How to Make a Homemade Round or Square Pipe Bender

You can make a pipe bender that allows you to bend the round or square pipe against the floor.

1. Purchase a curved piece of wood that is 2 inches thick and about 6 to 8 inches in length. It should be wide enough to hold the size pipe you are bending. Secure the wood in a table clamp with the inside curve facing upward.

2. Grind out half an inch into the curved wood for the entire length with the hole saw. This creates a cradle for the pipe so it doesn't shift off the wood. Measure the thickness of the pipe holder. Grind out the thickness on right end of the curved wood to make a deeper groove. This is to set the round pipe holder into the created cradle so it sits flush inside without creating marks into the pipe when you begin bending it.

3. Remove the curved wood from the table clamp. Turn it upside down and secure it in the clamp. Locate the middle of the curved wood. Cut a hole straight down into the wood to a depth of 1 inch.

4. Take the curved piece out of the clamp. Push the wood pole handle into the hole on the curved wood piece. Drill a hole through the cradle into the wood pole. Place a screw into the hole to secure the handle to the curved wood piece. Ensure the flat head screw is sunk into the wood.

5. Fill in the hole above the screw head with wood putty. Allow the putty to dry. Sand the entire cradle with sandpaper until it is smooth so that no wood imperfections will mark the pipe when bending.

6. Place the round pipe holder into the deeper groove at the right end of the curved wood piece. Secure the round pipe holder with screws.

7. Create a pipe bender for square pipe using another piece of curved wood. Place a chisel in the center of the curved wood. Pound the hammer against the chisel to make a square groove along the curve of the wood.

8. Cut a hole into the opposite side using the hole saw. Place the opposite end of the wood pole handle into the hole. Drill a screw through the square-shaped groove to attach the pole handle.

9. Sand the square groove with sandpaper. Attach the square pipe holder on the right side of the curved wood piece. You should now have a pole handle with a round pipe bender on one end and a square pipe bender on the other.

10. Test the pipe bender by setting a piece of pipe into the holder so it will set into the cradle. Place the bender against the floor. Begin to rock it as the pipe bends in the round cradle or the square groove, using your foot to give added pressure.