Pipes and tubing is commonly used in the construction and home maintenance industry, with plumbing, gas and electrical conduits in a property being examples of where it will be utilized. Pipes are commonly sold in straight lengths of different diameters and materials, although when used in a project it may need to be bent to suit the layout of the network. A hydraulic pipe bender is a tool commonly used for this purpose and there are a number of manufacturers that produce these.
A hydraulic pipe bender is typically a portable construction tool which uses hydraulic power to bend pipes and tubing to a variety of shapes, generally up to a 90 degree angle. They come in a few different sizes and this can range from lighter duty machines that are capable of coping with smaller pipe diameters to heavy duty machines that can bend pipes up to around 3 inches. Both hand held and floor mounted models are typically available depending on the requirements of the user.
For those in the construction industry or homeowners carrying out maintenance on their property, there are a few benefits to using a hydraulic pipe bender when working with pipes and tubing. The action of this style of bending tool is smooth and powerful and this means it can effectively bend pipes to a required shape without causing damage to the pipe. It is also a fast working tool and can help to speed up a pipe fitting job compared to trying to bend pipes by hand.
There are a number of manufacturers that produce portable hydraulic pipe benders with some of the names to consider including Pro Tools, Eastwood and Northern Industrial to name a few. The cost of purchasing a hydraulic bender for pipes will typically depend on the size and power of the tool. For floor mounted models prices generally start around the $100 mark with the 12 ton Hydraulic Pipe Bender from Northern Tools being an example of this. It is capable of bending round pipes up to a diameter of 2 inches and is available for around $130.
A more expensive hydraulic pipe bender model is the Eastwood Hydraulic Metal Tubing Bender and Tube Forming Tool which costs around $450. This is capable of bending steel tubing which has a wall thickness of up to 0.09 inches and up to 1.75 inches in diameter. It can bend pipes of 1 inch diameter up to 90 degrees and for pipes larger than this it is capable of bending up to a 60 degree angle.
Bending pipes is generally a requirement for any plumbing or gas tubing installation project. If you want to ensure quick and accurate bends, a hydraulic pipe bender is one of the best tools to have available. They have a powerful, smooth action and can help to complete a job quicker and more professionally. Whether you are a piping contractor or home owner they are a useful tool to have available for a pipe installation or maintenance job.