Mechanical joint is sometimes required or preferred to join copper or steel tubes together, instead of brazing, soldering, or welding. To create a mechanical connection on tubes flaring is used. Flaring is a process to form the end of a tube to create a liquid-tight or a gas-tight connection. Most of flaring kits are relatively inexpensive and easy to find, despite the fact that different sizes of tubes require specific sets of equipment. To cut a tube the special cutting tool is used. A common flaring tool kit has two main parts – a flare form and a reamer. A flare form is like a clamp with a number of holes used for various tube diameters. It holds the pipe firmly so you can flare the pipe with minimum efforts The thing that makes the actual flaring is reamer, which has holding arms, a screw, and a conical point. If you flare the tubing properly with the best brake flaring tool and right technique you’ll get the leak-proof joint The first step is cutting the right length of tubing with a proper tool. Second step is to slide the compression nut on the tubing. The last thing is to use a flaring tool kit to make a flaring itself. Single flaring is the most used and the simplest process of flaring Both 37 and 45-degree single flares options are available. There are two ways to accomplish a flared tube end – rotary or spinning, and a ram forming the flared end.
The most common flare tube ends and corresponding flare fitting standards in use today are the 45-degree SAE style, and the 37-degree AN style, also used with the JIC system. The AN/JIC style generally has a higher pressure rating for a given size tubing. Due to the different flare angle SAE and AN/JIC connections are completely incompatible. The refrigeration and air conditioning industry usually uses 45° flare connections while hydraulic hoses are usually 37-1/2° flare connections. According to NFPA 54/ANSI. Z223.1 National Fuel Gas Code, copper tubes used for natural gas, Liquefied Petroleum, or propane may use flared brass fittings of single 45°-flare type Nevertheless, all National Model Codes permit the use of flare fitting joints, the one should be consulted by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to determine acceptance for a specific application