Bending multipliers & shrink

Offset multiplier and shrink by bend angle
AngleMultiplier
(1/sin θ)
Field ruleShrink per inch
of rise
Field rule
10° 5.759 6 0.0875" 1/16"
22.5° 2.613 2.6 0.1989" 3/16"
30° 2.000 2 0.2679" 1/4"
45° 1.414 1.4 0.4142" 3/8"
60° 1.155 1.15 0.5774" 1/2"

Distance between the two bends = rise × multiplier. Shrink = rise × the shrink figure; add it to your measurement so the fitting lands where you wanted it.

Multiplier = 1 ÷ sin θ. Shrink per unit of rise = 1 ÷ sin θ − 1 ÷ tan θ. Both are pure trigonometry — nothing here is code-book data. Bender take-up is stamped on your tool; read it there.

Print this small and it lives in the pouch. Practise the maths on the offset drill, and when you are at the bender working a real pull, bentright.com runs the numbers.

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