Cutting, Bending and Flaring Tubing Article and Photos by Jim Clark
What: Cutting, bending and flaring tubing is a skill that should be mastered by anyone building or modifying a hot rod. There are three types of tubing used in automotive applications: rigid, semi-rigid and flexible. Rigid tubing includes JIC steel, stainless steel, titanium, heavy-walled steel, hard drawn copper, or similar types. Semi-rigid tubing includes soft copper, brass, aluminum, thin-wall steel or special alloy. Flexible tubing is usually called hose. In automotive applications the cutting, bending and flaring will usually be restricted to rigid stainless or semi-rigid thin-wall steel used in brake lines. Aluminum, soft copper or thin-wall steel for fuel, cooler, A/C and power steering plumbing lines.
How: Rigid tubing is usually supplied in straight lengths, semi-rigid tubing in coils