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Flattening tube with a Pexto? Or....?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Darby, May 19, 2011.

  1. Darby
    Joined: Sep 12, 2004
    Posts: 426

    Darby
    Member

    I need to flatten some lengths of copper tube for a project, and haven't figured out the best way to do it. I want to start with some 3/8 or 1/2" copper tube (in 3 or 4 foot lengths), flatten it to into an oval/ellipse that's about half the original diameter, and then braze or solder it to the rest of the radiator/heat exchanger.

    Anybody done this before? I need to make a few of these, so I thought about having some dies made for a Pexto-type bead roller--maybe make two sets, one to go halfway, then another to finish it? I'd like to do this with a hand-crank machine, but maybe I'll need hydraulics?

    If anybody has pics or links of something they've made or bought, I'd love to see it.
     
  2. T McG
    Joined: Feb 12, 2005
    Posts: 1,262

    T McG
    Member
    from Phoenix

    A bead type roller will curl it. If you are only doing a one time deal go to a local fab shop and let them hit it in a press brake with flattening dies. I can't imagine it would cost very much.
     
  3. 73RR
    Joined: Jan 29, 2007
    Posts: 7,175

    73RR
    Member

  4. Darby
    Joined: Sep 12, 2004
    Posts: 426

    Darby
    Member

    Great--thanks guys. I hadn't even thought of it stick-at-a-time in a press brake. I need to do a bit of this so I'd hunt around to find some dead-soft stock...
     

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