Bead coolant pipes

[Michael Fling]

Can't find anyone to bead my coolant pipes. I didn't think to have it beaded before they were welded up. Is it necessary that they are beaded? If so, are there any suggestions?

 

[Ken Roberts]

You could have a weld bead run around the tubing.

 

[lnoels]

These work good http://www.summitracing.com/int/sea...Match&SortOrder=Ascending&keyword=tube beader

 

[Ken Roberts]

These work good http://www.summitracing.com/int/sea...Match&SortOrder=Ascending&keyword=tube beader

The stock coolant pipes are stainless steel. Those bead formers are only for aluminum unfortunately.

 

[egoman/ Shawn Wedge]

Modify a pair of vise grips with some cold roll and hand bead them. Pretty easy to do in a afternoon.

 

[Tom]

The stock coolant pipes are stainless steel. Those bead formers are only for aluminum unfortunately.

Ken,
What wall thickness SS are you using? Hopefully not the heavier .049" or .065"...

The bead formers did a fine job on .035" 304 Stainless, which I used on my RCR over the supplied aluminum tubing. You don't need much....

Tom

 

[mark b.]

I've used double worm gear clamps on non beaded stuff and never had any come off.

 

[Matt Whitbread]

Been using one these daily for almost 2 years on .065" Ss. Just use oil, and do the bead in 4-5 increments. Comes out really nice.

 

[Doc Kaler]

I believe mine will do SS and Aluminum tubing as well AND you can use it for the cost of shipping to/from your shop. Looks like the same tool as shown by WPI. PM me if you want to give it a try.

 

[Doc Kaler]

Here is the data on my tool to loan out:

Bead Form 3 Tube Beading .065 tubing | Pressure bead roller for tube

 

[Garry 20 B]

I made mine out of copper pipe, hose connections into a female adapter for the radiator hose. McMaster Carr has all those fittings for hose to pipe thread and just soldered them together.

Im not a good welder, im a B G welder, blob and grind so I can solder pipe, so that how I did mine.

 

[Dave Forster]

I bought one of these Wide Range Tube Beading Tool
for my stainless coolant pipes.

Worked fine, although I wouldn't want to build several cars with it; not sure the tool would last through multiple cars. The stainless is pretty tough stuff.

 

[Kent]

You can just use a JB weld bead, comes out very tidy. I've done it on tons of projects, works great. Here: Bead Intercooler Pipes with JB Weld