While copper and steel tubes are usually joined by soldering, brazing or welding, there are times when a mechanical joint may be required or preferred. One of the ways to join tubes mechanically is flaring. Flaring is used to make gas-tight or liquid-tight connection, and this process means forming the end of a tube.
Double-lap flaring offers additional strength for tube ends, that are subjected to more fatigue and stress. The inside surface of the flare is designed with a larger diameter, that does not interfere with system’s flow characteristics. To meet the same specifications as the Single Flare, Double-lap flaring can be formed in the same shapes.
To make sure that the connection of tubes using fitting will be leak-tight, you have to flare tubing properly using the proper tools and techniques. Firstly, you need to cut the tubing to the proper length using the appropriate tool. the next step is to slide the compression nut on the tubing (best pipe cutter). The last thing is to use a flaring tool kit to make a flaring itself.
Single flaring is the most common and the simplest process of flaring The single flare is available in both 37 and 45 degrees. There are two ways to accomplish a flared tube end – rotary or spinning, and a ram forming the flared end.
Most of flaring kits are relatively inexpensive and easy to find, despite the fact that different sizes of tubes require specific sets of equipment. You need to use a proper cutting tool to cut a tube. A flaring tool kit usually consists of two main pieces – a reamer and a flare form. A flare form is some kind of a clamp which has a number of holes designed to work with tubing of various diameter. It holds the pipe firmly so you can flare the pipe with minimum efforts The thing that makes the actual flaring is reamer, which has holding arms, a screw, and a conical point.