How to Use a Hand Tube Bender

Welcome to this Swagelok how‑to video. Here’s what you’ll need to bend tubing using a Swagelok hand tube bender: a hand tube bender corresponding to the tubing size, a piece of tubing, a marker, and optionally a protractor.

A Swagelok hand tube bender can be used to make consistent, high‑quality bends in tubing made from most materials. It can bend 1/8, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, and 1/2 inch tubing, as well as 3, 6, 8, 10, and 12 mm outside‑diameter tubing in a variety of wall thicknesses.

For 1/4 inch stainless steel tubing, the wall thickness must be between 0.028 in (0.71 mm) and 0.065 in (1.65 mm) when using a hand tube bender with a 9/16 in bend radius. The tubing must be fully annealed, high‑quality seamless or welded‑and‑drawn, meeting ASTM A269 or A213 (or equivalent), with a hardness of 90 HRB or 200 HB.

This hand tube bender can form single bends, offset bends, and more. In this demonstration, we’ll make a 90‑degree bend four inches from the end of the tube, followed by a 180‑degree bend with four inches between bends.

90‑DEGREE BEND

Place a reference mark at the end of the tube. Measure four inches from that mark and make a bend mark. Swing the short handle up, open the tube latch, and place the tube in the die groove with the reference mark to the left of the latch. Close the latch to restrict movement while still allowing alignment.

Lower the short handle until the roll dies rest gently on the tube, keeping the link straight and parallel to the long handle to avoid premature bending. Align the zero on the roll support with the zero on the nameplate. With the reference end to the left, align the bend mark with the roll support mark corresponding to the bend angle—“L” for 90 degrees.

Push the short handle down until the roll support reaches the 90‑degree mark. The tubing will spring back slightly. To compensate, lift the handle, realign, measure the bend, and add two or three degrees as needed.

When finished, swing the short handle up, release the tube latch, and remove the tube. Verify the bend angle using a protractor, template, or known angle.

180‑DEGREE BEND

Make a second bend mark four inches from the vertex of the 90‑degree bend, away from the reference mark. Add a directional mark to indicate the outside (heel) of the bend.

Place the tube in the die groove with the reference mark to the left of the latch and close the latch. Lower the short handle until the roll dies rest on the tube, keeping the link straight and parallel to the long handle.

Align the zero on the roll support with the zero on the nameplate. Align the bend mark with the roll support mark for the bend angle. Slowly push the short handle down until the roll support reaches approximately 90 degrees.

Loosen the short handle from the clevis so it can swing freely, then swing it up slightly above perpendicular to the long handle and retighten. This provides continuous right‑angle leverage for the remainder of the bend.

Continue bending until the roll support reaches the 180‑degree mark. After completing the bend, swing the short handle away until the roll support reaches about 90 degrees. Loosen the handle, reposition it parallel to the long handle, and retighten. Move the short handle up and away, release the tube latch, and remove the tube.

Verify the bend angle using a template or known angle to ensure accuracy.

Refer to Swagelok.com and product literature for additional information. Thank you for watching. We will continue developing videos like this to help you get the job done. For more information, watch our other videos or contact your authorized Swagelok sales and service center.