Author Topic: Copper Tube (Read 1370 times)

talon · « **on:** August 07, 2004, 02:00:35 PM »

Where can I buy 7/16th" OD, .035" wall rigid copper tubing to make bullet jackets with? I can't find a supplier for this item.

Donna · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2004, 12:52:53 AM »

Did you try all the usual haunts, Home Depot, building supply places, and pluming supply houses and the likes on and off the web?

Donna

talon · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2004, 04:37:38 AM »

Donna, Yep. It's definitely not a standard product. While I'm still working down the list of US metal manufactures and fabricators, all I've found so far is some very pure, high grade, 7/16th" tube at about $12/foot. That's $12, not 12 cents!! I just got a very well written descriptive reply from Corbin Co ( always do. That place is tops, thou a bit pricy) that more or less said to get what I want I'd have to purchase a minimum of 10 times what I want or could use, or make my own for about 6 times what a Tube Jacket Making set costs. Are there any other swagers out there that have a need for 7/16th" tube that would want to help out in this minimum quantity order requirement? From what I'm finding in my search, these expectations and quotes are not out of line.( they are way over my budget). So, I'll keep looking at my supplier lists and calling/emailing those that appear promising. One of the tid-bits I learned is that it's not feasible to redraw bullet length tube sections in a JRD unless they've been rounded over. The tube wall ends, that would sit on the punch face, have to be fully supported, and this is almost impossible to properly do.

Rick Teal · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2004, 10:18:21 AM »

Is it not feasible to get an end rounder for 1/2" tube and a draw die to take it down to 7/16?

talon · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2004, 06:12:47 PM »

Rick, Yes. That's what I've been doing all along. And I'm learning that that may be about the only way to do it. 7/16ths OD tube appears to be a high priced speciality item. I'm still looking, however.

Rick Teal · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2004, 04:20:36 PM »

I'll keep my eyes open, but I had an awful time finding a supplier of 3/8" OD tube up here. At $12 a foot down there, it could be worth it to you to import it if we have a reasonably priced supply.

talon · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2004, 06:36:47 PM »

Rick, I've found a fabricator that will draw 1/2" OD rigid copper type L seamless round tube to 7/16th" OD for $.54 (US) per foot. Shipping will about double that price. Unfortunately they require a minimum order of 100 pounds, which in this case is about 1400' of tube. All I need is 60' !!
That rigid 3/8th" OD tube is used in refrigeration. I have plenty of that... no problem at all. One of the things I found out in my search is 1/2" or 3/8th" can mean any size! When you start talking tube you have to emphasize OD. For instance, that 3/8th" OD tube is called " 1/4inch tubing". And while there is about 300 ( or more) companies in the US that use tube in frabricating all sorts of things, only a very very few actually make, or redraw copper. Bottom line: I'm still looking for some firm or sombody that will redraw only about 60' of 1/2" type L copper tube to make that 7/16th" stock I need. For a price around $1.25 a foot.

talon · « **Reply #7 on:** September 18, 2004, 02:54:07 PM »

I've given up looking for 7/16" OD rigid round copper tube, and have decided to redraw my own from 1/2" OD stock. The 1 or 2 fabricators I found just had to high of a price for their goods. And, no one made .065" tube in the size I was looking for. Richard Corbin was kind enough to make a die to do the job (hasn't been tested, but it should work OK), and gave me his tried design for a drawing bench ( the thingy that holds the die holder and winch) and necessary components to do the job. Hopefully, in less than a month I'll be redrawing .035wall tube to 7/16" diameter, and a few weeks after that, .065".

Donna · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2004, 09:59:24 PM »

Talon I sure am interested in knowing what you plan on using the .065 thick tubing for? And can you explain the die holder and winch setup, maybe post a pic of it?

Donna

talon · « **Reply #9 on:** September 19, 2004, 04:21:15 AM »

Donna, the .065"wall tube is for my .416 cal partition jackets. I use the method where the tube is "crushed" in a core seating die between two punches designed to do that operation. It forms an "H" mantle jacket having .065" walls and an internal partition about 1/2 way along the tube, the thickness of which is determined by the initial length of the cut tube. My die set requires 7/16" tube to start the process and common techniques to reduce 1/2" jackets to that OD just doesn't work for cut tubing. Also, I have a Jacket making set that uses 7/16th" .035 walled tube for making jackets for my .429, .411, .406, as well as the .416 sets. At one time 7/16th" tube was available at reasonable rates. Now it's difficult to find at any price. The die holder and winch mount sit opposite each other on a 14' long 8"x8" post that lies horizontally. They are simple welded constructions about 12" long,6"wide and 6" high made of 1/2" iron. They are fixed to the post with six 1/2" bolts. The die looks like a fat silver dollar with a ~7/16" hole in the center. It has to be supported by the holder as it takes quite a bit of power to pull the tube thru. The winch mount just provides a purchase for a hand crank 10T winch. There is also a small device to 'grab' the leading end of the tube to pull it thru the die, and another to crush the leading edge of the tube to get it to pass thru the die to start with. I doubt if any hobby level bullet makers would ever have a need for such a machine, except perhaps those that make heavy walled 'H' mantle bullets other than .458. I'll try to post pictures after it's up and operating, which I hope will be by late October. The bottom line is that I had to go this route or retire my heavy walled .416 Partition set and the capabitity it offered. I'm in the process of upgrading the 7/16th .035 jacket making set to 1/2". But, you know how long it takes to get a new die... one, maybe two hunting seasons.

talon · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2004, 01:33:24 PM »

Finally got the tube reduction system up and operating. Smoke tested it today by sending a 4' piece of 1/2" OD/ .035"walled rigid copper tube thru it and got a perfect 7/16th" (.436") reduced tube. Unfortunately I won't be able to test the system for .065" walled tube until next Spring when I return from the land of snowbirds.