Copper tubing refrigerant lines must be installed for a new system. To prevent collapse at bends, which tool should the refrigerant engineer use?

• A. A lever type tubing bender
• B. A hacksaw
• C. A standard pliers
• D. A conduit bender

Answer: (A)

When bending copper refrigerant tubing, you need a tool that creates a smooth bend with the correct radius without squeezing or crushing the wall of the tube. A lever-type tubing bender is designed specifically for soft copper tubing. It distributes bending force evenly and guides the tube along a controlled radius, preventing wall collapse, kinks, or thinning that could lead to leaks or reduced flow.

Other tools would not be appropriate: a hacksaw would cut the tube and create burrs and improper ends; standard pliers can pinch and deform the tube walls; a conduit bender is meant for electrical conduit and can impose an unsuitable bend radius or crush the tubing.