Swaging 1 3/8 Chain link top rail

AlanB · Nov 14, 2010

Anyone, seen, made, or have an idea on swaging the 1 3/8" chain link top rail pipe? (tubing)

I want to build some green houses, and would like to swage some drop ends to use them.

I know there are connectors for over the pipe, and I know some of the EMT is a decent fit inside and couple that with a couple tek screws and will probably be about as good as it gets, but I was kind of hoping to just have something that would swage the ends and work simply.

Might just make a block and try straight pressing it but I don't think just two segments would be enough, yet trying to do multiple segments in the die gets complicated quick.

Also thought about taking some pieces in to where they make up hydraulic hoses for me and see if I could find a die set there that would work, but I am thinking that would only be an inch or two long. Maybe multiple presses?

Anyway, not sure if someone has crossed this before or not?

wroughtn_harv · Nov 14, 2010

AlanB said:
Anyone, seen, made, or have an idea on swaging the 1 3/8" chain link top rail pipe? (tubing)

I want to build some green houses, and would like to swage some drop ends to use them.

I know there are connectors for over the pipe, and I know some of the EMT is a decent fit inside and couple that with a couple tek screws and will probably be about as good as it gets, but I was kind of hoping to just have something that would swage the ends and work simply.

Might just make a block and try straight pressing it but I don't think just two segments would be enough, yet trying to do multiple segments in the die gets complicated quick.

Also thought about taking some pieces in to where they make up hydraulic hoses for me and see if I could find a die set there that would work, but I am thinking that would only be an inch or two long. Maybe multiple presses?

Anyway, not sure if someone has crossed this before or not?

1. they sell swaged end top rail.

2. You can probably buy swage dies for muffler pipe bending machines. You could check your local muffler shop and see what it would cost them for the dies and then have them swage your ends for you.

3. You can buy your own muffler pipe bender along with your swage dies.

MossRoad · Nov 14, 2010

I have some cheap pipe expanders that work pretty well for muffler pipe. You slip it inside the pipe and turn it with a wrench and it expands. I have tried it in conduit, but it split the conduit. Do not know how it would work with fence pipe.

Search results for: 'pipe expander'

captaincrab55 · Nov 14, 2010

MossRoad said:
I have some cheap pipe expanders that work pretty well for muffler pipe. You slip it inside the pipe and turn it with a wrench and it expands. I have tried it in conduit, but it split the conduit. Do not know how it would work with fence pipe.

Search results for: 'pipe expander'

The way I read it, he wants to make the pipe smaller to fit inside said pipe...

Mark @ Everlast · Nov 15, 2010

It just so happens I built a 20 x20 green house this way. You can expand it if done properly and just right. It is temperamental, but a hydraulic muffler shop expander will open it and a hydraulic bend from a muffler shop will work. But there is not much forgiveness. Do not go over what it absolutely will take for the pipes to slip fit,even if it takes a tap or two to get it in. Any more and it will split. I took mine to an experienced muffler shop and paid them to do it. They only ruptured a couple of pieces before they got the hang of it.

I don't think "compressing" it would work. The TEK screws will not hold up well. I did have a few pieces that I used that were a little sloppy in the fit, and used TEK screws to hold it. The wind and flexing of the pipe eventually broke them and where ever I used them from the start there was a sag.

AlanB · Nov 15, 2010

It's funny, when I write these things, I think I laid it all out and when I re-read it after the responses I realize I left a lot of blanks that I was thinking, but obviously not writing.

Let me clarify what I was trying to say below

"I want to build some green houses, and would like to swage some drop ends to use them."

I should have said something along the lines of I plan on buying the 10'6" sections with already swaged ends, and I want them to be 5' long to be my ground stakes, the drop I meant was the remaining 5' that I have thoughts of using to make tables, benches etc. but it would sure be handy if I could just swage another end onto the 5' long drop and make 2 pieces from each stick.

I have the muffler expanders, but so far, I have not had much success with expanding emt or chainlink pipe, they tend to split on the weld on me. I have not tried a commercial shops machine though so I need to take some in and try it.

I really want to swage down the pipe though, going back to above where I particularly want to be able to do the ground stakes, I would like the swaged (smaller ends) pointing up out of the ground and the hoop ends going on top of / over the swaged ends of the ground stakes so that as water runs down the tubes (bows) it would run to the outside of the ground stakes. Maybe I need to expand the hoop ends, which would give a similar result, but would be more complicated to get into the muffler machine (physically handling a 10' long curved tube.)

Thanks for the ideas guys

crazyal · Nov 15, 2010

Going smaller may not be too hard if you have a good hydraulic press. I've never tried pipe but I have crimped ferrules onto steel cable by making my own dies. It seams to me you might be able to make a die that could shrink the pipe.