Tube expansion for lanyards etc

[NJBillK]

What about a plumbing reducing bushing? Just something to act as a center for the cone and a sleeve for the arbor press. Depending on the OD of the arbor press shaft, something like this might work:

If you were to tack weld or JB weld the cone into the 1/4" female end when it is bottomed out so the pressure isn't on the fitting but on the shaft of the cone.

Depending on how much labor you want to invest, you could also get a 1/2" steel rod and use your lathe to drop down the OD to 1/4" on the one side then thread that to fit the bushing and taper the other side down so you would have a 1/2" cone.

 

[rustyrazor]

All good intel folks--thanks! I really like the approach of the cones on a arbor press, I have both---lathe dead centers and an arbor press. Just don't know how I would mount one to the press--maybe JB Weld??

i used 24 hour high strength epoxy and NEVER had a problem with it. my set up is exactly that... lathe dead centers I cut off so they were only 1" long. evened them up on the bottom then polished them mirror on the buffer so they wouldn't mar the holes and they work awesome. one in maybe every 4 stainless and 6 brass tubes crack, but never had a problem with copper. I assume this is pretty normal depending on how much you spread the material. i now use a depth stop so i can only countersink far enough to get a good flat fit. your tubes should be pretty much flush with the handle material before you flare them... it leaves the best look and no real lip to feel.

good luck