Features
- Two-position adjustable collar on 1/4 in, 5/16 in, and 3/8 in heads to reduce cracking during partial or full expansion
- Automatic rotating expansion heads for consistent, even expansions suitable for brazing
- Steel body construction with nickel-plated steel jaws for durability
- Available in a range of sizes to cover common refrigeration copper tubing
- Intended for use with the matching 20V copper swage tool (tool sold separately)
Specifications
| Application | Expand refrigeration-type soft copper tubing (HVACR) |
| Compatible Tool | 20V copper swage tool (tool sold separately) |
| Sizes Available | 1/4 in, 5/16 in, 3/8 in, 1/2 in, 5/8 in, 3/4 in, 7/8 in, 1-1/8 in, 1-3/8 in, 1-5/8 in |
| Construction | Steel body; nickel-plated steel jaws |
| Rotation | Automatic rotating expansion heads |
| Adjustable Collar | Two-position adjustable collar on 1/4 in, 5/16 in, and 3/8 in heads |
| Warranty | 2 year warranty |
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Swage heads intended for use with a 20V copper swage tool to expand soft copper tubing used in refrigeration and HVACR work. Heads are built with a steel body and nickel-plated jaws, and include features to produce even expansions and reduce cracking on smaller tubing sizes.
Project Ideas
Business
Mobile Mini‑Split Line-Set Fabrication
Offer on-site custom line-set builds with swaged, brazed joints instead of couplers to reduce restriction and leak points. Use the rotating heads for uniform expansions up to 1-5/8 in and the adjustable collar on small sizes to minimize cracking during partial expansions. Package services by tonnage and length, with same-day installs for contractors.
Pre‑Swaged Refrigeration Manifolds and Headers
Manufacture and sell standardized copper headers (e.g., 1-1/8 in main with multiple 3/8 in and 1/2 in take-offs) and branch Ys for VRF/mini-split installs. Consistent, concentric swages reduce rework for installers. Offer SKUs by size sets, with options for nitrogen purge-ready brazing ports and pressure test certificates.
HVACR Joint Quality and Leak Repair Service
Provide a specialized service for repairing pinhole leaks and reworking poor flares by replacing sections with swaged, brazed joints. Market to property managers and refrigeration contractors for after-hours emergency calls. Include documentation of joint formation (photos, nitrogen purging, pressure test) as a premium differentiator.
Tool Rental + Training Micro‑Academy
Rent out the 20V swage tool kit with a short, paid workshop covering proper swaging, adjustable collar use on 1/4–3/8 in, nitrogen purging, and brazing best practices. Offer weekend pickup/return and a damage deposit. Upsell consumables (rods, nitrogen regs) and certification-style completion cards for tech resumes.
Architectural Copper Fabrication Studio
Produce custom railings, lighting arms, display fixtures, and furniture accents using swaged joints for seamless transitions. Target restaurants, retail, and interior designers with lookbooks showing step-down expansions as a design motif. Price per linear foot plus joint complexity; offer on-site templating and installation.
Creative
Branching Copper Lamp
Build a sculptural floor or desk lamp using soft copper tubing as both structure and wire conduit. Swage 3/8 in to 1/2 in, and 1/2 in to 5/8 in to create clean slip-fit branches that you can braze for invisible joints. The automatic rotating heads give concentric, even expansions so shades and sockets align. Use the adjustable collar on the smaller heads to avoid cracking when forming delicate multi-armed branches.
Telescoping Wind Chimes
Create nested, resonant chimes by swaging the ends of 1/2 in, 5/8 in, and 3/4 in copper tubes so they telescope with minimal gaps. The even expansion helps maintain tone consistency and aesthetics. Add small swaged collars as stoppers for precise spacing, and braze hanging loops directly to the tube ends.
Copper Planter Trellis with Hidden Irrigation
Build a vertical trellis using 1/2 in main uprights and 3/8 in crossbars. Swage tees and slip-fits to assemble a watertight internal manifold that feeds drip emitters. The rotating head gives round, uniform sockets for brazed joints, and the adjustable collar keeps thin 1/4 in feeder lines from cracking where they expand into the manifold.
Minimalist Bar Shelf and Glass Rack
Form a wall-mounted bar shelf using 3/4 in rails with swaged receivers for 3/8 in glass hangers. The swaged sockets hide joints and eliminate bulky couplers, giving a clean architectural look. Braze and polish for a brushed finish; use the range of head sizes to create stepped transitions as a design feature.
Kinetic Desktop Sculpture
Make a motion piece with nested, freely rotating copper rings and arms. Swage 1/2 in to receive 3/8 in bushings and use 5/8 in around 1/2 in as bearing races. The tool’s concentric expansion ensures smooth rotation; nickel-plated jaws reduce marring for a polished, gallery-quality finish.