How To Remove Swarf From Inside Copper Tubing ?

[redbeard]

finally decided to build a copper manifold to replace my pvc one. being lazy, thought using an angle grinder would make quick work of the slots. yes, it did, but some swarf is left inside the pipe. a screwdriver gets rid of some of it. my next idea is to maybe try a green scrubbie rolled up & pushed thru, or maybe a piece of dowel. dont have any dowel the right size, so could be a trip to bunnys/mita10. (how come these stores dont have loyalty points ??)

any other suggestions ?

thanks

 

[Darren]

Hole file.

cheers
darren

Really wanted to write half round bastard 8)

 

[Hopeye]

How big's the manifold ?? I've seen short bristle wire brushes for cleaning inside pipe, but, they're generally very short. Suppose it could be adapted.

 

[mika]

Pull thru on fishing line or something like that ?
I know when I used to work in hydraulics we had thess big foam plugs that you shoved in the pipe then blew thru with compressed air.

 

[barfridge]

The slots in the pipe might make the compressed air idea a bit difficult.

/armchair expert, got no ideas of his own

 

[warrenlw63]

Really wanted to write half round bastard 8)

[post="110827"][/post]​

Your memoirs won't help Darren.

Warren -

 

[warrenlw63]

Redbeard.

Copper is cheap. Time I guess is expensive. Might be a better idea to start again and maybe use a hacksaw this time.

Plus, having made the same mistake (almost) before I'm picking the slots are too wide if you cut them with an angle grinder. :unsure:

Warren -

 

[stephen]

Grab a wire coat hanger, cut, unfold etc until straight. Fold about 1 inch or so back up on itself. Cut scotch-brite into 1 inch strips and " crimp" into folded piece of coathanger wire. Feed other end of coat hanger wire through manifold and affix into drill chuck. Run drill slowly - if scotch-brite is too big, trim to fit- and feed into manifold and work along full length of tube and back until scotch-brite is worn out. Repeat until inside of manifold is clean.

Steve

 

[redbeard]

Thanks for everyones suggestions. I should have said the manifold is rectangular, about 26cm by 13 cm. Warren, i used a cutting disc instead of a grinding one, so the slots are similar in size to a hacksaw. I think I'll run with Stephan's suggestion. Would never have thought of using scotch-brite, coathanger AND the drill. thanks Steve.

cheers

 

[stephen]

Redbeard

What I found when I made my manifold was that if I cut the scotch-brite in thirds along the long dimension and then into one inch wide strips they fitted quite well. And this seemed to be about the right amount for my manifold: Mine is 4" wide and about 13" long (for the younger generation - 10cm wide by 33 cm long) and there is only two tubes.

When you do your first run, draw the scotch-brite through as slow as possible - you may have to use a knife or similar to push the swarf back into the tube after each "pull-through". Take your time and it is quite easy and effective.

Steve

PS Let us know how you go.

 

[timmy]

use a rotary deburrer, if it wont reach then don't worry about it.

 

[sosman]

finally decided to build a copper manifold to replace my pvc one. being lazy,

[post="110824"][/post]​

If you were truly lazy like me you would use SS braid.

 

[redbeard]

the scotchbrite & drill did the trick & removed most of the swarf. there is a few small bits left but im not worried about. mashing today went quite well thou had to stir the mash up & let settle again to get the last couple of litres of liquor out. i decided to try swickle's idea and use slots running along the manifold, rather than at 90'. i think it worked at least equal to my previous pvc manifold.

 

[yardy]

you seem to have it sorted, iv'e got to ask though, why not run a drill bit in from either end ?

 

[recharge]

Redbeard.


Plus, having made the same mistake (almost) before I'm picking the slots are too wide if you cut them with an angle grinder. :unsure:

Warren -

[post="110861"][/post]​

You can get 1mm thick cutting discs for 4" anglegrinder

:beer:

Richard