Are there any alternatives to manual swaging tools?

2nd March 2020


Are there any alternatives to manual swaging tools?


	Shop for Manual Swaging Tools


		There are a number of tools which can be used to swage pipe, from tiny swage punches to heavy-duty machinery.

		Whether you will be reducing or increasing pipe diameter, this page will cover some of the other options available to you.

		Reducing pipe diameter
		As these tools are used to reduce pipe diameter, they are the truest alternatives to the manual swaging tools covered in this guide.

		Swaging machines These may sometimes be called ‘tube forming machines’, and come in a range of different shapes, sizes and functions – but the basic principle is the same.

		Swaging machines usually feature two wheels which are positioned around the edge of a pipe end, and rotate around it to swage the desired form. While the pipe is swaged, the user supports it in the hand.

		Alternatively, some swaging machines incorporate die sets which are heated up before pipe is fed into them by the user. This enables larger sections of pipe to be reduced.

		The advantage of swaging machines is the speed with which pipe swaging tasks are completed; this makes them ideal for large scale production, where high quantities of pipe must be swaged.

		Swaging machines are also capable of swaging greater pipe wall thicknesses than manual swaging tools; while the thickest pipe that a manual swaging tool can be used on is 0.8mm (0.03in), swaging machines can swage pipe thicknesses up to 1.5mm (0.06in).

		The primary disadvantages of swaging machines are their cost and size. While a manual swaging tool can be transported with ease, and won’t cost too much to obtain, swaging machines are large, extremely difficult to move once set up, and very expensive.

		As an alternative for large-scale production, a swaging machine is by far the better option, and can be bought or hired, depending on your preference.

		For small-scale DIY projects, however, a manual swaging tool is far more economical and convenient.

		Crimping drills Crimping drills work in the same way as manual swaging tools, in that they incorporate a pair of jaws which close around the pipe wall, and compress it to form a pattern of ridges and recesses.

		Crimping drills are mains powered, and the jaws are operated using a trigger rather than a pair of handles. A crimping drill is an efficient alternative to the manual swaging tool in that it requires little effort on the part of the user, and compresses with consistent force around the entire pipe diameter.

		However, although they appear stronger and are built more heavily, crimping drills are only capable of swaging pipe thicknesses between 0.41-0.71mm (0.01-0.02in), whereas the compound action swaging tool can swage pipes up to 0.8mm (0.03in).

		Additionally, being mains powered means that a crimping drill can only be used where a suitable mains connection is available, making it harder to transport.

		A crimping drill may be an effective alternative to a manual swaging tool for a user with limited strength or ability, due to its ease of use.

		However, this tool costs up to three times more than the most expensive manual swaging tool, making it a very expensive option that should only be considered if absolutely necessary for the task.

		Pliers Some people use pliers to swage pipe ends.

		While this may be a cheaper solution (due to the lower cost of a pair of pliers), the results achieved using pliers are not ideal.

		For a consistent swage around the entire pipe diameter, manual swaging tools are far preferable to pliers.

		Additionally, as pliers are not designed to apply the level of force required to compress a pipe wall, you run the risk of bending your plier’s jaws, or damaging the pipe wall itself.

		Increasing pipe diameter
		Some forms of swaging can also be used to increase pipe diameter, in order to enable a pipe of smaller diameter to attach to one of larger diameter, or to connect pipes of the same diameter (in much the same way as decreasing pipe diameter achieves this). The primary tool which is used for this is the swage punch, detailed below.

		Swage punches A swage punch is a small tool which is driven into the end of a pipe section using a hammer.

		This forces the pipe end to deform around the shape of the swage punch.

		When the swage punch is removed, the deformed section of pipe retains its new, larger diameter.

		For small DIY swaging tasks, swage punches are ideal, and come in a range of sizes, shapes and materials. They are usually inexpensive, and can be used by almost anyone with ease.