tubing expander...?

[bimmer1980]

I need to expand a piece of emt tubing for a little fab project.

My initial plan was to slit the tubing and re-weld it to a slightly larger diameter.

Then I thought about a tubing expander and found one at Harbor Freight.

Some of the review were horrible, but I wanted to see if anyone here had some experiences.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?category=&q=tubing+expander

 

[jhelrey]

Bring it to Midas and they can do it for cheap. They do that to exhausts all day long.

 

[brownfoot]

it will work ok, just be sure to disassemble and lube (grease) it well before using
I have had to tighten the rod, tap around the diameter, tighten some more to get the size I needed
also the expanded shape is not truely round, expand to size, loosen, rotate about 10 degrees, and tighten again helps to "round" the expanded area
the o-rings that hold it together will break, maybe the first time you use it, get some spares or just use some heavy rubber bands

 

[barney rubble]

I think the EMT tubing will split if you try to expand it. JMO.

 

[klhitman]

i use copper pipe all the time and if you heat it up and use a sweding tool it should be fine depending on the waight load.

 

[kbs2244]

I believe those are for car exhaust pipe.
Softer and not galvanized like EMT.
(And bigger. The small one started at 1.5 inch.)

 

[srmofo]

the expanders pictured are for removing the indent from muffler clamps so the part can be reused. I have never seen them actually expand exhaust pipe large enough to slip another pipe in. It will strip the threads on the rod long before your pipe expands.

Seriously though Ive gone to the muffler shop many times to get a pipe expanded and never been charged, just make sure you tip them $5-$10.

 

[Imwalkin]

I take mine to the exhast guy around the corner from me. Never charges but I give him 5 bucks an end. Well worth it to me.

 

[fireguy]

i use copper pipe all the time and if you heat it up and use a sweding tool it should be fine depending on the waight load.

Swedging tools are available in different sizes.

 

[Rockford514]

I had a CHEAP 'tubing expander'.A complete waste of time on exhaust pipe

 

[PAToyota]

I've got a set of the HF expanders. Work great when exhaust pipe just doesn't quite fit or if it has been knocked out of round. Only change I've made to them was to disassemble them, clean all the **** out of the threads, lubricate them, reassemble them, and replace the dry rotted o-rings.

I'm not sure that they'd do well with EMT. As mentioned, it is likely to just split if you use the galvanized steel version. You may have better luck if you can find the aluminum version, although I can't guarantee that they're using a malleable aluminum for that either. Also depends on whether you need it expanded "a hair" or significantly more.

 

[grego]

What size are you planning to expand?
I needed to expand some 1" emt and made a swedging tool on the lathe out of an old steel spacer. I cut the one end down so it was the same od as the id of the emt then tapered it out so the new id was slightly larger than the od of the emt. Got it? Then I used my press and pushed it down into the pipe. Made a couple of stands for holding the volleyball nets and such for the kids.
I got the smallest one that hf sells but it's od was too large to fit into the emt.
Pm me if you want a picture. The tool is kinda cruel but it worked about ten times.