While the same heating and bending process works for thin-walled pipes, the bending is not always smooth. And you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a pipe bender, do you?
Well, you can always make your own pipe bender! While we can’t say it’s an easy task that can be completed in minutes, it’s definitely doable as long as you have the right supplies, dedication, and skills.
Read on to learn 22 tutorials on how to make a pipe bender!
1. A detailed demonstration tutorial on how to make a pipe bender
Doctor DS, in this video, he uses 160mm and 100mm dies to make a homemade pipe bender. Although you won’t be provided with any blueprints, the video is quite detailed with all measurements shared on screen.
On the downside, one viewer pointed out that the DIY bender won’t result in smooth bends given that it doesn’t have an adjustable follower. So if you plan to reproduce this tutorial, you may need to make some adjustments along the way.
2. DIY Pipe Bender – Explained in 59 Pictures
If you don’t know the different types of pipe benders, their design and their working mechanism, this post is a must read!
The plan and design for a DIY pipe bender is provided on this blog. Although you can’t find elaborate instructional details about this DIY, plenty of demonstration images help you follow the tutorial.
On the downside, the build process seems complicated. So if you are new to metalworking, you may find this tutorial overwhelming.
3. A DIY pipe bender using steel and bearings
Here’s how to make a ¾ inch pipe bender! This DIY bender bends metal pipe up to 90 degrees and is relatively easier to build.
The video is very detailed and brief instructions are provided for each step in the video itself. The final bend looks elegant and the bend looked perfect. The only downside is that you cannot bend multiple pipe diameters using this DIY machine.
4. How to make a homemade scroll pipe bender?
If this is your first attempt at building a homemade pipe bender, you might as well start with an easy tutorial. This DIY bent pipes of Pavan manufacturing can be replicated in a few metalworking steps.
While the bend has been bent, you may still be able to produce a good enough bend by stuffing the pipe from the inside. If you need a bender to bend a few pipes here and there for household use, this DIY bender will do a pretty good job.
5. An In-Depth Guide to Building a Pipe Bender – Design and Fabrication
Elaboration of the mechanical project of the pipe bending machine by Sachin Thorat on LearnMech it’s perfect for you if you’re looking forward to educating yourself on the basics of pipe bending machines.
Different types of pipe bending machines are developed in the project, followed by construction details of a hydraulic pipe bender. While the step-by-step tutorial instructions are not detailed in this post, this blog is still a great resource for DIY pipe bending.
6. Make a big tube bender from scratch!
Do you have a drill, an angle grinder, a welder and, of course, metalworking skills and a lot of determination? If so, you my friend can build a powerful tube bender from scratch just like Youtuber at HOME MADNESS made!
Viewers rave about how talented and skilled the Youtuber is. And, we second their opinion! The YouTuber managed such a functional and robust design with incredibly basic tools. He even made the mold himself without using a lathe. How great is that?
7. Homemade pipe bender – two different diameters
Here is a homemade pipe bending tutorial for beginners Mistry MakeTool. All materials and supplies, along with their dimensions, are listed on the blog, followed by step-by-step instructions on the DIY project.
Demonstration images accompany the written instructions for your convenience. Finally, if any of the steps confuse you, you can find the DIY video tutorial for bending pipes at the end of the blog.
8. DIY Round Pipe Bending Machine by Mistry MakeTool
While the Youtuber in this video provided a pretty fantastic build, a viewer kindly suggested turning the small pulley pivot into an adjustable distance pivot so that users can easily bend pipes of different diameters with ease.
But if bending pipes of multiple diameters is not your requirement, this DIY tutorial is fantastic. The YouTuber suggested visiting it BLOGS for all measurements and written instructions. We hope it helps you.
9. DIY 1 Inch Hydraulic Pipe Bender
The Youtuber from Creative etc. build a 1 inch pipe bender in this tutorial. However, in the description box, he mentions that you can easily customize this design to bend different diameters using different dies.
The hydraulic bender results in a bend of approximately 45 degrees. The tutorial is detailed and easy to follow. However, supplies and size lists are not shared with viewers. The tutorial uses an easy and affordable method to make the mold. You would be surprised!
10. DIY Tube Bender – Plan, Instructions and Demo
play FROM Instructables built a simple and portable tube bender using plywood and wheels from a junkyard. According to the blogger, the length of the bending tube does not exceed 40 cm on any of its sides.
Furthermore, play he also mentions that he uses this bender for bending aluminum tubes with a diameter of 20 mm. He explained in the commentary that this design can also work on 22 or 16 mm pipes. However, the design must be adjusted accordingly.
11. How to make a metal bender with rollers?
This manual roller bender has 3 rollers to provide a flawless bend. While the build is demonstrated in detail, unfortunately the Youtuber does not provide the supply list and dimensions.
The metal bend design is perfect in size and relatively easy to build. While the DIY is pretty good, viewers shared some constructive criticism in the comments. Be sure to keep these comments in mind as you follow this tutorial.
