Tubing Expander

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Brian Rupnow

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Someone posted about a new tool used to expand copper tubing.I was quite taken with this tool and how it worked, so of course I had to make one and try it. There is a description of the tool in the write-up which accompanies the video. Very neat trick!!

xZivfC.jpg
 
Can you post either a link to the original article or a description of the tool? It looks like it is simply a ball nosed round rod with some kind of lube on it.
 
Someone posted about a new tool used to expand copper tubing.I was quite taken with this tool and how it worked, so of course I had to make one and try it. There is a description of the tool in the write-up which accompanies the video. Very neat trick!!

xZivfC.jpg
 
I lived in Australia many years ago. I bought a pipe expander there which would expend 15, 22, and 28 mms pipe. It worked by hand with the first stage I initiating the exemption the 2nd to the desired size.
I think the one shown would be ideal.
Are there any dimensions available?
 
Is that a home made tool? Looks easy to make.
Just a piece of steel with a point and then milled with three flats and lightly file the sharp edges off, if your doing only a few an just copper, you don't even need to harden them. The hardest part is holding the copper pipe without crushing it and still keeping it from pushing back in the chuck, I use a stop even with a collet.
 

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Just a piece of steel with a point and then milled with three flats and lightly file the sharp edges off, if your doing only a few an just copper, you don't even need to harden them. The hardest part is holding the copper pipe without crushing it and still keeping it from pushing back in the chuck, I use a stop even with a collet.
Kool
 
Hi,
Here is another variation. The small end diameter is the same as the ID of 1/2" copper pipe while the intermediate diameter is the same as the OD of 1/2" copper pipe. To use, insert the small end into the copper pipe, grasp the copper pipe in the left hand and belt the end of the tool using a hammer grasped in the right hand. It may help if the end of the pipe is heated to redness before flaring it to ensure it hasn't been hardened.
Regards,
Alan
PipeExpander.jpg
 

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