Flaring soft copper tubing

[NoviceHarry]

My old hands are getting weaker. Trouble using hand flaring tool. If I heat the tubing with a torch, would it be easier to get a good flare?

 

[Matt30]

If you heat the cooper to the point it becomes soft, you have taken the density out if the pipe and the flare will likely crack or split I would think. I haven't ever tried though.

Perhaps using something in your flaring tool to give you a little more leverage would help.

 

[plumb_bob_square_pants]

Cheater bar and pipe wrench. I wouldn't heat it. Softening it in that way will give you an uneven flare.

 

[Mr_David]

If you heat the cooper to the point it becomes soft, you have taken the density out if the pipe and the flare will likely crack or split I would think. I haven't ever tried though.

Perhaps using something in your flaring tool to give you a little more leverage would help.

If you're flaring it, the copper is probably annealed (soft ) copper already.

If you are flaring rigid copper than you probably going to want to heat it up to almost red hot.
It doesn't have to glow red hot. them let it cool slow before you flare.