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12th Sep 2018, 11:57 AM #1Novice
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Need advice - Method to cut 3/8" copper couplers?
I have hundreds of 3/8" copper tubing couplers (used in AC systems) which are 20mm in length. I need to cut them down to 18mm in length. How can I do this economically and with a nice cut? Also, just holding such a short (length) of tubing like that in order to cut it is another question.
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12th Sep 2018, 12:02 PM #2Most Valued Member
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What tools do you have available? I would probably mill the top off all of them, then use a countersink to deburr them all probably just put that in a pistol drill. Copper will burr up real bad unless you use extremely sharp tools.
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12th Sep 2018, 12:35 PM #3Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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One possibility is to use 6" long 3/8" bolt with a pair of nuts locked of exposing 18mm of thread.
Pop the coupler on the exposed thread and sand off the excess 2mm with a medium grit belt grinder.
Maybe a jig to hold it square to the and sand till you see sparks from the bolt.
When the bolt wears too far adjust the position of the pair of nuts
Copper sands quite nicely on a belt grinder.
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12th Sep 2018, 12:54 PM #4Novice
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12th Sep 2018, 12:58 PM #5Novice
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Second part I get. Not exactly sure I'm understanding your setup in the first sentence though?
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12th Sep 2018, 02:16 PM #6
Just a simple tool to set the tube length !
Best Regards:
Baron J.
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12th Sep 2018, 02:24 PM #7Most Valued Member
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Given you don't have a lathe and you specified a nice cut, I would slip each coupler onto a piece of ⅜ steel bar and cut the 2mm off with a copper tubing cutter. Place a another coupler onto the bar for the cutter wheel to ride on. If you are doing hundreds of them, I would also fit a collar to the bar to act as a depth stop so you don't have to measure the cut each time.
Chris
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12th Sep 2018, 02:32 PM #8Novice
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Next time better QC (quality control at the factory). I have 1,000 that were cut wrong (too long) and I need to fix, if possible and economical. Imported them. No sending back.
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12th Sep 2018, 02:34 PM #9Novice
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Nice idea. How would you debur? Put a 3M deburring wheel on the grinder, or???
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12th Sep 2018, 03:03 PM #10Most Valued Member
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Good question. I'd be hoping if the coupler was a snug fit on the steel bar, the burr would be small enough that it didn't beed to be removed. Given you have 1000 of them, it might be cost effective to take them to a metalwork shop and ask them to cut them down on a lathe. Depends how much you paid for them in the first place though.
May I ask what the job is that the extra 2mm can't be accommodated?Chris
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12th Sep 2018, 03:58 PM #11Novice
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They won't fit in my die set with the extra 2mm.
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12th Sep 2018, 05:29 PM #12Most Valued Member
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OK. Are these compression fittings? Something like this? RLS LLC – RLS Refrigeration Press Fittings
Chris
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12th Sep 2018, 06:58 PM #13Novice
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No, solder.
couplers.jpg
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12th Sep 2018, 07:07 PM #14Most Valued Member
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So they have a ridge in the middle to centre the joiner on the pipes. Do you want to take 1mm off each end, or are you happy with 2mm off one end?
Chris
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12th Sep 2018, 07:19 PM #15Novice
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Mine are straight, with no ridge (stop).
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