Does copper need a special bending tool?

[kucharczykt]

Will a basic rigid tubing bender work with copper as well?

[Entropy.]

5 minutes ago, kucharczykt said:

Will a basic rigid tubing bender work with copper as well?

You would need to heat it up to about 400c+ (400c is just about the bare minimum)  if it was just pure copper, so yeah, you probably won't have a fun time bending it at home. It's possible to use a heat gun to bend it, But it won't be the easiest way to bend. 

[kucharczykt]

Just now, Brok3n But who cares? said:

You would need to heat it up to about 400c+ if it was just pure copper, so yeah, you probably won't have a fun time bending it at home. 

Ltt made a video on it that I forgot about I'll watch it and get my info there because if I remember correctly it was a tutorial style build.

[Entropy.]

4 minutes ago, kucharczykt said:

Ltt made a video on it that I forgot about I'll watch it and get my info there because if I remember correctly it was a tutorial style build.

It's possible to do it at home, but you'll need some tools and it will be quiet hard to do. LTT had a warehouse with specialized tools, a dozen people to help him out, and thousands of dollars to throw at whatever he needed to carry out this task. Not saying he would've needed all that to bend copper tubing, but it's still a lesson. You probably won't like doing copper tubing too much, especially with the wrong tools.

[JamesTheFolf]

5 minutes ago, kucharczykt said:

Ltt made a video on it that I forgot about I'll watch it and get my info there because if I remember correctly it was a tutorial style build.

 

[kucharczykt]

1 minute ago, Brok3n But who cares? said:

It's possible to do it at home, but you'll need some tools and it will be quiet hard to do. LTT had a warehouse with specialized tools, a dozen people to help him out, and thousands of dollars to throw at whatever he needed to carry out this task. Not saying he would've needed all that to bend copper tubing, but it's still a lesson. You probably won't like doing copper tubing too much, especially with the wrong tools.

Copper isnt terribly expensive and I can get some really cheap at the local hardware store to practice with. No it will not be easy but I really like the look of it and if I'm going to invest a bunch of money into a build I want it to look good and be unique.

[Heliian]

Depends on the size of the pipe and radius of the bend.   

 

The plumbing pipe for your house no.

 

However, with a good propane or mapp gas torch it bends easily.  You'll need some practice to get it nice and a safe area to work in.  Cheaper pipe has a thinner wall. 

 

Trick is to leave a bit of length for clamping it into a vice, you cut to size after, fit and polish or seal it or whatever look you're going for. 

 

Have fun! 

 

 

[kucharczykt]

29 minutes ago, Heliian said:

Depends on the size of the pipe and radius of the bend.   

 

The plumbing pipe for your house no.

 

However, with a good propane or mapp gas torch it bends easily.  You'll need some practice to get it nice and a safe area to work in.  Cheaper pipe has a thinner wall. 

 

Trick is to leave a bit of length for clamping it into a vice, you cut to size after, fit and polish or seal it or whatever look you're going for. 

 

Have fun! 

 

 

Thanks for the advice. Should I go with hard or soft copper piping?

[SolarNova]

If you use annealed copper pipe it bends easy without a torch.

 

However it usualy comes coiled, so straightening it will be a pain.

 

otherwise ull need propane torch to heat regular copper pipe to anneal it in tthe area u wish to bend.

 

its not hard to work with at all, any1 who's done some basic home plumbing knows how relatively easy it is to work with. regardless, getting experience working with it is a good skill to have for use in home DIY.

[For Science!]

another resource for you, although I would imagine oxidation and tarnishing may be a pain to maintain a good looking build?