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Tube straightener.
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More: Tube Straightener - Javac
Previously:
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...404#post116817
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...163#post130410
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...092#post153537
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...167#post121073
About $90 (US) each for one size tubing - 3/16, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 inch
will also work harden and stiffen the soft copper tubingQuote:
Originally Posted by Karl_H
If I'll ever need one of these, I finally found some use for the roller bearings (608 2RS)
salvaged from 2 unused pairs of kiddie inlines I scored for 10 bucks at a flea market.
Just drilling some pieces of leftover angle iron, add the salvaged M8 fasteners and I'm all set...
A simple and useful little tool.
Seems like a thing that should be easily adjustable for at least a small range of tubing sizes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Karl_H
The tubes need to fit quite close to the radius of the tubing other wise the tubing will be deformed and may come out almost squareQuote:
Originally Posted by nova_robotics
Nope. Works fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank S
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sztgK91YmQ
If it were collapsing the tube you wouldn't be able to slide it by hand.
I think you will find that in trying to straighten refrigeration copper you will want the radius to be close to matching, might get away with 1 size smaller tubing if you are careful. The whole point of straightening is not as much to make the length appear perfectly straight as it is to make the tube cylindrical again. Making them straight appeases the inspectors making it round insures good sweat connections easier and faster to cut with tubing cutters as well. I have seen coils of 3/4 & 1" copper that were flattened so much when coiled that inspectors would reject the whole coil if not for a device to make the tubing cylindrical again as it was de-coiled.Quote:
Originally Posted by nova_robotics
many HVAC guys have a powered machine to do this with drop in cassettes for each size of tubing. Plus having one for each size has another advantage there is no need to adjust the roller centerline for different sized tubing.
True enough an auto mechanic might only have a couple of sized straighteners for steel lines such as brake and fuel lines 1 for 3/16, 1/4,&5/16" and one for 3/8, 7/16, & 1/2" He might even use the same devices for running copper air lines in the cases of restoring antique trucks but he would also need 1 more to fit the 5/8 &3/4" air lines in that case. It wont matter if the copper is not absolutely perfectly cylindrical as his fittings will be flared connections anyway.