Hi
Please forgive this question, but I've read the threads I can find and I'm still not sure as many threads have contradictory advise as far as I can see. Anyway, I have some photos!

Here are a male and female nut.


Description

To me, both these have a concave seat (goes inwards). I'm guessing I need to look at one of them differently?

This is my flaring tool.


Description

The instructions say for a female flare: The tube should just protude through the upper face of the Clamp Block my approximatly 1mm.

The next step is how to form a male flare, so I assume a female flare is done using the flare cone mandrel directly. This made this flare like a cone shape:


Description

I had a go at a double flare too from the instructions which uses the male flare die, then the flare cone madrel without the die. It made this:


Description

Note that the flares are tests, no deburring or anything, I guessed the shape would be there or there abouts for the photos.

When I look into the t-piece fitting, it looks like the inside of the female fitting.

So the question is: which flare for which fitting/pipe end? For example, I've read several times it should be double flare for female nuts always, but a female flare on my tool is completely different? Hence my confusion.

Thank you all in advance, Guy.

Both those flares you have made are female.

It all depends on what the shape of the item is your are screwing the ends too.
If you are attaching a copper pipe to a braided flexi you would use a female flare inside a female nut, as the male shape is on the end of the braided flexi.

If you are attaching two copper pipes together you would use a female flare in a female nut on one pipe, and a male flare with a male nut on the other pipe.

I've got the same flaring tool as you, works spot on.

You need to use the die inserted into the end of the copper pipe to make your male flare, then leave it as it is, don't double flare it.

[Edited on 18/5/14 by CosKev3]

Hi
I have always been told that you make a male fitting by using the mandrel by just screwing in with the tool, but a female flare should always be a male first then put a female flare over the thickened up end. If you dont the female flare will crack when you compress/screw up the joint as its to thin.
Does this help

Nick M

I think what's confused me is when I read that it depends what I'm screwing into, when to me it would be as straight forward as the same flare as the fitting on the end of the pipe. So male flare with male fitting etc. Maybe that's what everyone means and I just didn't get it.

So I'll go for male flare where I have a male fitting on the end, and a female double flare where I have a female fitting on the end.

Thank you both for you help.