More than a Pair of 'Wiring Pliers' I need a 'Brake Pipe Bender'

About a couple of years ago I had a Professional Hydraulic Shop make me Two Front Brake Pipes.

They had all the gear to do so, in the Form of a Sykes Pickavant Machine but the guy who made them for me, thought I was telling him how to do his job, when I tactfully suggested that he put some Oil on the Die before he formed them.

And I was because it was obvious that he didn't have a Clue!

As soon as I put them on the Car they sucked Air and wouldn't seal, so after I got my money back, I bought one of those kits and made my own.

It took a few goes to get them right and after a dozen failed attempts, I got a couple of good ones which are still on my Grey Car and survived the MOT Inspector putting the Brakes on Hard.

I hand bent those ones into shape but since my 'Beautiful Bespoke Caliper Wiring', has met with Cries of 'Get yourself a pair of Wiring Pliers'

This time I want to take a more Professional approach.

Bearing in mind that I already have the Brake Pipe Making Kit, is this Tube Bender a good one to buy?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plumbers-C...8AAOSwyTZUXjjr

 

We used to put sand in them, tape off both ends and bend with a hand held bender or a spring overlap and hand bend, sand was the ticket to keep it from collapsing but allowing movement of the substance inside the tube.

 

If you have steel pipe, a bender is a must. But if you have Automec-type copper or whatever the stuff is pipes, bending by hand is fine, that's how I did mine, anyway!
Greg

 

OB,

You could be in danger of starting the tool equivalent of "shall I fit a leaper"?!!

Seriously, I think there are a multitude of views on this. I've used JTsmks sand technique and I've also bent copper by hand without managing to kink it. When I fitted a pipe set to my TR7 25 years ago, I invested in a flaring kit and also a set of Sykes Pickavant pliers. Those SP pliers are still providing great service but it's difficult to find them under about £30-£35 now. However, Bergen do a good similar version which can handle 2 different bore types. Usually about £20 but Ifound one guy selling at £9.76 here:

BERGEN BRAKE PIPE BENDING PLIERS FOR COPPER TUBE 3/16" AND 1/4" B5847 | eBay

I'm guessing you're working with copper or cunifer? In which case, I'd suggest straighten the pipe first and then make each bend using one of these simpler type pliers which protect the pipe well from kinks yet can do tight turns.

Good luck

Paul

 

What pipe do you need OB? They are nearly all still available... You'll also need, if you bend yourself, a cutter and beading tool to get a flush connection...

 

Hi Greg

That's how I did them last time out of Automec Copper and they looked ok to me and every bit as good as my locking wire plaiting, which I think you will agree would give Leonardo Da Vinchi a run for his money.

 

Hi Paul

That's just what I need, to get the tight bend on the Copper tubing, where it comes out of the Caliper.

No point in spending 'Mega Bucks' on something you are only going to use a few times.

 

Hi Daim

I've got all the kit, except for the Bending Pliers which I am just about to order.

 

Won't get a roadworthy cert. down here with copper brake lines. A lot of steel line is copper plated though.

 

My MOT Tester recommended the Copper stuff because there is a lot of Salt Air where I live and all the garages/shops round here use it for repairs.

 

I have a similar pipe bending tool I use for work. They are fine. You can use them and fill pipes with sand. I used sand to bend pipes years ago. That works too. You just need to be patient

 

All might be good after a thorough clean out but l would still feel uneasy about packing sand in a brake pipe.
Probably not practical with a long length, but filling it with soapy water and then freezing is also an option.

 

The sand was worrying me too.

 

Sand a worry? Guys, seriously, dump it out, use brake cleaner then blow it out with compressed air. People have been forming brake lines with sand in them for years.

 

People have been sand bending pipe for a Long time. In fact a lot of the high end Japanese headers for Bikes are still hand sand bent.

Frozen water could burst the pipe when heated to bend the pipe (needed with steel pipe).

 

I was worried about the Sand as well,

I know they do that on Water Pipes for Plumbing and stuff like that but I wouldn't feel happy doing it on a Brake Caliper Pipe, as I'm nowhere near as experienced as JTS for doing that sort of thing.

The last time I did Copper Brake Pipes, I was able to bend them into Shape by hand, so that's the method I'm going to use this time.

 

I've a couple of bending pliers. They are similar to the one pictured.
they do work well. I've used them with and without lube. Vaseline, aka petroleum jelly is my choice. From steel, I made up brake and fuel lines for my "Hot Rod of the forties" project.


I do have a set of springs for bending. Not much luck with them.


When in Europe, I did not the apparent hot bend process on steam pipes. Leaves little ridges in the inside of the bend???


I've never come across copper brake lines???


In very older days, copper fuel lines, yes....


But, perhaps a steel/copper alloy?


Carl

 

Hi Carl

Copper Brake Pipes (possibly cupro nickle) is the Brake Pipe of Choice in the UK, very few garages/shops use the Steel Stuff.

 

NiCopp Nickel / Copper / Iron Alloy Brake Line Tubing is commonly available here in the States. Easy to bend no kinks and no more rust. With what they are laying on the roads here in PA I would not use anything else.



Rusted out brake and fuel lines are the number 1 inspection failure now I have been told.



I've used it on my 2 trucks and it works great.