Exhaust Expander

[ludakris04]

Any recommendations on a decent, somewhat budget friendly exhaust expander?

I only need this every once in a blue moon, but would like one that will work well.
Under $100 at most.

Hoping to find a cheapy that can actually do a decent job.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Get the Lisle kit, only one that holds up and is a true stretcher. It's worth the extra 50 or 60 bucks.

https://www.lislecorp.com/specialty-tools/pipe-stretcher-kit

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ADY8V4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[CobraRed]

I've used this one maybe a half dozen times with various impacts no issues

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JBICBJ4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[zmotorsports]

I have the same Lisle expander that buckgnarly posted the link to. It works fair for a manual kit.

 

[Jagmandave]

Since I need one so rarely I just take the pipe down to the local Meineke and they do it for a fiver to the guy....they don't even write up a ticket.

 

[signcrafter]

I have the astro kit and love it. So nice to he able to expand a pipe to fit over another whenever I'm doing exhaust work. I end up using it almost everytime I'm doing some exhaust repairs.

Dont buy anything under 100 bucks. Get the astro or lisle kit, they are worth the few more bucks.

If you do end up with an astro or lisle kit I use mine with a green lee hydraulic knock out set pump. They have the same threads. Much nicer using a hydraulic pump then an impact.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I have the astro kit. Works well, although I run mine with an impact. Never used it by hand. I mainly use it to re-round dented pipes.

 

[purplezr2]

Lisle kit and harbor freight knockout hydraulic tool make it powered.

 

[engineer2]

I bought one of these budget friendly ones from Warshawsky Co (aka JC Whitney) back in the day.
https://www.harborfreight.com/medium-tail-pipe-expander-63703.html

 

[dogdog]

I bought one of these budget friendly ones from Warshawsky Co (aka JC Whitney) back in the day.
https://www.harborfreight.com/medium-tail-pipe-expander-63703.html

These HF unit *****, don't buy it.. don't recommended it at all... I have their small medium and large.. horrible to use. the large oring rubber band rotted out on al of them. the cast is crummy, stress cracked easily and screw stripped while trying to expand a steel exhaust pipe. Yea it's bad. Still have them.... since I am a pack rat.

the lisle kit was what I am looking at if I were to do my exhaust again... I think astro pnumetic answered the question if they are compatible with those hydraulic pullers they say yes here in one of their threads when it was first introduced. maybe 2018.

 

[engineer2]

The casting where the screw feeds thru eventually stripped on mine too, but I got several uses out of it. Mine was likely made in Taiwan in the 70's. Still have it because I am a pack rat too.

 

[MikeF2316]

I've got a couple like Harbor Freight sell, and they're not really any good at "expanding" but if you get an exhaust piece that's not round because of rough handling, they're quite helpful making the end round again.

 

[bwringer]

I found a ratty little place downtown that does great exhaust work fast and cheap. No more futzing with pipes for me.

 

[plinker]

I have the same Lisle expander that buckgnarly posted the link to. It works fair for a manual kit.

The boss had picked up a hydraulic version of this kit from somewhere. I assume it's made in china. Works well for what it is.

 

[ludakris04]

I found a ratty little place downtown that does great exhaust work fast and cheap. No more futzing with pipes for me.

after much "research", this might end up being the route I go..

 

[Mr_fixit]

So what the difference in the Lisle or the Astro, besides $70.00

 

[blunn]

Advance Auto and Oriellys Auto Parts has exhaust tools that they will “loan” . Worked well for me .

 

[Monte]

So what the difference in the Lisle or the Astro, besides $70.00

Made in USA vs. not made in USA ?

 

[esvee]

Advance Auto and Oriellys Auto Parts has exhaust tools that they will “loan” . Worked well for me .

Wanted to make sure someone mentioned this. For the frequency I need this tool I've got no problem using a loaner instead of spending the money and having it take up space (not that they're huge but my shop isn't huge either).

 

[BFBOB]

Any recommendations on a decent, somewhat budget friendly exhaust expander?

I only need this every once in a blue moon, but would like one that will work well.
Under $100 at most.

Hoping to find a cheapy that can actually do a decent job.

I have a cheapy, and it will not actually expand the pipe. It works well for taking dents and creases out so it's round enough to fit over (or into) the mating pipe, but that's it. To do more than that will take more $$$