Tek Motion 7 Level Professional Aluminum Copper Tube Expander Tool Full Set with Tube Cutter & Deburring Tool, 3/8" to 1-1/8"

With testing the tool performed well, be sure to spin the tube sightly after expanding, and give it an other squeeze, this will give a good even expansion on the fitting. Also a small wipe of mineral oil will help the tools life and expansion. I tested on three sizes, all created perfect fits comparable to store bought unions. I bought this particular tool at the recommendation of a Youtube channel (ACSERVICETECH). Each of the joints I made were tested with solder/sweating (plumbing work) and Brazing with Oxyacetylene (AC pressure lines). The tool worked perfectly for all. The advantage of these tools is that not only do you not need to purchase unions, and there is less to solder/braze. Rather than having two joints on a union [Pipe - joint - union - joint - pipe) you now only have one (pipe - Joint - expanded pipe). This eliminates points of failure and leaking. All around, the box, tool, and fit and finish were great.My original review, left below for transparency, I am amending. The seller replaced the item, and the new one I received is perfect. I had mentioned that the QC tag was not completed, on the new one, this was marked. Also, the tool actually worked differently. When one of the forming dies was on the original tool, the handles would close completely like when no die was on the tool. With the replacement, once a die was on the tool, the handles would only close part of the way. I suspect that come type of internal stop was broken or missing on the tool. I have not messed around with the set screw on the new one, but I suspect that was related to the issue. So, to be 100% clear, I give this tool a perfect rating now.- EDITED with new info above -The tool's fit and finish looks fine, but, the final result is unusable. I tested on the three sizes of tubing I use commonly, 3/8", 3/4", and 1". All expanded more than they should, leaving a visible gap between the expanded coupling and the pipe/tubing. I compared the fittings made with the tool to a premade coupling, and the fit is very different. You can see in the pictures that the gap left by the tool make sweating, soldering, or brazing impossible since the two metals are too far apart for the wicking of the filler material into the connection. Interestingly, the "QC'd by" on the included instructions is blank, so maybe this one was skipped over. Also, though everything looks the same as the pictures, the brand on the tool I received is different than the brand in the product listing. I've seen this before on generic tools, but, a change in product brand like this for import tools commonly means a change in quality in my experience. Maybe that the case here. New brand is DSZH vs CO-Z listed above. There is what looks like a set screw on the back of the tool that I thought might be an adjustment for sizing, though nothing in the instructions references what the screw does. I fiddled with it for a bit and found no changes in the function. In case the pictures of the gap are not clear enough, I have included shots with a micrometer showing the difference. I also did try brazing and sweating the coupling the tool made with no success. And, yes, you could just not completely expand the tubing, and test fit it, but that's a waste of time and not worth using the tool.

One of the shut-off valves on my heat pump failed and I lost all my refrigerant. So, I had to replace the valve and while I was at it I replaced the dessicant as well. The valve was a discontinued item and the new valve was different which required me to have to add some copper line. With this tool I was able to flare the copper and only have one solder joint per connection rather than two if I had used fittings. The key to using this tool is don't try to flare fully all at once (although it will). I was flaring 7/8" copper and I would flare it about halfway then rotate the tool so that the spaces between the mandrel sections would now line up in-between the lines made by the tool in the copper. Then I would flare it the rest of the way and also go back to the original position and flare it again. This makes the inner surface smooth instead of having dips where the mandrel sections separate. Every joint went together perfectly and has been leak-free for over a month now. Very happy with this tool even if I never use it again!

I've only used it in a hobby setting and not commercial or continuously. It works!

Works well enough, don't have any issues with the quality of the unit or pipe cutter.I only used this on 3/8 and 1/2 size pipe as we needed to fix the Evaporator in a 5 ton unit.Just make sure the copper is soft not hard or anneal the area you need to expand if it ishard copper.To anneal, just heat it up red hot and let it cool. This softens the copper so it is malleable andwont crack or break trying to expand it.To help harden it again put a cold wet rag on it right afteryou braze the pipes together.Since this tool has expanding sections it tends to stretch the copper more between the sections.Expand it about half way then turn it a few degrees and finish it. You will see and it will be clearwhen you make a test piece.

I like this tool it works well for my needs i have to go back and forth between Metric and SAE tubing and this tool allows me to make the smaller tube fit the larger. I am happy with my purchase. With that said the tool range stops at 1-1/8" and the paperwork in the kit states that they have sizes up to 2-1/8". I would like to purchase the heads 1-1/4" through 2-1/8", but cannot find a supplier, I have searched the net and sent many emails all to come back with they cannot help. I have went to the Chinese Mfg website with no luck. I like the tool a lot but am very disappointed that the parts are not available or and that a full kit is not offered.

Anneal the pipe, and skip on couplers. Happy to reduce the number of joints.Achieved a nice snug fit before soldering. Afterwards, joints have held up fine.The heads are sized by outer diameter, so use 5/8" for a 1/2" hard copper pipe. Tubing (softer and thinner) is sized by inner diameter.Many thanks to other reviewers for explaining the technique:1. Heat pipe until dull cherry red (best in low/no light). Let cool.2. Expand the lip of the pipe (first 3mm, 1/8" deep) just a bit3. Insert fully, expand a bit. Rotate a few degrees. Repeat. Stop once a pipe will fit snugly into the swaged end.Note: no preset stop that would prevent over-expansion of the swage.

This item saved me a lot of time by correcting a copper pipe they was out-of-round. The pipe was for a tub spout and would have been very difficult to replace. After taking the small kink out of the end I was able to sweat an adapter onto the pipe and install a diverter valve with ease.This item is well worth the price for this fix alone and now I can use it on other jobs making them easier if needed. It comes with a tube cutter and deburr tool along with 7 different sizes of expanding adaptors. The extras items really make this a great value - the tube cutter along would cost at least $10 - $15. I'm very pleased even after having used it only once!