How to choose pipe benders
When selecting a pipe bender, several key specifications will dictate its suitability for your work:
- Pipe Diameter: This is crucial. Manual lever benders are typically designed for specific pipe sizes, such as 15mm or 22mm copper pipe, ensuring a clean bend without kinking. Hydraulic models often come with multiple dies to accommodate a range of diameters, usually for thicker pipes. Always match the bender to the pipe sizes you'll be working with most frequently.
- Pipe Material: While many lever benders excel with copper, hydraulic models are better suited for bending thicker-walled pipes like steel, where significant force is required. Ensure the bender you choose is compatible with the materials you intend to bend.
- Bending Capacity (Tonnage): For hydraulic pipe benders, the tonnage rating (e.g., 12-tonne) indicates the maximum force the machine can exert. Higher tonnage allows for bending thicker and larger diameter pipes with less effort. Lever benders rely on mechanical advantage and user strength, making them ideal for smaller, softer pipe materials.
- Type (Lever vs. Hydraulic): Lever benders are manual, portable, and excellent for precise, smaller diameter work, particularly for plumbing installations. Hydraulic pipe benders provide significant power for larger, heavier-gauge pipes, making them suitable for fabrication or automotive applications.
What you should expect to pay
Pipe benders on DSIDE range from £78.99 to £198.99, with an average price of £135.90. At the lower end, around £78.99 to £120, you'll find robust manual lever benders, perfect for plumbers and serious DIYers working primarily with common copper pipe sizes like 15mm or 22mm. These offer excellent control and portability for everyday tasks.
Moving towards the higher end, from approximately £140 up to £198.99, you'll encounter hydraulic pipe benders. These are designed for heavy-duty applications, capable of bending thicker, larger diameter pipes with greater ease due to their hydraulic power. A working tradesperson needing to bend a variety of pipe types and sizes, especially those requiring significant force, would find the investment in a hydraulic model worthwhile. For occasional DIY use with standard plumbing pipes, a quality lever bender in the sensible middle range offers excellent value.
Brands worth knowing
- Monument: Known for producing reliable and durable hand tools, including precise lever copper pipe benders.
- SIP: Offers a range of workshop equipment, including powerful hydraulic pipe benders for demanding tasks.
- Hilka: Provides robust tools, with their hydraulic pipe benders catering to heavier-duty bending requirements.
