Bend Copper NO KINKS

How To: Bend copper tubing into coils. Easy way of shaping copper tubing. The shaped copper tubing can be used in solar heating, heat and cooling exchangers and induction coils. I have used this method for making curved copper for my gaming liquid cooling system. I know my work area is a mess, and my video making quality is not the greatest. I am a project in progress. Thanks for watching! Please contact me for any additional information you require.
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[@yawningpheonix]

thank you so much. i almost abandoned a project before i discovered this.

[@SuperChromatic]

This is the best method l have seen up to now. well done.

[@TheRealBuffaloChip]

I love the use of the C clamp since I don't have a vice. This video has been really helpful for a project I'm working on at home. Thank you!

[@hillbilly742]

Just did this last night with 3/8 ID tubbing and 3 inch SCH 40 PVC pipe. Worked great!!

[@lowpricedpaint]

Worked for me, thank you Rob the Plumber. I'm so happy it worked.

[@tuanvietnguyenk85]

love the trance background music :-D getting me all excited to bend coils.

[@ezl7052]

Years ago, sand was used to bend copper/steel tubing instead of salt. I would anneal the copper first then use a spring which is inserted around the tubing and this keeps the copper tube from collapsing. These springs were sold especially for this type of work and came in several different diameter sizes. Usually they are about 1 Ft. in length and tightly wound. I still have some of them which are quite old and they come in handy for this kind of work..

[@RobThePlumber]

Dennis Petersen Thank you for your input. Thanks for watching!

[@alimurdoch4843]

+Rob The Plumber hi rob ..do you make coils to order?

[@ComeOnYouBoyzInBlue]

Dennis Petersen I used these before and it caused the pipe to kink badly

[@RobThePlumber]

Glad I could help. Thanks for watching! Rob The Plumber

[@davidtrees1714]

Great concept. Thanks for sharing. I value your info and experience Rob. Cheers David

[@paulbonenberger8925]

How would I fit this straight piece of tubing into my freezer?

[@ezl7052]

A friend of mine years ago needed to bend some tubing for his car and he didn't know I had these special springs just for that. He's a pretty ingenious mechanic and like working on his HP cars so he attacked the problem a little different. He used some heavy gauge wire to wrap around the tubing like a coil and then bent the tubing in the angle he wanted. I told him about the special springs that are available and the nest time he used a spring to bend his tubing. :)

[@RobThePlumber]

+Dennis Petersen Yep, they actually sell spring tubing benders. They work great for shorter bends. I find that they can be tedious for long pieces.

[@larrypnh]

You could wrap those around any heat producing appliances, i.e. ; sewer lines from hot showers, car washes, refrigerator compressors, hot mechanical rooms, flue pipes, etc....With the proper safety controls, you could hook up to a hot water circulation loop and harvest and preheat water going to your water heater and or heating system! Really cool!

[@RobThePlumber]

Interesting you saying this. When I make copper on copper heat exchangers, i will solder the first 3 inches. Although I have made a rig with an old metal garden hose reel. I clamp on the copper ad hand roll it nice and tight. Works great! Thanks for the comment and your input. Rob The Plumber

[@steelheadsal]

Hi Rob great video i was wonding how to do one thanks for sharing sal

[@trickyricky61]

We have used good old water in the winter months and freeze it in the pipes to the point of expansion , then bend it any way we want. We just make rubber stoppers for the ends. It's tricky but works when you bend a lot of material like we do for Art work.

[@Gmandoit]

awesome bud ive been looking for this gold bless

[@AudiMouse]

Informative.Thanks! What's the tightest radius you can get with this method?

[@brandystoy]

This video will live forever. You rule.

[@fp1030]

tnx man you saved my life!!!

[@chaudharymaulik]

great idea for home made coil thanks bro

[@RobThePlumber]

Sand works really well. It can be a real b!tch to get out after. I like salt, if I cant get the salt out by vibrating it dissolves quickly in water! Thanks for the comments. Rob The Plumber

[@phenomenal_woman]

Thanks for the instruction. I am a jewelry maker and have an idea for some earrings and pendents. Will the vibration of a Dremel tool work also?

[@markar6327]

Super job!

[@davidgoliat8757]

Flipo con el poder creativo de las personas... El salón de su casa es un taller improvisado, si la gente tuviera tiempo y medios, el mundo estaría lleno de Genios.

