Repositioning Copper Piping

[krazy]

Hi all,

I have a 96 Rialta and I'm trying to reconfigure some existing, stock copper piping that supplies propane.

I'm not trying to do anything drastic, I just want to reshape at a little so it's out of the way, and move the endpoint so it's a few inches to the side.

So I'm wondering... what are the rules surrounding safely bending copper piping? Do you just bend it as you like, while keeping an eye on it to make sure you don't rupture the pipe?

It looks as if the copper pipe was already manually shaped into place, for the previous appliance it hooked up to.

Thanks!

[C_Schomer]

FWIW, hard copper is also called hard-drawn. Annealing it makes it soft and it comes in rolls. Bending soft copper a lot, in the same place, will work-harden it and become really hard to reshape, if you don't get it right the first time. I anneal hard copper if I want to bend, flare, or swage it. It would be a good idea to retighten flare nuts if you muscle the tubing near them. Craig

[RVUSA]

smkettner wrote:
For tighter bends in soft copper get a tubing bender.



http://www.toolbarn.com/ampro-t70748.html?gclid=CNLu--2Hs7oCFYgWMgod6BcApA

right. they sell them at home depot and lowes too. The inside radius will cave in with very little bend if you arent careful.

[time2roll]

For tighter bends in soft copper get a tubing bender.



http://www.toolbarn.com/ampro-t70748.html?gclid=CNLu--2Hs7oCFYgWMgod6BcApA

[LarryJM]

I would recommend bending it by hand and as suggested make gentle large curves to prevent kinking.

Larry

[john_b1]

Jim Cindy wrote:
Spend a little money for the proper size spring at the local hardware store. Very hard to bend in a resricted area without kinking.

you can't use a spring if it already has an end on it !just saying Jb

[Jim_Cindy]

Spend a little money for the proper size spring at the local hardware store. Very hard to bend in a resricted area without kinking.

[ScottG]

Yes, you can push it around some. Watch for it starting to kink though - it happens VERY fast.

[Bobbo]

Be careful of kinks. They can happen quick. Make all curves large and gentle.

[krazy]

Thanks for the replies all!

It's definitely not inflexible copper, so I'm going to go with: I can bend it.

Dynamite community here! Appreciate the feedback!

[westend]

If you're just trying to offset a little bit, you can reposition by hand. A pipe bending spring (sold at most hardware stores) will help to prevent a kink.

[BuckBarker]

Soft copper comes in spools than can be easily bent. Hard copper comes in long sticks and that stuff just doesn't bend.

[krazy]

Not sure what you mean by 'soft' copper, but it definitely feel pliable, and bendable...

[midnightsadie]

if its soft copper you can bend any way you want, no 90% bends. if its straight as a arrow it could be hard copper ,but I doubt it,, it don,t bend.