What pipe/tube did he use? Did he pack it with sand or just bend it plain straight up?
Sand shouldn't be needed w/pipe, since that is what the HF bender is designed for. Sand is only needed when using tube, to prevent the tube from flattening and reducing rippling along the inside edge of 90* bends. With sand and a little heat(about 150* i.e., about what they would heat up to in the summer sun), you can get pretty good bends in tube using a pipe bender.