Milwaukee Pipe Benders Aim for Durability and Visibility
Milwaukee Tool's line of electrician's conduit benders is designed to handle bending jobs with greater functionality, durability, and visibility throughout the process. The improvements they have made are really helpful and you can choose between iron and aluminum.
10 second summary
- high contrast marking
- Two Bolt Handle
- Wear reference charts covering most bending references
- Key reference angles and offset multipliers on shoes
- 30°, 45° and 60° centers of saddle flex notches
- Reinforced hooks and pedals
- 90° bend indicator on the back
main improvement
The Milwaukee line of conduit benders begins with a range of reinforcements designed to extend tool life. The two-bolt handle eliminates any handle wobble or looseness. Milwaukee also reinforced the hitch and pedals, ensuring these critical components won't fail while you're at work.
These are usually the two weak points of any pipe bender, so getting extra reinforcement here is a big step in improving overall durability.
They also improve visibility, making your corners more accurate and your job easier. Milwaukee uses scuff-resistant high-contrast markers. Your key reference angles, as well as your offset multipliers, are marked on the side of the shoe. It includes a 90° bend indicator on the back and a wear reference chart.
We love the measurement markings that the Milwaukee includes, but it's the high contrast white text on black that really stands out to us. It's of little use if you can't see the angle from where you're standing when you're turning. These markers make it easy, even for managing editors with only one good eye.
For aluminum models, it will transition to black and silver markings. They still stand out, but not as pop as the ones on the ironhead.
You can get Milwaukee Benders in 6 different flavors. You have 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ lightweight aluminum options, and 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ heavy duty iron models.
So which one do you choose?
Choosing between aluminum and iron is not just a discussion of weight versus durability. There are plenty of brilliant electricians who swear they've never had a durability problem with aluminum (unless it's been abused), and plenty who swear they'll only use iron.
About half of our group prefers the long-term durability of iron, since most of them are buying their own gear and want it to last as long as possible. People who work for the companies that buy their pipe benders for them mostly prefer aluminum which is lighter in weight.
There really isn't a bad choice between the two. If you want to try the same bender 20 years from now, choose an iron. If you know it will be lost or stolen before then, choose aluminum, which is lighter and less expensive.
Another part is the quality of the plumbing you use. Some professionals report that cheaper conduit is more prone to bending problems with aluminum conduit benders. If you get a chance, try bending the conduit you actually use in the field with both types and see which works best.
Aluminum or Iron – Which Do You Prefer? Let the discussion begin!
Milwaukee Tube Bender Models
Milwaukee Iron Pipe Benders
- 1/2″ iron pipe bender (48-22-4080): $64.99
- 3/4″ iron pipe bender (48-22-4081): $79.99
- 1″ iron pipe bender (48-22-4082): $99.99
Milwaukee Aluminum Tube Benders
- 1/2″ Aluminum Tube Bender (48-22-4070): $44.99
- 3/4″ Aluminum Pipe Bender (48-22-4071): $54.99
- 1″ Aluminum Pipe Bender (48-22-4072): $94.99