How to make tubing tool?

[SevenCreeksSap]

I don't have much luck with the search function on the new site setup, though I'm probably doing something. Does anyone have a plan for a tubing tool for 5/16. I've seen the vice grips but dont know how to get them to slide together. Old post/ link- anything?

[whalems]

I have pictures in the maple gallery of one I made. 2-handed. I tried attaching pics of the 1-handed but it won't let me. I will add them to the gallery. hope this helps, Mike

[jasonl6]

I made one and after $30 worth of parts and hours of tinkering it sucks. So i buy used thermos at yard sales, boil water in the morning then just give the ends a dip before sticking them on the fittings. Unless your doing thousands of fittings a day this way works great.

Jason

[whalems]

mine seems to work good. and was preety simple to make. if you get the fittings wet before installing they slip right in. Good luck, Mike

[MartinP]

47224723
There is a rod that keeps everthing in line,

[SevenCreeksSap]

Thanks guys. Pictures really help. I think I can build those.

It looks like the two handed tool is used for Tee's and the one handed tool for taps. Do I really need to make both or can the two handed tool be used on an end fitting?

[500592]

A one handed tool can do both but the two might be a little hard to do taps but I don't know I never used a tubing tool but will be soon hopefully

[wiam]

My two handed tool does spouts fine.

[CharlieVT]

479547934794I used the pics in the gallery and took the idea to fabricate a tool from stuff I had around the shop. It took some fiddling but now works pretty good on spouts and Ts.

Most of the components are self evident from the pics:
small vice grips,
old pliers,
legs from a broken camp stool to extend the plier handles,
the tubing gripper is a connector for threaded rod which I split length-wise,
a split nut with the threads ground out tacked on the the tubing gripper to act a a guide for the barbed end of the fitting,
a piece of barn door track with a U ground into it to and a washer cut open and tacked on serve as the pusher.

Tools to fabricate:
bench grinder,
hack saw (Sazall with metal cutting blade),
MIG welder,
files.

[SevenCreeksSap]

That look slike my kind of tool. I was wondering what to use for the tubing holder. good idea.

[THCPrecision]

This was my version and to put drops together in the heated shop I clamp 1 handle in the bench vise and pretty mush run it with my hip. I use a bolt to push against in the second vise grip for making the drops I can make over 150 per hour alone from scratch.. Build time was about 3 hours with out one to copy but I do own a machine / fab shop. The second was a little more refined the pics are of the first. I cut the tubing with pruing sheers. its not as complicated as many think. 48464847484848494850 hope this helps

[lakeview maple]

I made this one today,it will go big enough to do saddles on the mainline ,and small enough to do every thing else,I have about 9.00 dollars total invested. I got the idea here on the trader,thanks for all the help everyone,God Bless and have a great day,Al @ Lake View Maple4891

[SevenCreeksSap]

I finally got around to making a set of these that looks just like Lakeview maple's, with the larger channel lock pliers. I went crazy and bought a new set of vice grips and pliers at big lots, so I have a grand total of 17 bucks in it. Works great on both the spouts and the T's on 5/16 tubing. Cant wait to run tubing.