[@ErdriedDeirdre]

I think you just helped me figure out a way to bend the piping for a popop boat engine! The pipe was the size of a pencil, It did not bend well for me. Thank you!

[@NightRunner417]

God, I love working with metal. Very nice work, pretty coils! Thanks for the video! :-)

[@DieselRamcharger]

Id never thought to use salt. Your local masonry supply place sells real fine sand in 50lbs bags cheap. Its DRY and clean. Wont explode if you put the heat to it :)

[@karenbenoit605]

I think my son Rob the Plumber is a very smart man and plumber !!!!

[@MarkWildcatSmith]

I am so interested and started enjoying the video then could not see how you were using the engraving tool. How am i supposed to see what is happening when your shoulder is in the way?

[@larrypnh]

Could you use pressurized air, glycol, water?

[@youmomhasbigtits]

Your common senses hurts me it's so useful.

[@louispeters2105]

Whats the diffrence in bgg using type M vs UT

[@JayanthReddyDodla]

i am trying to design a oil cooled system for my bike using copper tubes... need to bend this along the gaps between the cooling fins of the engine block. can this method be used???

[@TwinHomeExperts]

very cool !

[@Maninawig]

I have a 1/4" coil and want to create a ] shape ( a sharp 90 degree bend both at the top and further down) to attach to a bladder and make a pop pop boat with it.... will this method work for my needs?

[@festinger3]

If you've not finished it yet, fill the tube with tar. Bend it then melt out the tar.

[@RobThePlumber]

Sorry for the delay. This is probably too late for information, but yes. You can use sand. Sand works well in larger pipe. With sand you can heat the copper cherry red for a good clean bend.

[@steelheadsal]

Hi Rob another question please how long is the copper tubeing it looks like 5 ' tyvm sal

[@RobThePlumber]

El mundo sería mucho más sensato si la gente pone el pensamiento en su trabajo instaed de la televisión. Gracias por ver y comentar. Rob The Plumber

[@fardellp]

Fine sand is also a good "filler" before bending - but make sure its all removed before you use the bent/coiled copper

[@padraiggeraghty117]

I'm making an extrusion machine for a final year project and I need to make some form of cooling the barrel beside the hopper. The barrel is 30mm in dia and I'm planning on using 3/8 copper pipe coil bent around it but it needs to be tightly fitted to the barrel to allow cooling.what I'm wondering is that when you bent that into a coil was is a tight fit or would I be better of using a smaller dia bar and then slip it onto the barrel??

[@RobThePlumber]

It can go as tight as you want it too. For that I would suggest using sand. If you run into difficulty getting it to go around 30mm, you can heat the tubing with the sand inside and it bends SUPER tight.

[@petarsubotic4086]

Padraig Geraghty prevedi na srpski

[@cjscooby1547]

what kinda salt did u use fine for cores

[@ron69nor]

Rob, very good DIY tutorial, very nice "trick". Any idea on how to make a condenser coil in the shape of a pyramid using 12' of 3/8 OD? Might need something other than a pipe for a template. Thanks for taking the time.

[@TheJollyroger96]

i have a question, i need to coil a bigger pipe, can i use sand instead of salt?

[@RobThePlumber]

Yep your right, the coil can make up a basic heat exchanger. I have tried air. Did not work as planned. I was only able to get 180 psi. I am sure if you were able to get 400 psi it just may work. Have not tried glycol. I imagine it would not work well. Thanks for watching Larry. Rob The Plumber

[@RobThePlumber]

Thanks Mom!

[@marleymon87420mg]

why not flare the ends and cap one end and fill the other end with like 10 psi or 20 psi compressed air?

[@TheNecroserpent]

Thanks a lot man!! Your video was very helpful. Is it safe to pass milk through copper?

[@RobThePlumber]

It took awhile to get over the anxiety of talking in videos. My new videos have commentary. This video was actually my first. Thanks for commenting, I take every comment good and bad, seriously. Rob The Plumber

[@mouhdz78]

thank you so much

[@RobThePlumber]

No problem, thanks for watching!

[@Jsts3d]

Your amazing

[@justdooit]

tried this method using 1/2" copper tubing and bending around a 5" steel pipe. sealed ends, vibrated salt to ensure no air pockets, but tubing just kept breaking when I clamped the end, or kinking if I tried to start in the middle. heat only made the tubing squish when bent which would result in poor flow and was very time consuming to do.

