Bender hook digging in to pipe

[Mgrant]

The hook on my Irvin Hilmor bender is slightly digging in to the pipe when pulling a bend. If I put insulation tape on the hook it stops this. Any one had this problem before?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

any marks/ damage on hook and does it move easy?

 

[joni os]

Make sure there is a gap between hook and backing iron, this to ensure hook can centre itself square on pipe.

 

[Mgrant]

Thanks, by backing iron do you mean the guide?

 

[Mgrant]

The hook just seems to be digging in as with a strip on insulation tape on it, it makes no mark. No obvious sign of damage on the hook though I could try filling down?

 

[Best]

The hook just seems to be digging in as with a strip on insulation tape on it, it makes no mark. No obvious sign of damage on the hook though I could try filling down?

Maybe take a good close look at the hook with a cutting of copper pipe against it to see if there is a high spot on the hook. If there is you could file that part, but I think you should use a round file on the edges of the hook to round them off

 

[Mgrant]

Thanks have you ever had to do this before?

 

[Best]

Thanks have you ever had to do this before?

No, never had to file the "hook" part. Had to file the formers and obviously had to use emery and steel wool on rest of parts.
I have a hand bender (Record) which I have to be careful to keep the hook in proper position or if it isn't flat to the the pipe it would leave a line. It is an excellent hand bender though.
Other benders I have are stand benders - both old proper British Hilmor and the hook is the removeable alloy lump type and has well rounded edges with age and use. Must be 50 years old :smile:
Benditnow are still the original what was the British Hilmor company and apparently the best

 

[oz-plumber]

You may just have to lubricate the guide and the former.

Could be that the former is pulling the pipe through the guide slightly and causing the pipe to jagg on the hook.

Rub some soap or candlewax over the guide and former

 

[Mgrant]

You may just have to lubricate the guide and the former.

Could be that the former is pulling the pipe through the guide slightly and causing the pipe to jagg on the hook.

Rub some soap or candlewax over the guide and former

Would silicone grease do?

 

[oz-plumber]

Would silicone grease do?

Yes, anything to reduce grabbing of the hook on the pipe being bent.

 

[Jay The Plumber]

mine does it if im not careful how the hook is onto the pipe when i start the bend.. it can easily just rest on the pipe with one edge touching.

 

[Mgrant]

mine does it if im not careful how the hook is onto the pipe when i start the bend.. it can easily just rest on the pipe with one edge touching.

it is just one edge that is touching the pipe how do I solve this?

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Hilmor are now utter pants,bend it now on ebay do the original GLM Hilmor bender

 

[Jay The Plumber]

it is just one edge that is touching the pipe how do I solve this?

I just make sure that the tube is contacting the hook all the way along its length, the only time I cant get it to not dink the tubing is when im having to bend with the hook right on the very end of the tube itself so I just avoid doing that if I can