The LPG industry in UK is known for the manufacture of quality materials. Their design and attention to detail is assuring customers of the safety aspect this industry relies. Copper tubing is a mainstay for the LPG industry.
Copper is preferred because it is resistant to corrosion and chemically inert. The tubing can be contoured when copper gas lines have to be installed. They can be bent and most important characteristic of copper is the joints between two copper tubes is easily joined. The easiest method of joining is by soldering or brazing. When dealing with flammable gas open flame jointing is asking for trouble. A mechanical joint is the answer. This type of jointing copper tubes is called flaring joints.
How to flare copper tube for jointing purposes
A flare tool is used. The tool should match the outer diameter of the copper tube.The flare angle should be approximately 45 degrees.The tool consists of flaring bars with openings for the several tube sizes. There is a yoke that has a flaring cone and a clamp gripping the flare bars.
Soft copper tubes are easy to flare. Hard copper tubes need annealing (metal is heated to a particular temperature or colour and then cooled slowly. This will soften the metal). The tube is cut square.The burrs are removed and reamed to the full inside diameter. This step is important as otherwise the joint will not be round and seating will not happen. A flare nut is insertedwith the threads closest to the flare end. The tube is inserted in the flaring tool between the flaring bars. The height of the tube is adjusted for the desired length of the flare. The yoke handle is turned lowering the flaring cone and forcing the lip of the tube end outward. The flaring bar presses against the pressure creating an angled flare. Do not over tighten the cone as this can cause cracking and deformation of the tube. Some flaring tools are equipped with burnishing or ironing the flare to give a consistent profile.
Wholesale copper pipe fitting manufacturers provide flaring tools to contractors and DIY (do it yourself) so that copper fittings and accessories are available under a single roof. Reputed gas equipment suppliers stock copper fittings like copper tubes of various diameters, copper clips that accommodate the correct diameter.
Gas Equipment Direct 
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