How to bend a profile pipe: types of profile bends and an overview of 3 “manual” methods

During the construction of many structures, there is a need for a frame structure erected from shaped pipes. To assemble the arched structures of greenhouses, greenhouses, peaks, canopies and other objects, profile pipes are pre-bent using pipe benders or profile benders. However, you can do without this expensive tool, armed with a conventional grinder and welding machine. Having learned more about how to bend a profile pipe without using a profile bending machine, you can decide on the need for its purchase. Perhaps alternative methods of bending pipes will be much more difficult to perform the required amount of work. It is important when bending profile pipes to avoid the appearance of kinks and cracks, as well as their flattening.

This video shows how simple and relatively fast it is possible to bend a profile pipe with a manual pipe bender. The achievement of the desired radius is checked by measuring the distance between the ends of the profile pipe.

What units can facilitate the operation?

Option # 1 - compact manual models of pipe benders

The purchase of manual pipe benders is advisable only if it is intended to bend a small amount of material. These models cannot be used as a professional tool because of low productivity and the need for an approximate fit of the bending radius of each product. A set of this machine usually comes with several interchangeable rollers, through the installation of which the profile tube is flexible, depending on the size of its cross section.

To achieve the desired bending angle, it is necessary to drive the pipe through the machine several times. In this case, each time you have to manually twist the central roller, lowering it lower and lower. The side rollers remain in a stationary position, therefore, under the pressure of the central roller, the metal profile is bent.

One of the models of manual profile benders, which allows you to do your own bending of the profile pipe for several runs of a metal product between the side and central rollers

When working with a manual pipe bender, a person will have to use physical effort. The equipment cannot be used for bending profile pipes whose cross section exceeds 40 mm.

Topic article: DIY pipe bending of a profile pipe - examples of home-made designs

Option # 2 - electric pipe benders for pros

Unlike manual pipe benders, electric models provide highly accurate pipe bending. The fact is that the bending radius is set with an accuracy of 1 degree by mechanical or electronic means. The use of this expensive production equipment allows you to process a large number of profile pipes per shift.Typically, owners of electromechanical pipe benders provide services to the public, which should be used if you are comfortable with their cost.

Electromechanical profile bending machine installed permanently in the workshop provides precise bending of profile pipes of different sections along a strictly defined radius

The disadvantages of electric profile benders include their large weight and high cost, inaccessible to the average buyer.

Alternative methods of bending profile pipes

Method # 1 - grinder + welding machine

How to bend a profile pipe at the right angle with your own hands, without using factory machines? If you have a grinder and a welding machine, then you can bend using the following algorithm:

• calculate the radius of the round according to a previously drawn diagram;
• in the place of the alleged bend of the pipe with a circular saw (grinder), several transverse cuts are made;
• holding the pipe in a vise, they begin to bend it in the right direction, applying a little physical effort for this;
• further cuts are brewed with a welding machine, not forgetting that the safety requirements are observed;

welding seams are polished.

A circular saw or grinder mounted on a special sole is necessary to perform several cuts at the bend of the profile pipe

Method # 2 - disc and sand

You can bend the profile pipe along the required radius using another simple method. To do this, prepare sand, which must be sieved and dried, if necessary. Then one end of the profile pipe is closed by hammering a wooden wedge there. Sifted sand is poured into the profile, blocking the entrance to the pipe, on the other hand. After this, the product begins to bend around a metal blank having a suitable diameter. One end of the profile is fixed securely between the pins, and the other is pulled.

Important! To facilitate the process of bending the profile along a small radius, it is necessary to heat the place of deformation with a gas burner. Poured sand ensures the integrity of the walls of the metal product during mechanical impact on the pipe.

Having finished the bending process, they begin to remove clogged wedges by burning or knocking them out. Sand is also completely removed from the pipe cavity. As you can see, artisanal methods are more troublesome, so they can be used in practice for one-time bending of pipes.

In winter, sand can be replaced with water, which is poured into the profile pipe and the product is exposed to frost. It is clear that the ends of the profile are plugged with plugs. After freezing the liquid in the pipe, it begins to bend according to a previously prepared blank template.

Metal blank used by craftsmen to bend profile pipes with their own hands without the use of special equipment in the form of pipe benders

Method # 3 - bending a square spring pipe

It does not allow the walls of the profile pipe to deform when bent, a spring having a cross section of the same shape, but smaller. The spring is made of steel wire, the diameter of which is selected based on the wall thickness. The spring should easily go inside the pipe. The planned bending location is heated by a blowtorch or gas burner. The heated profile walls are easier to bend. To prevent burns, you need to work in special protective gloves, and keep the product with ticks. To achieve the desired bending radius helps a blank or metal pins hammered into the ground around the circumference.

Brief Summary

As you can see, all the artisanal methods invented by the masters for bending profile pipes require time and effort. In this case, it is not guaranteed one hundred percent to obtain an even bend. The quality of the metal frame directly affects the strength and beauty of the structure being erected.Therefore, do not neglect the services of professionals who have special equipment for bending pipes. Buying a manual machine for bending profile pipes will allow you not to spend money on paying for third-party services. The acquisition will quickly pay off if you yourself begin to produce pipe bending to order.