What is "Swedging"?

[330Scott]

I have a rough idea, but need a more thorough explanation of what it exactly is and how & why it is done.

Just curious.

Thanks,

 

[kenfath]

Swedging is the process of changing the diameter of metal tubing. Some of the metal baseball bats are produced using a swedging process. Usually it is done to join two pieces by expanding the the diameter of one piece so another wil slip inside. The only practical example I had was in a refrigeration school many years ago. The assignment was to join or connect two pieces of refrigeration copper tubing. One piece was swedged -- the inside diameter was expanded by driving a punch-like tool inside the tubing that was held in a die-like tool that formed the outside diameter. The other piece of tubing fit inside the swedged end. Next part of the assignment was to solder the joint, which was my first time at soldering copper tubing/piping. Following inspection by the instructor we sawed the joint apart to check the solder penetration. I was very impressed how the solder had flowed into the joint. The lesson learned was soldering copper was easy especially when fittings were used and you didn't have to swedge the tubing.

 

[lino]

I think the proper term is "swage" or swaging. (unless I'm thinking of something else). I believe it's commonly pronounced as you've spelled above though.

Essentially it's uniformly squeezing a pipe or tube. Common usage is to attach fittings on to the ends of wire rope.

Another common usage is in tube fittings. Swagelock is one of the leading brands of high-end fittings, note the name.

For more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swage

ciao

lino

 

[RPH]

Another use is the fitting is to clamp cable ends. Allows cable to be looped and locked in place. Think of it as an industrial crimp connector. Done right can be very strong joint.

 

[wilbilt]

I think the proper term is "swage" or swaging.
lino

Yes, that is the term.

 

[v8garage]

It is also a blacksmith term where a "swage" or "swedge" block is used to form hot metal. I think this is probably the older use of the word before it was used in reference to tubing.

 

[crab]

Some bullets are swaged to a specific size as in .452.

 

[cvairwerks]

Crab: I think you won the necropost age for the year.....18 years on this one!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Swedging is the process of changing the diameter of metal tubing.

You have to be careful what material the tubing is made out of ! Many tubes are made from flat stock and then rolled and welded. The problem is, if you try to swage it to a larger diameter so that the same diameter tube fits inside, you may split the tube.

I have not found any DIY (cheap) method of swaging 1" EMT up or down so that you can join 2 pieces for tent/canopy poles. I think in the HVAC world, they also make special "sleeve" that fits snugly over the joint and then can be soldered/brazed.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Part of my job before retirement was maintaining and making swaging blocks for Torrington swagers like those in this link. Prototype swaging block development can be an interesting and challenging endeavor. I dealt mostly with various tubing reductions and electrical heating elements. There is a bit of an art to swaging.

Swagers | Swaging Machines | Swager Dies | Swager Manufacturers

Swagers are the low-cost way to point, reduce & form tube or wire. Swaging is a special type of forging in which metal is formed by a rapid succession of blows.

www.fenn-torin.com

 

[Bad Habit]

Buddy just got gifted a blacksmithing swaging block. About 18" square, ~4-5" thick with numerous holes, radius sizes etc. Heavy, and pretty rusty. I'll see if I can't get a pic

 

[duc916]

In my experience the term is used in a general sense to describe a process to deform metal. In most cases it is a round piece of material that needs to be formed into another shape or size. Depending on the industry the process can be varied, some have been listed already, another is swaging a bearing.
Commonly used on spherical bearings, after the bearing is pressed into the housing a V-groove in the outer ring is swagged (rotary or press swaging) to deform the material over a chamfer in the housing to ensure the bearing cannot move. Below is a video:

 

[BigMike782]

I believe swaging can also mean setting teeth on a saw blade,

Manual

 

[kaymccampbell]

In the OED it's a pretty loose definition.
swage
/swāj/
noun
noun: swage; plural noun: swages
1.
a shaped tool or die for giving a desired form to metal by hammering or pressure.
2.
a groove, ridge, or other molding on an object.
verb
verb: swage; 3rd person present: swages; past tense: swaged; past participle: swaged; gerund or present participle: swaging
shape (metal) using a swage, especially in order to reduce its cross section.
"the instrument has a swaging head and a pulsed action which flattens the rivet in a series of rolling motions"
join (metal pieces) together by swaging process.
"eye-ends in corrosion-resisting steel swaged on aircraft control cables"

To add a personal note, I've got a whole pouch of the things from when I used to do pretty HVAC.

 

[txvwnut]

Crab: I think you won the necropost age for the year.....18 years on this one!

I was wondering if this was a new record.