[@thomasb8044]

why not weld a loop on the end of the pipe to hold in place the copper when you start the bend?

[@MVRPrasad1950]

Thanks a lot , but I as held up while doing a project for my students , now I got an idea , can we flesh with water to clear the salt in the tubem since the coil is to be used for water ...

[@RobThePlumber]

Yes, that is the reason I use salt. It flushes out very easily. Thanks for watching and good luck with your project.

[@redneck2665]

Just a question... Why not use sugar? Chemical Reaction?

[@younesahmadpour3759]

thank you

[@RobThePlumber]

i have coils of 1/2" OD tubing in a 1-1/2" diameter. Probably would have to use heat to get any tighter....

[@6400az]

Is it possible to get the same results using a thicker tube , such as the one on the floor next to the wooden chest 3:59

[@RobThePlumber]

6400az Yes, but you may need to use a little heat. In that case I use sand and my torch.

[@6400az]

Rob The Plumber Thanks.

[@davidbaxter9253]

Cool way to work with the equipment you have. I was going to heat mine up, now I might try it this way. Clean your room up though bud! :) (Just kidding, I'm a mess!)

[@alasdairgeddes]

Thanks, I didn't think of using salt and have no sand

[@X02switchblades]

make two noches on the lip of the steel pipe larger than the diameter of the copper pipe and pass the copper pipe through both of them. Then bend it like a coil

[@25dollarsupport]

can you share the music name

[@mrgreenswelding2853]

would making coils like this be any good for making moonshine?

[@gametrue2229]

Mr. greens boat tanks and aluminium welding research it

[@RobThePlumber]

Yea, I have since made myself a workshop. Equipped with a vise. Thanks for watching! RTP

[@larrypnh]

Why not use fine sand?

[@dondenter]

Nice that Rob. Tricks of the trade. Might I suggest you get a vise? It would make things easier. But I'm sure you are aware of that!

[@nocker291]

Dennis yoj ;

[@RobThePlumber]

Haha, one of my first videos. House was a mess, editing sucked. Now it is one of my top videos. Thank you very much for the kind comment. Much Appreciated! Rob The Plumber

[@anildivakaran8357]

Super

[@RobThePlumber]

If i am reading this right you need a coil that gets smaller as it goes along. I would make a long coil and hand stretch it or tighten which ever you need to do by twisting the coil tighter or more loose. I probably read this wrong. Lol hope it helps. Rob The Plumber

[@ps2hacker]

I fill them up with water and freeze it. The ice in the tube does the same thing, and comes right out when it thaws.

[@thomasschwab2108]

grind a 3/8 inch notch in the end of the pipe to hold the end of tubing

[@newstart49]

Drill a hole in one end of your pipe and stick the copper in the hole to hold it while you bend it. Don't worry if it kinks at the hole- just cut that off with a tubing cutter.

[@jamoecw]

any tricks to getting the salt out afterwards?

[@jamoecw]

i used 1/2 inside diameter garden hose with the end cut off hooked up to the faucet combined with vibrations, with copious amounts of patients. just using vibrations isn't nearly good enough beyond 30 ft lengths.

[@RobThePlumber]

Yes I have done it on 1/4" O.D. no problem. Rob the Plumber

[@GeraldSnyman]

I fail miserably :-( I've tried ice, and the pipe snapped open, with an edge much more perfect than my brand new pipe cutter does. Now I've tried the salt, and my bent/dent, the moment I apply force (I've made sure the pipe is filled and the salt compacted)... My pipe is dia = 15 mm and wall = 0.5 mm... How on earth do everyone get it right, and I fail on all? Please help.

[@baccus61]

Gerald Snyman Gerald, you might be using hard drawn copper pipe, The copper pipe in coils is softer than the stuff you buy in straight lengths. You need to heat it to a cherry red colour and quench it to anneal it. It doesn't matter with copper if you quench or not, it just speeds up the process. Start at one end and work your way along but be careful as copper is a pretty good conductor of heat. that's about all I can think of. I hope it works for you.

[@RobThePlumber]

Sure this method can be used. You may want to use sand and a torch if you have a lot of changes in directions. Thanks for watching. Rob The Plumber

[@imatelly]

why not use water? it don't compress and is cheaper and more readily available?

