Does Lowe‘s Offer In-Store Pipe, Conduit, Rebar, Flashing or Copper Pipe Bending Services?
The short answer is no, Lowe‘s does not provide any on-site bending services for metal pipes, conduit, rebar, flashing pieces or copper pipes within their stores. If you need a pipe bent to a certain angle, or want conduit shaped to fit around corners, the Lowe‘s staff cannot help you with bending it themselves.
This often comes as disappointing news to DIYers or contractors hoping to walk into their local Lowe‘s and have their metal materials professionally bent and ready for installation. However, while Lowe‘s won‘t bend these items in-store for you, they do offer numerous alternatives through rental tools, bending equipment sales and outside vendor recommendations.
In this detailed guide, we‘ll explore all your options for getting pipes, conduit, rebar, flashing and copper pieces bent to your specifications through Lowe‘s – either on your own or with professional services.
Why Doesn‘t Lowe‘s Bend Materials In-Store?
Lowe‘s does not offer bending services for several reasons:
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Limited on-site equipment – Lowe‘s stores are not equipped with metal brakes, conduit benders, or other specialized tools required for bending.
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Safety/liability concerns – Bending requires training and expertise to operate equipment safely. Lowe‘s limits employee involvement with consumer projects.
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No customer demand – Unlike pipe threading/cutting offered in stores, material bending has not been a highly requested service.
According to Lowe‘s customer service, the ability to bend rebar and conduits is something they get asked about "occasionally" but not often enough to provide the services in stores.
That news may be disappointing if you arrived hoping to have Lowe‘s employees bend a piece of conduit or copper pipe for you on the spot! But it‘s not the end of the road for your project. Let‘s look at the bending-related products and alternatives Lowe‘s does make available.
Does Lowe‘s Sell Tools for DIY Material Bending?
While they can‘t bend materials for you, Lowe‘s does sell a wide variety of hand tools, power tools and equipment to help you take on the bending tasks yourself as a DIYer.
Some of the top Lowe‘s products available for bending each material type include:
Metal Pipe Benders
| Product | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kobalt Spring Tube Bender | Bends up to 1" diameter round tubing | $34.98 |
| LENOX OD Tube Bender | Designed for tight OD tubing bends | $56.71 |
Conduit Benders
| Product | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| IDEAL 3⁄4” IMC Conduit Bender | Makes smooth bends in 3⁄4" conduit | $61.09 |
| Southwire 1" EMT Conduit Bender | For 1" electrical metallic tubing | $149.98 |
Rebar Benders
| Product | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 60" Single End Rebar Hickey Bender | Handheld rebar bender | $109 |
| Mini 3-Pin Rebar Bender | Lightweight for tight spaces | $36.98 |
Flashing Benders
| Product | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Malco S2RLS Sheet Metal Locking Pliers | Grips and bends up to 18 gauge mild steel | $51.98 |
| Builder‘s Edge Siding Brake | Bends siding and flashing up to 12 feet long | $1260.65 |
Copper Tube Benders
| Product | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgid 104 Tubing Bender | Bends up to 1" copper tubing | $50.08 |
| Imperial ACRB-C 8S Copper Tube Bender | Designed for tight copper bending | $123.20 |
Bending materials yourself does require some DIY expertise and comfort with operating specialty tools. But for certain simpler jobs or infrequent bending needs, buying your own equipment can provide convenience and cost savings versus paying professionals.
Can You Rent Pipe and Conduit Bending Tools from Lowe‘s?
If purchasing all the bending tools doesn‘t make sense for a one-off project, Lowe‘s does offer tool rental services at select store locations. Renting professional-grade bending equipment for a short period of time can give you the results you need at a fraction of the buying cost.
Here are some details on Lowe‘s Tool Rental program:
- Ages 18+ can rent power tools – Valid ID and credit card required
- Ages 21+ for towable equipment – Includes trucks, lifts, trailers, etc.
- Hourly, daily and weekly rental rates – Rates start as low as $25/day
- Extensions allowed – Keep the tools longer at standard rental rates
- Inventory varies by location – Call your store to check for brake availability
Lowe‘s website shows availability of metal brakes for rent at stores in larger metros like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver and Dallas. Rates average $100-150 per day depending on brake size and bending capacity.
Calling your local Lowe‘s rental department to check for conduit benders, tubing benders and rebar benders in stock is highly recommended before visiting.
Where Else Can You Get Materials Bent Professionally?
While convenient, DIY bending does involve a learning curve. For fast, flawless results, having an experienced professional bend your pipes, flashing, rebar and conduit is advised.
Here are some services to check rates and availability with in your area:
- Local plumbers – May have pipe/tube benders for copper and galvanized pipes
- Electricians – Often have conduit bending capabilities
- HVAC companies – Work with copper tubing and may offer bending
- Metal fabrication shops – Have brakes and can bend flashing/sheets
- Machine shops – Can bend rebar and large pipe sections
- Roofing/siding installers – May own or rent flashing brakes
Searching "[your city] + [material] bending services" is a great way to find local specialists. Expect to pay $50-150 per hour depending on the complexity of the bends.
Be sure to call ahead with your material type, dimensions and desired bend radius/angles to verify they can complete your specific job. Having pros bend materials for you isn‘t always cheap, but can provide that perfect customized shape quickly when needed.
Working with pipes, conduit and sheet metal brings unique challenges. Here are some of the most common complaints DIYers have when trying to bend materials themselves, along with tips to make your project go smoother:
The material creases instead of smoothly bending.
- Use bending aids like pipe inserts to prevent crimping
- Upgrade to a hydraulic bender for more power and control
My conduit has kinks and flat spots after bending.
- Account for compression of the inner curve when bending
- Use a bending spring inside the conduit for support
My copper pipe keeps collapsing when I bend it.
- Fill the pipe with sand then seal the ends before bending
- Use a bending form or mandrel inside the pipe
The flashing wrinkles when I try making acute angle bends.
- Limit bends to gradual angles of 30 degrees or more
- Switch to a narrower sheet metal brake to prevent off-center wrinkling
Having the right tools and techniques is crucial for avoiding these headaches on a bending project. Be sure to watch online bending tutorials to pick up tips from experts before attempting any complex bends.
To supplement the information provided in this guide, here are some top Lowe‘s bending products and video tutorials to check out:
Conduit Bending
Copper Tube Bending
Rebar Bending
Flashing Bending
These step-by-step tutorials and top-rated bending products at Lowe‘s can set you up for bending success on your next project.
While Lowe‘s doesn‘t offer in-store bending services, plenty of alternatives exist:
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Buy bending tools – Lowe‘s sells tools for DIY bending of pipes, conduit, rebar, flashing and copper.
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Rent at Lowe‘s – Select Lowe‘s rental centers have pro bending equipment available.
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Use pros – Local plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc. may bend materials.
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Learn techniques – Watch online tutorials and classes on proper bending methods.
Yes, it‘s disappointing that you can‘t walk into Lowe‘s and have them bend a copper pipe or piece of conduit for you on the spot. But some upfront planning using their bending products and services can still set you up for success in completing your own home improvement bending projects.
With the right preparation and mindfulness of potential pitfalls, bending your own materials doesn‘t have to be scary or frustrating. Approach the project armed with the facts and resources above, and you may just find yourself enjoying the process while saving money!