Bending soft copper through attic

TVC15

I have to install 3/4" type L soft copper across an attic and down a outside wall. The roof slope makes attaching a fitting impossible where the pipe changes direction.

My plan is the following:

1. Put a 45 degree bend in end of copper pipe - leave spring device inside.
2. Send copper pipe across attic. At wall - angle pipe to go through hole in wood framing.
3. At the wall have someone grab the copper pipe with spring inside and pull/bend through hole in wood and down into wall cavity - probably 18"

I'll have a wire attached to the spring to retrieve it if something goes wrong.

Does the above plan sound like it will work?

Comments appreciated.

allthumbsdiy

what is a "spring device"? are you talking about a pipe bender?

you probably will need to attach another pipe after the 45 degree fitting or you will be forced to sweat that joint in a tight space.

btw, where do you live? you don't have to worry about insulating that pipe?

TVC15

Spring device - the bending device that goes inside of the pipe so it keeps it's shape.

I'm not going to attach a 45 degree fitting. The plan is to bend the soft copper to 45, get it to the wall on the other side of the attic space (15'), try to angle it so it can be grabbed and worked down the wall cavity.

I'm in Southern Calif. I can probably attach foam insulation after the pipe is in place.

joecaption

If you used Pex instead you would need no joints and no special tools to bend it. And it's far less likly to burst if it freezes.

TVC15

The copper will not freeze at my location.

I briefly thought about Pex. From what I have read, and seen at HD, Pex can't make tight turns.

The copper has a bend radius of 3" and, it is coiled - the bend is started for me.

There is not much room in the attic (crawl space is more accurate) where the exterior wall meets the roof.

If I'm wrong about the bending capabilities of Pex, let me know.

rjniles

All the soft copper bending springs I have seen are used outside the pipe, not inside. You could easily leave it in place without a problem.

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TheEplumber

You'll need the biggest hole you can make or it'll kink...

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epson

this is what they look like

allthumbsdiy

yup, that is what I use. I was confused since I never used them inside the pipe.

epson

it is used on the outside not the inside of the pipe.

TVC15

I searched Google for "copper bending." Apparently it can be done both ways.

http://diydata.com/techniques/plumbing/bending.php

http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/plumbing/b...pper-pipe.html

jschaben

Pex won't do a 90° bit I think it would be OK on a 45°. That and it doesn't sound like you have a real 45° to make, sounds like more of a large radius arc. If your close to a home center like Home Depot or Lowes, you could grab a stick of it off the display and check it to see if it will make the turn.

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joecaption

Pex sure will bend a 90 or even more if needed.
To hold it in place you can use one of these.
http://www.pexsupply.com/Plastic-Bend-Supports-523000