Bending & Flaring Tools

In an ideal world, pipes would be available in exactly the right size and angle needed for various applications. In reality, however, pipes often have to be adjusted to fit within different structures. Whether you're looking to modify pipes in hydraulic, automotive or other applications, there are a variety of bending tools and flaring tools to choose from. Fill a tool shed with plenty of other hand tools and equipment to meet the needs of any job.

Bending Tools

It's easy to form neat, accurate bends up to 180° in various types of tubing using bending tools. An adequate bending tool should allow a user to make a bend with a minimal amount of effort and strain. Look for bending tools with an oil-absorbing shoe and 90° starting angle to reduce the amount of pressure needed to bend pipes. A lever-type swivel handle can be repositioned midway through the process to prevent the handles from crossing, while offset cushion-grip handles offer a comfortable handhold.In order to tell exactly what degree angle you're making, look for bending tools that have built-in reference marks that show angles. Need to bend several different sizes of tubing? A tri-bender accommodates pipes of varying thicknesses, letting you accomplish multiple jobs using just one tool.

Flaring Tools

Primarily used in pipe-fitting applications, flaring tools accept pliable metal piping and expand the ends of a pipe in order to fit into another section. In automotive uses, a flaring tool is great for fitting the different brake, fuel, cooling and transmission lines. The first thing to consider when choosing a flaring tool is what type of metal it can flare. Some common metals that are used with flaring tools are soft aluminum, copper, brass, steel and stainless steel.