R.C. Spender

I've never gotten a really nice clean cut in the brass fuel tubing like I get when cutting copper water pipes with a pipe cutter. Is there such a tool for our small brass tubes? Also when I clean out and clean up the end of the tube the wall gets thin and sharp on the end sometimes. What techniques or tricks work best?

Josey Wales

My Feedback: (61)

I have a small tubing cutter that works ok but I get the cleanest cuts with my Dremel

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

I use an x-acto knife. Place the tubing on the workbench, place your blade where you want the cut, and roll back and forth to cut the tubing.

lex2bits

My Feedback: (12)

This works just fine for me:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXR790&P=7

After the cut, just run an x-acto around the I.D. to clean it up. The O.D. will already be rounded a little. Flare the end of the brass tubing just a little bit so the fuel line won't slip off easily. You can flare by rolling a scribe around the inside of the brass.

To really secure the fuel line on the brass there are a couple ways. Spring clips, wire twist, or my favorite.... slip a short piece ( 1/4" ) of large silicone tubing.

Ray

BillS

I use a block of wood with a hole to hold the tubing and then use the dremel cutoff wheel. The handle end of a small file is used to debur the inside of the tubing.

Bill

Kaos Rulz

I've tried all these ways and the best/easiest/quickest is the way RCKEN described. Very clean cuts with minimal deburring.

kdheath

I cut the tubing with the X-Acto knife trick. I have a small sanding block made of 1/8 inch plywood (~2 X 3 inches) and lightly sand the end of the tube smooth, knock the burr off the outside with the sandpaper and twirl the knife to get the inside burr. You want to be sure not to leave a burr on the outside or it will cut your fuel line if the tube is for a tank.

ZAGNUT

My Feedback: (1)

another vote for the knife trick, also works great for nyrods and aluminium. my mother taught me how to do this when i was age 7 or 8 and she caught me sneaking off with her "good" scissors to cut the tubing...


dave

Jim Thomerson

I do it various ways as described above, as the spirit moves me. KS has a little plastic tube cutter which works fine.

Jim

R.C. Spender

Thanks everybody! I used the exacto knife as you said and got a really nice cut. The k&s cutter would probably be better at the field where you might not have a good cutting surface too. Thanks again.
R/C Spender

gow589

My Feedback: (1)

Me 2, don't forget to sand the edges smooth or it will cut the fuel tubing.

oldtimer2

My Feedback: (19)

I don't think you should be using brass tubing if you are running a nitro fuel. The corrosion over time gets messy. I use the x-acto and copper or alum.

gow589

My Feedback: (1)

Millions have. It may be an issue but it's never been a problem.

RC-Captain

Why brass ?

michpittsman

My Feedback: (11)

To oldtimer-My airplanes aren't around that long. Jim

cruzomatic

My Feedback: (17)

I use a small pipe cutter as I already had one. Next time I order from Tower though, I'll probably pick me up the K & S cutter. Not too bad for $5 bucks.

Bill Teller

I have been using my razor saw (pull stroke only) & deburring after. I figure I will have bent it or something before it gets dull anyhow.

piper_chuck

My Feedback: (12)

I've had the K & S cutter for a really long time. Works great.

J_R

Another vote for the K&S cutter.

pt19 flyer

My Feedback: (1)

hi

a dremel tool and a cut off wheel will do a great job.

good luck and happy flying

pt19 flyer

d_bodary

My Feedback: (85)

Myself i prefer copper tubing to aluminum. and let me tell you why. i think the aluminum is prone to cracking. way more than any problem with the copper tubing will ever show up. as far as brass tubing goes i had never thought about using it before. maybe the next plane i build i will try that out.
Dennis

Capt. Bill

I have the tubing cutter but I seem to use a dremel tool most of the time. The battery powered one works great not having to mess with the cord. The other nice thing to have though is a tubing bender.