Straightening copper for cfc

**Dgonza9** · 07-29-2010, 08:07 PM

I'm out of town, but as the kids splash around in the water park i'm thinking about a new cfc. I have a 25' 3/8" ic. I want to straighten it and make a cfc. Any tips on straightening the copper? Or is it simple to do?

Thanks.

**IrregularPulse** · 07-29-2010, 08:13 PM

I did the same thing. I drilled a hole large enough for the OD of the tubing into a 2x4. If doing it again I'd maybe put 2-3 deep. Then just pull the tubing through the hole. It'll straighten itself out good enough to push it through your hose.

**Ohio-Ed** · 07-29-2010, 08:18 PM

When you bend copper it "work hardens" and becomes harder to bend next time.
Not sure if it would work, but I'd try just loosening the coil a bit as opposed to making the copper straight.

**IrregularPulse** · 07-29-2010, 08:24 PM

I did the exact same thing he's trying to do and had no issues rebending for the CFC. I understand the theory, but have done it in practice.

**stlbeer** · 07-29-2010, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrregularPulse

I did the same thing. I drilled a hole large enough for the OD of the tubing into a 2x4. If doing it again I'd maybe put 2-3 deep. Then just pull the tubing through the hole. It'll straighten itself out good enough to push it through your hose.

+1

I screwed two 2x4's together and it was straight enough to get through the hose. Make sure to use a liquid soap solution in the hose before pushing the copper through.

**bad coffee** · 07-29-2010, 11:10 PM

The correct way would be to anneal the tubing. Heat it up with a torch until it's red hot, then let it cool completely. You can quench it in a bucket of water if you want.

Then it will bend like it's soft and new.

B

techrunner · 07-30-2010, 07:54 PM

while i think its probably not absolutely necessary, lets be clear. DO NOT cool it in water or anything else if you try to anneal it. the whole point of annealing is to allow all the material crystals to reform. this only works cooling slowly to ambient temps. if you quench it, you are heat treating, making it harder and more brittle.

**BargainFittings** · 07-30-2010, 08:27 PM

Copper and non ferrous metals like silver can be quenched and they will still be annealed.

Specific alloys of copper will harden with quenching:

http://www.keytometals.com/article71.htm

**IrregularPulse** · 07-30-2010, 08:29 PM

I love this forum. So much info on so many topics besides brewing.

**bad coffee** · 07-30-2010, 11:18 PM

I had to go to college to learn about annealing copper.

The course said 'Metalsmithing' It should read "Jewlery Making" The prof was great, and I did learn a lot about metal. Didn't make anything cool that survived. The one great thing was a sterling bracelet that an ex kept.

B