1/4" to 5/8" EasyBend Lineset Bender Minisplit Kit w/ 26' Mandrels

didnt have a chance to use this product, the return was easy which i very much appreciated

These are great, but the only place you really can't use any other tool to make a bend and where if you kink the lines you can't just replace them and that is on the pipe exiting the wall penetration on the indoor unit mini split. These east bends don't fit past the male flare nuts. Although these work great for every other area, you would think by now they would have something to eliminate the most critical part in bending the piping on a mini split which is the first bend once it exits the wall. If you kink it there you're going to be in a world of hurt if you don't have the means to cut and either put a flare coupling or braze new pieces on. Becuse of the location that they would kink which would be right at the threshold of the exterior wall you would likely not have enough pipe to make a new flare and add a coupling and it would be a huge fire hazard to braze in that location. There needs to be a full proof method available especially for contractors. This would speed up installs ensuring every aspect of the piping arrangement is kink free. Note: 1/4" fits past the male flare fitting I modified mine by reducing the diameter but I would not recommend this as you could be leaving residual particles from sanding them down inside the piping.

Just put in a 1/4" 3/8" lineset, expensive high quality from Italy. Now for the lines I ran into a snag as to running the lines within floor joists which required multiple bends in both lines, 7 in each line, a couple of the bends were a bit tight 90 degrees bends, the rest were easy bends. 4 of the bends would have been tough by hand. 3 were in tight surroundings, which would have been impossible by hand, extremely tough with a tub bender due to the enclosed space limitation. Total lineset length 22', Anyway I used the Easy bend mandrels, inserted about 15 feet in the lines. 1/4" went in very easy, the 3/8" needed a push toward the end. Since I never used these before, as I made a few bends I made sure I could remove the mandrels, their was some resistance but no issue. I made the last and tightest bends on each line. The 1/4" mandrel was a bit tight but no issue in it's removal. Then I came to the 3/8" and it would not come out, started to feel a sinking feeling. Here I have an expensive line, already within the wall upstairs, took me hours to maneuver the lines in the wall and between floor joists.

Definitely worth having when your installing mini splits. No reason to get the bender out these make quick work of bending line sets and also to make sure your lines coming off air handler don't kink

It's a little stressful sticking something in a line, but I kept them clean with the use of a clean bucket and rags. Worked very well, and very quic.

Switched to this from a ratchet bender, between measuring, marking, taking insulation off, putting insulation back on, taping/gluing joints this saves a lot of time. Also makes handling lines in awkward situations like on a ladder with a single person simpler as you can just fish the mandrel in and not worry about anything kinking while positioning your lines.