12. Homemade Round/Square Pipe Bending Tutorial
Whether it’s a round or square pipe, this homemade pipe bender will do a pretty decent job. In this post on HomeSteady, Michelle Hickman share with readers his step-by-step instructions on how to make a pipe bender.
The items you will need along with their dimensions are also shared in the blog post. HomeSteady provides a lot of such great DIY tutorials for us DIYers. Check them out!
13. DIY 45 degree simple round tube bender
If you don’t want to put too much effort and dedication into building a DIY tube bender, this tutorial is for you! Follow along with Youtuber from VIP creates as he builds a heavy-duty metal builder in a few easy steps.
Even if you’re new to metalworking, you should be able to replicate this DIY as long as you have the right tools. Unfortunately, the list of consumables and materials is not mentioned in the Description.
14. A quick and easy pipe bender DIY using a bicycle rim
Recycle an old rim to build an easy DIY pipe bender by following this easy tutorial to Fab2Ku. This tutorial does not involve a complex process and can be built in a few simple steps. Just a few components and the DIY pipe bender is ready. A great tutorial for beginners!
On the downside, this design seems to result in some kinks on the bent pipe. However, fill your empty pipes with sand beforehand to avoid such a problem.
15. Learn how to bend a pipe without a pipe bender!
So you’re looking forward to bending some pipes but don’t want to put all the effort and money into building a pipe bender? Well, we have something for you too!
The Instructable user, ayasbek he used a wine barrel planter and a rounded block to bend his 4 ft long ¾ inch diameter steel pipe.
You will need to fill the pipe with sand beforehand to avoid kinks. But note that you must use completely dry sand if you want to heat pipe for a tighter bend. A reader pointed out that heating wet sand inside a pipe can cause an explosion.
16. Build a powerful pipe bender with replaceable rollers
This powerful pipe bender designed by KEVNEN WELDER bend the pipe without any 90 degree bend. Replaceable rollers in the design make it easy to get bends of different diameters.
Unfortunately, the construction is not elaborated step by step. The products used and their sizes are not listed either. Consequently, if you’re looking forward to a detailed tutorial, this might not be the one for you.
17. How to make a hydraulic pipe bender from an old jack?
Got an old jack lying around in the garage? If so, we have the perfect DIY pipe bender tutorial for you!
The Youtuber from Family DIY informs its viewers about each next step of the project. Viewers applauded the effort and craftsmanship in the comments section.
At the end of the tutorial, the Youtuber demonstrates how this hydraulic pipe bender worked for an inch pipe, a half inch pipe, and a ¾ pipe. The results were incredible as the folded edges were simple and the folding was clean.
18. Bending a pipe without a pipe bender – All questions answered on WikiHow
If you are still in the research phase of pipe bending and are bothered by several related questions, this post by WikiHow is the perfect resource for you!
Can you bend pipe without a bender? How to bend a PVC pipe? How to bend a steel pipe? Trust us; you will have all your questions answered in this one post!
19. A simple and easy construction for manual pipe bending
If you don’t like complicated DIY constructions and are just looking forward to making an easy homemade pipe bender next weekend, you might enjoy this tutorial by Garage Section.
The YouTuber uses two small 26 X 67mm pulleys of the same size to build the bender which works for pipes up to 18mm in diameter. You can see the car demo near the end of the video.
20. 7 tips on how to use a pipe bender effectively
Now, if you already own a pipe bender or have recently DIYed one, you’ll want to know all the tricks, tips, and science behind an immaculate bend, right?
In this post by WOODWARD FAB, you will find 7 fantastic tips on how to improve the efficiency of your pipe bender. From how to maintain a pipe bender to how to avoid pipe curling, all your questions are answered here!
21. Unique DIY Pipe Bending Tutorial Using Motorcycle Sprocket
Creativity truly has no limits! Join along with Youtuber from delson mix tutorials while DIYing a pipe bender using a motorcycle sprocket. If you have one lying around, this tutorial may inspire you.
This Youtube channel has a wide range of metalworking and household DIY. Visit their channel if you like this tutorial niche!
22. A brilliant trick to perfectly bend round pipes!
Did you know you can use dumbbells as molds for your homemade pipe bender? Well, now you know!
In this video tutorial, Youtuber Sek Austria demonstrates how to do a hydraulic pipe bender using dumbbells.
However, according to the creator, making these DIY molds is not as easy as it seems. So only follow this tutorial if you are absolutely happy to put in the time and dedication. Otherwise, the effort is not really worth it.
summary
Let us know which of these 22 tutorials you will follow to design and build your pipe bender.
If you are a metalworking expert, it would help if you could give your opinion on which of these tutorials are actually doable, beginner friendly, and produce a good bend. You would be a huge help to your fellow DIY enthusiasts!
Also, if you want to share your experience and how the bender worked, feel free to do so. We are all ears!
