I need to bend a 50 inch long 1/4 copper pipe. Bend 180 degrees at the middle, giving a U shape. But it collapses. Can you help me?
Some of the answers here are getting to the right point, but notice, copper is primarily used for potable water in your house. It is not strong, comparatively, you rarely see copper pipe above 2-3 inches. It is workable, and relatively soft, has reasonable corrosion resistance, although it will corrode (hence the EPA's lead and copper rule). Per unit weight, it is VERY expensive. Virtually all of the water mains of any size are ductile iron. But one of the main reasons it is used in domestic water distribution is that copper has natural inhibitive properties for biological growth. Think about it.Water will always be flowing in the main past your house, but your water service can reside in the pipe for weeks, partiularly if you go away for awhile, etc. But notice that the water is generally devoid of turbidity or bacteria. You can drink the water safely even though it has been sitting around in the pipes.
The easy way is to fill the tube with dry sand before bending it around a mandrel. The sand will keep the tube from collapsing. (Do be sure the radius of your bend is more than 1 or so.)
You need a tubing bender. Often they are springs you slip the copper pipe into then bend it the spring lets the pipe keep its shape
