3 Common Mistakes with Bench Top Tube Benders (with Demo Video & PDFs)

You want to make the right bend on the first try—that saves time and avoids scrap. View tips and a video aimed at helping you get top performance from a Swagelok bench top tube bender. Then download all the details:

Our bench top tube benders feature rugged, lightweight aluminum construction; 1 to 180° bending range; and 1/4 to 1 1/4 in. outside diameter (0.028 to 0.120 in. wall thickness) and 6 to 30 mm outside diameter (0.8 to 3.0 mm wall thickness) tubing range.

Swagelok's bench top benders are easy to use, but it's important to do the right steps in the right order. If you've never done that, or if it's been a while since you have, we have a nine-minute video that takes you through each step in the process. With the video, you can pause or repeat a step until you feel like you understand the full procedure:

In the video we also show you all the tools needed to use the bench top bender, what each one does and how it should be attached to the main unit. As you'll see, proper alignment of each part makes the difference between a good bend and wasted tubing.

How to avoid 3 common mistakes

In addition to going over the basics, the video alerts you to aspects of the job that might not be obvious, such as:

1. When inserting the tube, the end of the tube must extend past the end of the clamp arm to prevent potential damage to the tube during bending.
2. It's also important to leave about 3/8 inch clearance between the D roller and the clamp arm of the bend shoe. As the video shows, you can place a piece of white paper between the rollers to make it easier to see the gap.
3. Another example concerns the three shafts on the end of the bender. Shafts 1 (low bend speed) and 3 (high bend speed) must be cranked clockwise to bend the tube, but shaft 2 (medium bend speed) must be cranked counterclockwise. And, never release the hand crank while the tube is under load, as the crank could spin and cause an injury.

Get details

Our video is a general overview. If you want exhaustive product details and instructions, including maintenance and troubleshooting guidance, get this Swagelok Bench Top Tube Benders Resource Collection. It includes the comprehensive 44-page User's Manual, the relevant catalogue, and quick links to additional info.

Leverage Edmonton Valve

There are a dozen ways you can use Edmonton Valve's offerings to simplify, speed up, and save on tube bending. Follow these links for examples:

• Those Expensive Tools? You Can Borrow Them from Edmonton Valve
• Edmonton Valve’s CNC Bender Makes Quick Work of Custom Orders
• Monthly Swagelok Training You Can Join from Your Computer
• FAQ: What if we need Swagelok parts or expertise at 2:00am?

If we can lend a hand, please let us know. Our main tel is 780-437-0640. Our 24x7 Field Advisory Services On-Call Technical Support number is 780-237-7109.