Soft Copper Coil Manifold

[Frenchy]

I'm making a coiled manifold out of soft copper pipe. Should I cut my slots before or after I bend my pipe into my coil. I wasn't sure if that would cause my slots to get bent too large if i cut first, but i'm not sure how easy it will be to cut after bending.

 

[BrewBeemer]

I would cut it after bending to prevent spreading the cuts as well collapsing the tubing when bending. That would be a massive screwup don't cut first.

 

[Frenchy]

ok, thanks

 

[BrewBeemer]

The copper should be dead soft, after bending it will become harder so "unbending" will cause it to bend behind the first bend as this is softer creating an "S", not good. Should it become hard to work heat with a propane
torch until dull deep red then quickly quench in a bucket of water, this will make it dead soft again. Then you can continue to bend on again.
If you use a jewelers saw this will allow for a narrow kerf slits down to 0.020" wide, make many close together evenly spaced.