The dies are curved pieces you attach to the bender and into which you place the tubing to form the bend. The different dies will correspond to different diameters of tubing. Additionally, you can find die sets for either round or square tubing. Ensure that you buy a tube bender and not a pipe bender. Tube and pipe are not synonymous, and the scaling is even different, so the dies in a pipe bending set will not properly fit tube. This usually leads to flattening, buckling, or kinks in tube bent with a pipe bender.

Using the correct die is very important. If the tubing doesn’t fit snugly into the die, then you can end up with a flattened or kinked finished product.

The easiest solution is to use a digital angle gauge, which you can attach to the level tube before you begin bending. As you incrementally bend the tube, the angle gauge will track the measurement of the angle.

Packing the tube with sand before placing it in the bender can also help it bend evenly without buckling or kinking. [4] X Research source

Some vices have specific slots for rounded pipe or tube. This is preferable but not necessary.

You can apply the force with a wrench, a larger piece of tube over one end used as a pry bar, or by hand. However, the tube will be extremely hot, so use thick gloves rated for heat. This step may require assistance so that one person can apply force to the tube while the other continues heating. Packing the tubing with a non-combustible material such as sand before applying heat will help the tube bend without buckling or kinking.

As with tube benders, your tube roller may come with a set of dies, so you can fit the exact size of tube you need to roll without the risk of flattening it.

With a tube roller, you will start at one end rather than in the middle.

Turning the wheel will require a bit of strength, especially as you increase the force on the tube in later passes.

If you have a template for the exact angle you need, you can hold it again the angle in the tube after each pass until you’ve achieved your desired result. [14] X Research source