DIY on-car flaring tool

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CitroenCrazy
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DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by CitroenCrazy »

My Xantia disgraced itself by bursting one of the high pressure pipes that runs from front to back.
Access is pretty terrible at both ends, so I decided the only way I was going to get the car mobile again was to replace just the rusty section. In theory, this should be straightforward; cut the affected section out, flare the pipe on each side and use a pair of in-line connectors to splice in a new section.

In practice, this gave me a problem because I only have a bench-mounted flaring tool, which I bought from Pleiades about 25 years ago.
I know people have managed to use this type of tool on the car, but being cam-operated, it's really not designed for that type of application.
01_source.JPG
I was quite prepared to buy a new flaring tool, intended for use on the vehicle. BeePro in Germany make a very nice example, but with shipping to the UK, it's over £350.
I couldn't find anything else at a price I was prepared to pay, so I decided to try making my own, using the punches and dies from the Pleiades tool I already have.

Hopefully this will inspire someone else to do the same and also spawn suggestions for improvement.


I found a nice chunky piece of U channel in my reclaimed metal stock, so that became the body, and I made the other parts to fit around that.
02_body.JPG

The new tool had to be screw-operated, and flaring steel pipe needs quite a bit of force, so I threaded a piece of bar M20 x 1.0 pitch
03_threading.JPG

This is the kit of parts about 2/3 of the way through the build
04_parts.JPG

This is the main part of the tool, just about complete. (The punch and dies in the picture are DIN style, not Citroen)
05_finished.JPG

The first attempt at flaring a piece of steel pipe was a bit disappointing
06_first flare.JPG

I'd diverged from my original plan a little, deciding to use the later style of screw-in punches, as this would make it easier to incorporate an extraction mechanism.
What I didn't realise until late in the process is that the new punch is narrower than the original one and a very loose fit in the dies, hence the lop-sided flare.
(Original Pleiades punch on the left, new style on the right)
07_problem definition.JPG

So, I made a sleeve to bring the diameter back to the same as the original punch
08_turning a sleeve.JPG


This is a close up of the punch holder, showing how it fits over the compression screw. The idea is that the punch is pulled back as the screw is unwound.
09_punch extraction.JPG

The completed tool, with a quick coat of spray paint
10_painted + complete.JPG

In use today
11_in use.JPG

The result
12_on-car flare.JPG

At the risk of sounding smug, I was pretty chuffed with the result :-)
Last edited by CitroenCrazy on 27 Sep 2020, 21:41, edited 2 times in total.
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bobins
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by bobins »

Appearing on eBay soon ? :lol:
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Paul-R
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by Paul-R »

CitroenCrazy wrote: 27 Sep 2020, 19:29At the risk of sounding smug, I was pretty chuffed with the result
Frankly, you've every right to feel smug. That's a fabulous bit of kit you've created.
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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

Top work CitroenCrazy well done. I have put a link to your post on the Toolbag Tales, Homemade and improvised tools thread

REgards Neil
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mickthemaverick
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

Brilliant piece of work. :clap: Now I know where to come if I get rusty pipes!! :-D
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white exec
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by white exec »

Superb work. I feel sure I'll be needing to make something like that at some point.
Chris
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CitroenCrazy
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by CitroenCrazy »

Ahhh, thanks guys. Blushes.........

Available on loan to anyone local.
Gibbo2286
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by Gibbo2286 »

The Chinese will have copies on sale soon.
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Hell Razor5543
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

Gibbo2286 wrote: 28 Sep 2020, 09:10 The Chinese will have copies on sale soon.
You mean they haven't already?
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CitroJim
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by CitroJim »

Absolutely first class :D Most excellent :D
Jim

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russbif
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by russbif »

Image

I made one back in the 70’s, copy of one I hired, but handheld, made a pipe bender too.
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Rhothgar
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by Rhothgar »

That’s absolutely superb work Andrew.

Do you happen to have any design drawings for the tool please?

I feel it might be an investment getting one made sooner rather than later! I foresee work on my Xantiae coming thick and fast...
Jaycshetland
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Re: DIY on-car flaring tool

Unread post by Jaycshetland »

That is very well done hats off to you sir.