8mm pipe to rad valves on a tight bend

[andyplumber2009]

Hi All,
in my 1980 built house the rads are on a 15mm system reduced to 8mm into the valves by running the pipe behind the rad they down and returned into the valve. It is very neatly done and i have fitted a couple more rads and want to replicate the same finish BUT....
i cannot for the life of me get the 8mm to do a 180 degree bend with about a 30 or 40mm dia curve?
It acually looks like the kind of piece that is maybe machine bent and a bought from a merchant as on every rad they are perfect.
Help please on what i am missing.....
Andy

 

[tamz]

This


This


or this

 

[andyplumber2009]

Yeah, i have tried the bender and it creases when i try i tight bend. The comp fittings are just to clumsy and the ef fitting woule work but i wondered how fitters 30 years ago managed the bend cleanly when i can't these days.
Thanks for the feedback

 

[jonnyswamp]

Thicker walled pipe 30 yrs ago less prone to creasing, but probably preformed bought off the shelf as you say
Can you use a machine bend 90 with an end feed 90?

 

[kirkgas]

I think it's down to the poorer quality pipe we get now,

 

[tamz]

We used better bending machines

This type
BRAKE PIPE BENDING RATCHET KIT 6MM 8MM 9MM 10MM 5/16 3/8 1/4 TOOLS GARAGE CARS | eBay

 

[happyflyer]

We used better bending machines

This type
BRAKE PIPE BENDING RATCHET KIT 6MM 8MM 9MM 10MM 5/16 3/8 1/4 TOOLS GARAGE CARS | eBay

Hells tamz you've nearly done the job for him

 

[ozzy]

My dad used to use springs that went over the pipe don't no if that would get you a better bend?

 

[tamz]

I could have done it quicker than explain it :smile:

 

[Centralheatking]

ozzy - We still use internal and external springs - (22mm hurts our backs !) we also use
full bore & microbore benders and swaging tools - 15/22 - wipe lead and make lead
snowboxes complete with motifs. We also have 'chain dogs'

maybe the part you want is at BES Birmingham CHK

My dad used to use springs that went over the pipe don't no if that would get you a better bend?

 

[Barry98]

Have you a lick of the ones that were already in , may help

 

[Centralheatking]

Tamz - will this type bender do USA size refrigeration pipe. Really want the tool that
spreads the tube out aswell - thank you Chk

We used better bending machines

This type
BRAKE PIPE BENDING RATCHET KIT 6MM 8MM 9MM 10MM 5/16 3/8 1/4 TOOLS GARAGE CARS | eBay

 

[tamz]

They probably would do imperial sizes.
I can't remember what make mine is but rothenberg still sold them a few years back as one of the lads had a rothenberg one. The ratchet bender is a much better tool.
A brake pipe flaring tool might be what you are after for swedging the ends out.

 

[andyplumber2009]

This is the kind of thing i am talking about, hopefully they upload OK.

 

[tamz]

They have been done on a bender

 

[happyflyer]

They have been done on a bender

Hell Tamz I would like to see that former, that is tight, doubt you could do that with today's tube, like you say looks like
a bender done that.

 

[stevetheplumber]

you can get valves with chrome m/f push fit bends to go in the bottom which give a nice finish for this situation

 

[tamz]

Hell Tamz I would like to see that former, that is tight, doubt you could do that with today's tube, like you say looks like
a bender done that.

A wee touch with the blow lamp and you could still do it with a spring. It would take longer to clean the pipe up tho :wink: