Tubing Tool Variant

[sweetwoodmaple]

I tried my hand at a tubing tool as I have so much damage to fix (furry friends).

I used a cheap tongue and groove plier and Tig welded the #5 locking pliers and pawl.

Works well and has some adjustment for different fitting lengths.

[collinsmapleman2012]

looks really good. one question- how did you make the clamp that the tubing rests in?

[sweetwoodmaple]

1. Buy a 1/2-13 threaded rod coupler that is 1-3/4" long.
2. Use a 1/2" drill to remove about 1/2 the length of thread.
3. Cut the coupling in half and grind both cut surfaces smooth.
4. Weld on to the #5 locking pliers.

You can use the search tool to locate the other thread that describes this process better.

[collinsmapleman2012]

where did you get the coupler?

[3rdgen.maple]

Collins you can find the threaded coupling in any hardware store. Its in the specialty bins at the box stores.

[collinsmapleman2012]

Collins you can find the threaded coupling in any hardware store. Its in the specialty bins at the box stores.

thanks, i can be fairly oblivious sometimes. good thing im still young and learning!!!:)

[sweetwoodmaple]

I use mcmaster carr. The few extra bucks is worth the ease of finding parts.

[whalems]

Nice looking tool. Looks like it shold work nicely!

[darkmachine]

The channel lock looks like it would solve the problem I am having with the tool I made. Still looking for a perfect solution to keep the plate that pushes the fitting parallel to the end of the clamped tubing though.

[sweetwoodmaple]

If you want the fitting plate to stay more parallel, you have to do the fitting in two steps...half way in one slot position, then advance it to the next one to finish it off.

Once you get the hang of it, it moves pretty quickly.

They do make a parallel tubing tool now, but again, pretty pricey for cheap folks like me.

[OneLegJohn]

Brian, you have got to be the most resourceful sugarmaker I've ever met. Are you selling these?

[sweetwoodmaple]

Ha...thanks, but not me. It always takes me twice as long to do anything half baked.

The ideal would be Robo-Grip style self adjusting pliers. But, those are laminated steel and would not take to welding without serious distortion. Tig might have a chance, but you would really have to keep the heat low and work quickly (neither of which I do well).

[Thad Blaisdell]

Vise Grip makes a pair of channel lock pliers that you have to push a button to adjust that would make it stay in the position that you want. Other than that your tool kicks butt.

[sweetwoodmaple]

Saw another vise grip style that was self adjusting when I was visiting the welding supply place getting an argon tank refilled. They looked pretty neat too.

[sweetwoodmaple]

http://www.lockjawpliers.com/

[syrupkid]

I got all of the stuff to make on of these today, on Monday I plan to MIG weld it together at school. I have about $25 stuck into all of the stuff to make it. I think this tool will also worg great for pushing the tubing onto the babr on the saddle. Well lunch break is over now, time to get back up in the woods to put up more tubing.

[syrupkid]

Well i got done earlier than expected in the woods today so I decided to try and weld together my tool with the stick welder we have at home. I think it turned out pretty good,it works really nice, it has to get painted yet. Tell me what you think about it.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Joel,

You are a very resourceful young man for 15 years old, you are well above most kids for your age. Looks very good and it is good you can weld and do the things you can at a young age. One thing you may want to do is to cut a grove in the end which is plate steel to let the tubing go thru it if you want to use it for repairs on lateral lines.

[syrupkid]

I already have a lateral tool that my cousin built, I am working on one like it at school right now. Thank you, I'm not very good at welding yet but i am getting better from when I first started.

[whalems]

I drilled a 1/2 hole in my plate and it seems to work well. Hope this helps, Mike

[70 Buick]

very cool guys , very cool

[Cider Hill Maple Farm]

Bravo Kid!
I've been welding and fabricating for 21 years, to see a tool you came up with on your own is awsome. Keep up the enginering, you'll go places.

Keep up the good work!
Best of luck, Shawn

[collinsmapleman2012]

ive tried welding at school, and it was to say the most, sad. i think my forte may be syrup :D

[farmall h]

Nice...looks like the channel-locks is the key!:)

[syrupkid]

Yes the Channel-Locks is nice, that one was the Ace Hardware brand and was only $9.99 the little Vise-Grips was a little pricey though, I couldnt find an off-brand one that small so I had to pay $12.99 for that.

[farmall h]

Cheap vise grips don't cut it!

[70 Buick]

what stops the tube from just being pushed out the other end?

[3rdgen.maple]

The threads on the nut pinches it tight, the first half inch or so on the fitting side is drilled out to accept the barbs on the fitting, the threads pinch the tubing. Made one last year thanks to the trader great cheap tool.

[syrupkid]

Make sure the nut is the right size if you are going to make one. Too small is better than too big, but you dont want it too small either. Also, be careful when you are drilling the threads out, the bit grabbed on the threads really hard on me once, and I got my knuckles busted open on the vise that was holding the coupling nut.

[mountain man maple]

OK wondering if anyone that has built tubing tools used cheap vise grips. I did used ones from harbor freight. After a few hundred connections with using same set of vise grips started having problems pushing fittings together. Switched to other side of tool its two handed and it works seem like first pair of vise grips have too much side to side play. Also wondered what size threaded fitting to use to clamp on tubing I have 7/16 now is that too small?

[THCPrecision]

you can tighten up the cheep vise grips. I have had to tune up some of the true vise grip brand ones. just use a hammer and punch and some type of anvil old axle upside down to rest the vise grips on to tighten them up by hitting them in such a way to tighten up the tolerances of the movement but be careful to not go to much that could be worse.. and if they are really cheep and the steel is really soft they will just keep wearing out really fast.. I do use 7/16 20 nuts split on most to the tools that I build. compared to the 7/16 14 thread just a little difference in the tap drill diameter though you can drill out the 7/16-14 some just try to do it as evenly as possiable or maybe straight as possiable is the propper term if you have a metal lathe thats how I drill them out . But if possiable on the vise grips get origonal irwin vise grips 5 wr with the release leaver. about $11 and change per pair. youll get out of it what you put in to it .

[cavescott]

Awesome thread guys was just researching to make one. This is the style Im going with. THANKS