• Flaring tools use pressure to make a fabricated mechanical joint for joining or sealing copper tubing with a flare connection. Flaring allows you to connect tubes to each other or another kind of fitting. 
• Flared ends tend to have an approximately conical shape. 
• The most popular flaring tool for copper tubing is the bar-type tool, which include multiple bits to accommodate different pipe or tube sizes. 
• Tubing and piping flares are not interchangeable. Tubing flares have a 45-degree angle while piping flares have a 37-degree angle. 

• Swaging tools use pressure to expand or stretch the end of a piece of copper tubing so it can fit over another of the same diameter and make a permanent brazed connection. Tube swaging seeks to increase the inside diameter of tubing, eliminate the need for additional fittings (which can potentially save money) and reduce the opportunity for leaks. 
• Swaged ends tend to have a cylindrical shape. 
• The types of swaging tools for copper pipe include spike-shaped punch tools, manual tube expanders and feed screw tools comparable to flaring bars. 
• Often a flaring tool kit will come with swaging bits or die blocks to convert a flaring bar into a swaging bar. 

Before using flaring and swaging tools, prepare the length of copper pipe or tubing to be shaped. 

• Measure the copper tubing and cut to the desired length with a tubing cutter. 
• Clean the end of the tubing of burrs with a deburring tool, pipe reameror sharp knife. 

• When flaring, begin by choosing the tool accessories that match the diameter of the tube to be flared. 
• Place the tubing inside the die block or clamp of the flaring tool. The end of the tube should extend about 1/8 inch (about the height of a nickel) from the flaring tool. 
• Tighten the wing nuts to secure the tubing in the tool. 

Tip: Place a drop of oil on the flaring cone to smooth the process. 

• Center the flaring cone over the tubing. 
• Tighten the flaring tool to lower the press into the tubing until it forms a flare. Do not over-tighten, which risks splitting the copper. 
• Loosen and remove the flared tubing. 

Tip: If you have a kit with swaging accessories and want to swage a tube, follow the same steps, replacing swaging bits for the flaring bits. 

A punch swager is among the simplest and least expensive tools available for swaging. 

• Secure the tube in a vise or hold by hand in a firm grip.
• Matching the diameter of the tube to the appropriately sized punch, put the narrow end inside the tube. Make sure that it’s aligned perfectly straight. 
• Strike the end of the punch with a hammer until the tube meets the stop. 

 A tube expander makes it easy to swage tubing of different sizes. 

• Attach an expander head that matches the diameter of the tube to the end of the tool. 
• Fit the head into the end of the tube and gradually squeeze the handles. 
• Release when the end of the tube is fully swaged.