I have been placed on an experienced plumber course for C&G level 2, so i have no tuition to help me on my level 2. Your videos, and they way you explain things are such a help. being pushed to sit my exams and do my assessments in the next 3 weeks is daunting to say the least, so thank you for putting your videos out there.
I've been using mckeowns table all my plumbing career. It's precise and there's very little waste. I love this method over all the others. Pipework always looks neat because the measurements are bang on.
As an FYI, the table only works if your former is the correct radius, however, you can make up your own table easily by: 1. Mark a line on a straight bit of tube and place this at the front of the former (as in the video). 2. Feed a second straight bit of tube from the other end of the former at 90° to the first and mark the centre point of the second tube on the first tube. 3. Remove the tubes and measure the distance between the two marks you've made, this is your reduction distance for the radius of your former. 4. Repeat this process for the other angles you require. Extras: If your former is unmarked for angles, use the second tube you're offering up at each set angle (using a speed square or angle measure) to mark the line where the tube meets the former to give you your angle marks. Once all measurements are measured, write these on the side of the former for future reference. I feel like an imposter in this comment section as I'm no plumber, but using the method above and in the video enabled me to do 4 different millimetre accurate bends on one single length of pipe (twice for hot and cold) when fitting my bathroom (meaning I then had no inaccessible soldered joints under the bathroom floor).
Mate of all the Pipe bending videos on Utube you’re the first to show the McKeown’s Table method. After 50 years in the Trade I can assure anyone, it’s the best, most accurate method to use. I’ve always used it & it’s the way I showed my apprentices to bend Tube. You do need to ensure your Former is the correct radius, but even some of the cheapo Benders have the same radius as the Handibender. The skill is using this method ‘on site’, where there’s no Vise, no bits of paper or no Folding Rule. Thanks mate luv Dick Puller❤
1:38 - Wouldn’t it make more sense to mark the back of the 90 to get an accurate measurement (e.g., from a wall along the floor to the edge of a tank) instead of guessing by eye where the center of the pipe should be?
