A pipe expander increases the diameter of metal pipes using steel sections with wedge-shaped nuts on each end. It is used in plumbing and automotive exhaust systems, and may require heating for larger pipes.
A pipe expander is a device that is used to increase the diameter of a piece of metal pipe. The pipe expander is made up of several individual sections of steel arranged around a threaded shaft with wedge-shaped nuts on each end. The entire assembly is held together by a spring that surrounds each end. The assembly is slid into the end of a piece of pipe and the pipe expander is tightened by pulling the wedge nuts into the steel sections. As the wedges are driven into the sections, they are forced outward, expanding the pipe.
Most tube expanders come in a set of two or more different sizes. Sizes range from small to large in most cases, with the small size fitting small copper pipes and the large size working with waste pipe. The benefit of using a pipe expander with a small copper pipe is mostly found in plumbing applications. When plumbing, long, straight lengths of pipe can be used and then sized with a pipe expander to fit snugly around another piece before tightly welding it. This requires no fittings or couplings and the seams are tight.
Automotive exhaust systems are easily created from lengths of straight pipe with the aid of a pipe expander and pipe bending machine. The vast array of automobile types makes it nearly impossible for repair shops to stock systems for all vehicle types. Most automotive exhaust repair shops use a template to bend an exhaust system for a particular vehicle and use a pipe expander to create joints to fit the sections together. Once the system is fully coupled, the joints can be held tight by installing a clamp around the joint flange or by welding the two pieces of pipe together.
When using an expander on a large or thick piece of pipe, it is often necessary to heat the pipe to encourage expansion. By applying heat to the tube, it becomes more flexible and the expander doesn’t need to work as hard to expand the tube. When you decide to use heat, it is imperative that you remove the expander from the pipe before heating. Applying heat while the expander is inside the pipe can cause the expander to seize and break. It’s also a good idea to spray the inside of the tube with a lubricant, such as an all-purpose oil, to help the tube expander slide inside the tube when it opens.
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