[@MrGlorybe]

Builders of fine musical instruments such as trumpets have used a mix of water and dish soap that is frozen in the tubing prior to bending. Others poured in lead.

[@robs9574]

why dish soap?

[@RobThePlumber]

Thanks for watching. You may want to watch the new video. I will be uploading this weekend. Rob

[@Itisinthehand]

Slipping a 15/10 reducer on there and the a 22/15 reducer will make filling that pipe a cinch.

[@drrmagneto4176]

why salt not sand

[@RobThePlumber]

Well it all ends up fine after the huge pressure of being bent and twisted. It was just regular table salt. Rob The Plumber

[@RobThePlumber]

I am sure there is a shorter method, but this works for me. I am not great at math. Thanks for watching. Ty for the comment. Rob

[@thomaskeeter458]

Hi Rob my name is Thomas. I have been searching for someone to make coil for me for my still . Would be willing to make me one and send it to me here in NC. I hope you can. Just let me know A Good price thank you sir

[@RobThePlumber]

It can turn into a gummy nightmare. Sucks trying to get it out after. Also salt you can lay some heat to it if you need to make a really tight bend. Thanks for watching. RTP

[@RobThePlumber]

There is another video, stay tuned. Thanks for watching! Rob

[@thomasjensen4426]

next time any of you out there try this you might try to fill the tube with water and freeze it and then bend the tubing as muchas you want the ice in the tubing will let you do so with out any kinks in the tubing. be awear the the ice will melt quickly so do not waste any time bending.

[@RobThePlumber]

I am in the works of making a cleaner more thorough video on bending copper. For now here is how I figure out my lengths. 3.1416 x Diameter . Then I take the length of the pipe I need to cover with loops and divide the length by the diameter. Which gives me the total amount of loops Then I multiply loops x length of loop. EXAMPLE. 3.1416 x 2" pipe = 6.28" (each loop). If my pipe I need to cover is 24" long I divide 24" by .375 (3/8" tubing)= 64 loops. 64 loops x 6.28" = 401.92" of tubing needed

[@RobThePlumber]

Ice is good for large diameter bends. Try to bend a 1-1/2" with ice. It is a fail every time. Thanks for watching. RTP

[@DrAk3zCy]

why not sand?

[@ClownWhisper]

fill it with water and freeze it works just as good

[@serrafersebastian3743]

I just wanna make a bong and make the smoke cooler hahahaha I'm not gonna get poisoned ir anything like that... Right?

[@deshadows]

next time start from the middle so you have both ends to work with.

[@Users_rx]

another alternative to salt is sand, if you happen to live near the beach, lol

[@NOBOX7]

water is better then salt

[@OmprakashSingh-wn9um]

I tried to bend the coil with water filled in it; but it got kinked.

[@petercohen3966]

Why not just fill it with water and freeze it? Then it's easy to bend and you don't waste the salt.

[@johnmonbeck72]

Peter Cohen lmfao

[@callmenortnortin467]

surprised? using ice to bend tubing works.

[@mozzmann]

There will be no need for Salt, Sand or Ice to maintain shape if you anneal the tubing properly first and then don't try to wind coils smaller that about 50-75 mm across for 8-10 mm tube and gradually larger for Larger diameter's up to around 15-19mm beyond that the wall thickness is such that Sand is really needed even with annealed tube to support the tube as it is bent.

[@MartinsTalbergs]

I'd rather claps would use thin wire in precession

[@tinhtut8886]

Myanmar

[@tryduck6993]

Why not just fill with water and freeze it? Less mess and very easy cleanup without wasting nothing.

[@CallamDumon]

water expands by 10% when it freezes and the copper won't be able to withstand that pressure and will in fact burst the pipe. Happens alot in people's homes during winter time

[@tryduck6993]

+Callam_Dumon_ 98 Filling a 1/2 coil of copper with water and placing in freezer ..leave end caps off and it doesn't bust copper. Copper pipes bust in homes is because PSI and no where for water to expand to because system is sealed....

[@rwaynebridwell1587]

clamp it to the end of the big pipe--then it won't be hard

[@chenelson185]

try to fill with water then freeze

[@legoernstudios3421]

I don't think that will work

[@HotshoeMatthew]

LEGO ERN STUDIOS It definitely works.

[@chenelson185]

HotshoeMatthew that's how they make trumpets