Tips for Using Flaring Tools for Copper Pipe and Tubing

Copper pipe and tubing are common materials with numerous applications. But what happens when a copper pipe or tube doesn’t securely fit into connections? With flaring tools in San Jose, CA, you can easily manipulate the size of a pipe’s or tube’s end.

What are flaring and swaging tools?

These are the tools used to flare out the end of copper pipes and tubing to snugly attach to fittings or other pipes or tubes. With these tools, create a flared or conical end to the pipe or tube. Flaring pipe is not the same as flaring tube, as the angles of the flaring differs. Tubing flare is at a 45-degree angle, whereas pipe flaring is at a 37-degree angle.

Tools for flaring apply pressure to expand the end of pipes or tubing to create a funnel or flared shape. Swaging tools allow you to create wider, deeper openings for pipes and tubing. The use of these tools varies depending on the application of the pipes and tubing.

Using flaring tools

If you want to learn how to use a flaring tool in San Jose, CA, it’s essential to take it slow and practice before applying these skills to any job or project. These tips will ensure you correctly flare pipes and tubing:

• Prepare pipe or tubing: Cut the pipe or tubing to the desired length. Remove any burrs from the end with a deburring tool, pipe reamer or sharp knife.
• Give yourself room: As you place the pipe or tube in the correct hole of the clamp, make sure the end of the pipe or tubing sticks out a bit. If you’re flaring a ½-inch pipe or tube, have at least ½ inch of pipe or tube pushed through the clamp.
• Fasten clamp snugly: If you haven’t clamped the pipe or tubing enough, the flaring tool will just push the pipe or tubing through the clamp. Really screw down those wingnuts to ensure secure placement of your pipe or tubing.
• Adjust hands as needed: When you first place the flaring tool into the pipe’s or tubing’s end, you’ll hold the long end of the pipe in one hand as you secure the tool against the pipe or tubing with the other hand. Once the flaring tool stays in place in the pipe or tubing without being held, move the hand holding the tool to the lever and slowly rotate it. The other hand that was holding the pipe should now hold the clamp.
• Avoid overflaring: Don’t get carried away flaring the end of your pipe or tubing. Too much flaring will overextend the end of the pipe or tubing and make it unusable. You could also inadvertently split the copper.

At Royal Brass Incorporated, we carry best-in-class swaging and flaring tools in San Jose, CA, including high-quality parts from Parker Hannifin. We can quickly customize pipes and tubing to meet your exact specification with our unbeatable tools. Contact us now to learn more about purchasing these tools for your business.

Categorised in: Flaring Tools