Recommend a decent pipe bender for occasional DIY use?

[S80]

I can see plumbing becoming part of my DIY 'diet' in the next few years, so I've been looking at garnering a few tools together - one of which is a pipe bender. One for 15 and 22mm will do just fine.

The options seem to be:

A brand-new Hilmor or Record 'professional' type,

A second-hand version of the above, in unknown condition, and usually with the formers missing!

A cheap and cheerful 'Ebay special' - with some looking like the handles will bend before the pipe🙂

I have done a great deal of car DIY over the years, and can appreciate the 'feel' of using good-quality tools - in addition to their superior performance. Is there a decent set of benders out there (new) that won't break the bank, but which won't mangle after the third or fourth use?

 

[lame plumber]

in answer to that question, Nope, as ever money buys quality

 

[Chalked]

There is one in screwfix that is an exact copy of a hilmor. Think it's anout £45

 

[ShaunCorbs]

google bend it now very good and they used to make hilmors

 

[joni os]

Avoid Rothenberg, guides are different from most other makes, expensive and in some cases formers are imperial size.

 

[Rckape]

+1 for bent it now. Top quality at a good price.

 

[Rickster123]

Get yourself a record bender. Great bit of kit regardless of how often it's used.

 

[PriestyUK]

There is only one, and one only and that's a Bend It Now

 

[erion]

Got new hilmor and its very rigid when bending 22mm no idea why but i put my whole weight on it and doesn't bend. Then causes ripples

 

[lame plumber]

Got new hilmor and its very rigid when bending 22mm no idea why but i put my whole weight on it and doesn't bend. Then causes ripples

coz youve pushed too hard, altered the former position and that will bugger the tube

 

[erion]

I got a new record one coming in but is there any way of fixing the damage done on the hilmor