplest pipe mandrel is made of thick plywood or board. This template is enough for several bends.

If you need to bend a large number of pipes according to this template, it is best to make the mandrel from a steel angle. In some cases, the profile product must be bent at different angles.

For such work, you will need several templates, which should be prepared in advance. Before starting work, the mandrel is firmly attached to the base using clamps.

The pipe to be bent is securely fixed to its edge. After which bending is carried out. The operation is performed smoothly, without sudden jerks. The force applied to the pipe should increase gradually. During the bending process, the part takes the shape of a mandrel. This will require significant effort.

Advanced bending plate

This is a convenient multifunctional device that allows for high-quality profile bending. The device is a durable metal base plate mounted on a pedestal. The latter is fixed to the workshop floor using fastening bolts.

Set of steel mandrels for different radii

Plywood disposable blanks

Mandrel for narrow profile pipe

As an option, you can consider a similar device mounted on a workbench. After work, the bending plate can be easily dismantled and put away, or you can use it as a stand for other metalworking operations.

To make such a device you will need a thick metal plate. It is welded on telescopic stand. For bending stops, two holes are made on the base plate.

Stop bolts are installed in them. Nozzles of various radii are put on and fixed on them, which allows you to bend the pipes as needed. A pressure plate is cut from thick sheet steel.

It is advisable to equip the bending plate with a pressure plate made of durable metal. It will allow you to maintain the alignment of the profile part during the bending process

Its use is mandatory so that the alignment of the part being bent is not disturbed, since bending a profile pipe without a pipe bender can accidentally deform it in two different directions. The plate is secured above the nozzles with stop bolts.

The simplest way to bend a profile pipe:

There are quite a few ways to manually bend profiled pipes. And they all have a common drawback: a very large force is required to bend them. A physically unprepared master may not be able to cope with such work. Bending parts using specialized devices is much simpler, more accurate and does not require much physical effort.

The problem is that the cost of such equipment is quite high. Therefore, buying a device just to perform a one-time job is certainly unprofitable. Best option– rental of specialized equipment, which will allow you to obtain profile products bent exactly according to the template for a small fee.

One of the popular types of construction metal products is a profile, which is pipes of oval, square or rectangular cross-section. Widely used in the manufacture of metal structures, load-bearing structures, canopies, prefabricated frames received rectangular and square steel pipes. They are used in private housing construction (for the construction of fences, greenhouses, various gazebos and canopies).

The only drawback is the more complex process of bending them and giving them the desired shape. Let's take a closer look at how to bend a profile pipe yourself.

Manual bending

Let's talk about how you can bend pipes manually.

Hot bending method

The simplest manually is “hot bending”. This method allows you to obtain fairly smooth lines and the required shape without significant changes in the profile geometry. To prevent flattening during bending, the pipe is filled with dried quartz sand. To do this, a wooden wedge plug is hammered into one end and, after filling it with dried sand, the other end is also plugged with a similar plug. A small hole is drilled at one end of the pipe so that air can escape freely. Next, the required area is locally heated using gas welding and given the desired shape. As a replacement for gas welding for heating, you can use blowtorch or a gas burner.

The pipe should not be overheated, as this will inevitably lead to the appearance of scale and a decrease in the quality of the metal. Repeated heating also degrades the quality of the metal, so try to bend the metal the first time.

After obtaining the required shape, remove the plugs and pour out the sand (it can be reused if necessary). The easiest way to remove plugs is to heat the ends of the pipe with a torch. As they burn, the wedges fall out easily.

Using sand for packing avoids breaks and improper deformation. With a certain skill, you can bend the profile quickly enough, so you shouldn’t even try to do it without filling it with sand - you’ll just ruin the material.

It should be remembered that galvanized pipes cannot be bent in this way, because during heating, the zinc layer will burn and cease to perform its anti-corrosion function.

Bending method using welding

An alternative way to do manual bending at home is to use welding and a grinder. In this case, the work is done as follows:

• First you need to calculate the required radius of curvature.
• Next, to facilitate the process, using a grinder, uniform transverse cuts are made along the entire length of the bend on three sides of the profile (with outside planned bend).
• At the next step, the profile pipe is given the required shape, the cuts are welded and the weld seams are ground.

Bending using pipe benders

A pipe bender is a device or machine designed to change the shape of a pipe. The equipment allows you to perform bending in accordance with the required shape and dimensions. Its correct use allows you to maintain the strength characteristics of the material, while avoiding flattening and creases.

Depending on the type of drive, pipe benders are:

• Manual.
• Electromechanical.
• Hydraulic.

Main advantage hand tools is simplicity and relative cheapness. But working with them requires significant physical effort, so using them for large volumes of work is quite tiring.

Hydraulic and electromechanical equipment does not require significant effort during operation, which allows you to bend pipes quickly and accurately.

Choosing the optimal bending method

If the amount of work is one-time and small, then it would be optimal to use “hot bending” or manual machine. As an option, you can not purchase a manual pipe bender for one-time work, but rent it.

If you constantly need to bend profile pipes, then it makes sense to purchase equipment or make it yourself.

You can also find a company that has specialized equipment - profile benders, which allow you to quickly and efficiently complete any amount of work and give pipes a complex and intricate shape. If the price of the services suits you, then this option is most preferable for a large volume of work.

By selecting the best way and by doing the work carefully, you will get more attractive and easy-to-use pipes (compared to round ones) that will find wide application in the process of improving the area of ​​your home.

Video

We bring to your attention a story that shows the work of a homemade pipe bender.