EKWB bending tool/former

[dazzlaa]

Anyone used this ?

I’m thinking of buying it as I reckon it would be useful for aligning bends to get the radius in the correct position, repeatably. I’m a bit unsure on how to use it most effectively though. I guess it still needs silicone inserts to preserve diameter of pipe work?

 

[Haz123]

Are you talking about this ?

EK Water Blocks EK-Loop Modulus Hard Tube Bending Tool - 12mm

Order EK Water Blocks EK-Loop Modulus Hard Tube Bending Tool - 12mm now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

I thought it might be worthwhile but now I know it was a waste of money. I used a table corner to get the 90 degree bends I needed and was able to get tighter bends than the EK tool. You absolutely do need the correct diameter silicon insert but not the bending mold.

 

[dazzlaa]

Are you talking about this ?

EK Water Blocks EK-Loop Modulus Hard Tube Bending Tool - 12mm

Order EK Water Blocks EK-Loop Modulus Hard Tube Bending Tool - 12mm now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

I thought it might be worthwhile but now I know it was a waste of money. I used a table corner to get the 90 degree bends I needed and was able to get tighter bends than the EK tool. You absolutely do need the correct diameter silicon insert but not the bending mold.

Yeah that’s the one. To be honest I was thinking it would help getting the correct bend by holding the former against the pipe to get the bend start positioned correctly. Sometimes I do my bends and they’re not perfectly in line, or not perfectly straight etc.

I have a bend right now that 90s up, then 90s right immediately after. I’ve got it done and it looks ok but it could be better. Thinking this tool might’ve been useful?

 

[dazzlaa]

A better explanation for my problem is this:

I mark up where my bend should start, I do the bend and when I put the pipe back in position, the bend seems to be misaligned.

I used to do a lot of plumbing/refrigeration work so my pipe skills should be top notch. On my copper bending tools there is a mark where you line up the centre of where the pipe should be after the bend. I can’t seem to perfect that process with pc pipe work and always seems to be trial and error

 

[Sin_Chase]

I use monsoon hardline mandrels but feel your pain of getting consistently accurate bends.

I've been thinking of building a jig and have plans in my head. Couple of sliding T tracks on a board that I can position 2 mandrels on at the exact right distances.

Half the battle is applying heat in the right place so the bend forms in the right place.

 

[Haz123]

The problem I had with the mold was the pipe would have a tendency to straighten as it cooled so I always had to ever so slightly over bend the angle and it would then be how I wanted it. With the mold I could not overbend so the angle was always too shallow and not a true 90.

I do not think there is a perfect method and is just a matter of trial and error until you find the method that works for you. My runs are not too complicated so only 1 tube with a double bend and I got that correct on first attempt, I did the bends where I wanted them and then cut the end of the tube to get correct length.

I have the mold but it was of no use to me so I cannot recommend it.

 

[dazzlaa]

Hmm thanks for the replies. So trial and perseverance is not just something I live with. A lot of the trouble is working in confined spaces and measuring accurately is really difficult.

Pleased I started the thread all the same as I’d not previously heard of the monsoon mandrels. They look somewhere along the lines of what I wanted to achieve with the EK but more flexible in application.

 

[LePhuronn]

I ended up designing and 3D printing my own bending guides. Dedicated 90 degree and 45 degree guides with a 20mm inset on each end of the bend where I can slide in a small ruler and measure exact distance from the start of the bend to wherever I need it. And also a mold former for the outside of the bend for the really tight bend radius I need occasionally to help prevent the tube from deforming under a lot of pressure. There's even a vertical companion guide to assist with getting those 90 degree axis shift bends too.

If you have access to a 3D printer I'd happily share the STLs for whatever tube size and bend radius you want.

 

[dazzlaa]

I ended up designing and 3D printing my own bending guides. Dedicated 90 degree and 45 degree guides with a 20mm inset on each end of the bend where I can slide in a small ruler and measure exact distance from the start of the bend to wherever I need it. And also a mold former for the outside of the bend for the really tight bend radius I need occasionally to help prevent the tube from deforming under a lot of pressure. There's even a vertical companion guide to assist with getting those 90 degree axis shift bends too.

If you have access to a 3D printer I'd happily share the STLs for whatever tube size and bend radius you want.

That would be super helpful if you don’t mind sharing them. I use 12mm currently but thinking about going 16mm in the future, could you share both sizes?

Many thanks

 

[LePhuronn]

Sure thing. I'll start a conversation with you when I get home from work to tailor these to your liking (bend radius, ruler size, etc.)