Bending Copper or Stainless Pipe for Compressor

[InjectorService]

I'm wondering what I can use to bend a piece of copper or stainless pipe for my compressor.

I dont have a tubing bender or any sort and don't plan on buying one for this one off.

The pipe is 3/4 od.

Alternatively I can move my compressor 2", but the holes are there and it's bolted down already.

 

[Firebrick43]

Find someone with a bender. 3/4” isn’t easy to bend by hand in any form or fashion and will likely kink if not filled, stainless and hard copper for sure.

You could cap the tube, fill with sand and tap it on the ground till it’s packed tight. cap the other end and bend around a large radius.

Make the tube several inches longer so you can cut off the section you soldered on the caps.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Your area may have tool rental shops. You might even consider asking a plumbing business to make your bends.
In keeping with my signature, I would probably buy a bender tool for that size. I have all of the other sizes and I almost never use them. So, adding another dust catcher to the collection may not make that much difference.
I did not bolt my compressor to the shop floor. I made a mobile base that stays on the tank legs. This make moving the comprssor easy, for me.
The handle is transferable to several other heavy machines.

 

[PCustoms]

What are you connecting?

Might want some flex line in there....

 

[uscarry45]

Whats wrong with a braided flex line?

 

[Death Row Dave]

You better plan on a stout person to bend 3/4 by hand . We had up to 1 hydraulic benders at work , easy as sharpening a pencil with the correct bender

 

[rockettauto]

 

[InjectorService]

Ok, so I have come up with the following options:

1. Move the compressor
2. Use a braided flex line

My reason for wanting to use this line in the first place is because it is what Quincy used from factory.

If I was to go the flex line route, where would I source one?

 

[Jswain]

If you take it to a hydraulic store or even maybe a napa In your area they should be able to fix you up. You're not losing anything by putting a flex line in there, and if you put a hardline in without a proper bend good chance it will crack from vibrations.

 

[InjectorService]

If you take it to a hydraulic store or even maybe a napa In your area they should be able to fix you up. You're not losing anything by putting a flex line in there, and if you put a hardline in without a proper bend good chance it will crack from vibrations.

Thats what I did on my last compressor, problem is, the line they use for air is an ugly *** red rubber hose. I'd like something with some visual appeal to it on this one.

 

[The Cobbler]

what about splicing a pc on to make up the 2" ?

 

[Jim greengo]

Spring bender,and a roll of soft L copper?

 

[RestoJohn]

Don't try to bend it without a "real" bender. You will fail. It is almost impossible to make a nice bend in copper tubing without the right tool. I have tried multiple times and unless it is extremely gradual the tube will kink. Harbor Freight sells a very low cost one that works well. Or you could try Home Depot. I think they might have a basic tube bender there you could maybe use.

 

[TurnipTruck]

I have bent lots of 3/4 stainless tube; bending it with an expensive ratcheting bender cuz we didn’t have the even more expensive hydraulic bender.

The compressor manufacturer uses copper from the compressor head to the compressor tank because it can take the heat and is cheaper and more fatigue resistant than stainless steel. It sounds like you are using tube from the compressor tank to the wall/manifold/header/system, which should be flexible and not something that could fatigue and break and cause lots of loud excitement.
I used high temperature hydraulic hose.

 

[Ricky Joe]

For flexible, use gas line.

 

[bimmer1980]

I used a 3/4" hydraulic line and fitting for a flexible connection from my tank to the wall distribution piping. Hydraulic line has burst pressures in the 1500psi and above.

With air line, you need to ensure the line has a sufficient factor of safety for the application - pressure and heat, etc.

FYI-- pending which "gas line" you would need to check pressures. Most natural gas pressures are less than 1 psi.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Is this for the compressor head to the tank or compressor to the system in the garage ?

 

[InjectorService]

This is from the compressor head, to the tank. The piece pictured is what was on there from Quincy originally, but I'm changing to a new tank as the one I had was damaged.

The tank I am changing to has holes drilled for a QR325 already, just not in the right spot for this line to work.

 

[PCustoms]

Drilling 4 new holes in steel plate seems easier then getting this pipe bent....

 

[InjectorService]

Drilling 4 new holes in steel plate seems easier then getting this pipe bent....

Yes, I agree. I'm either doing that, or flex line.

 

[stockerwithalocker]

To answer your flex line question, McmasterCarr is a good option with a large offering.

Another option since it looks like your fittings in the picture are compression fittings, try Swagelok.

 

[InjectorService]

Took way more work than it should have. The pipe was bent. And because I had the pump mounted before the motor, I aligned the motor with the pump, but now the pump didn't want to align with the motor because of the pipe.... etc.

Anyways there it is.

 

[The Cobbler]

For flexible, use gas line.

i you're meaning flexible gas lines, they are no where near rated for enough pressure

 

[no704]

EMT bender might work on copper and is cheap.

 

[toplessHO]

would have been a good opportunity to make a coil for cooling

 

[mark-NJ]

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