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Brake pipe material again
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 3:17 pm    Post subject: Brake pipe material again Reply with quote

Here's a question:
I know what CuNiFer is (copper nickel ferrous alloy). But why is it used for brake pipes and not plain copper?
What properties does it posess that Copper doesnt?
Cheaper maybe?
Mike
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Penguin45



Joined: 28 Jul 2014
Posts: 381
Location: Padiham

PostPosted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 5:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Steel pipe rusts, copper work-hardens and becomes brittle. Cunifer won't rust and work-hardens much more slowly.

P45.
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JP



Joined: 03 Jul 2015
Posts: 30
Location: Norfolk UK

PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 2015 9:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Penguin45 wrote:
Steel pipe rusts, copper work-hardens and becomes brittle. Cunifer won't rust and work-hardens much more slowly.

P45.


Yes, I've seen a copper pipe fail on a car when the work hardened flare fell off the end of the pipe. Copper looks pretty and bends easily but has no place on a car in my opinion.

Copper/Nickel brake pipe is the perfect compromise. It's relatively easy to work with and when fitted properly is pretty much a fit and forget solution Wink
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Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 3:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Back in the 1980' I came across what must be one of the luckiest guys I have known.

He owned a heavily modified Lotus Elan which he also raced.

One alteration was to install a 3/8 copper fuel pipe from tank to engine bay, where it made a final connection to the carbs, by 4 inch flexible pipe.

The copper fuel pipe broke in two just as he was entering the pits and by chance did not ignite before several fire extinguishers were discharged, over and under the vehicle.

The too short flexible pipe caused the copper pipe to also move back and forth with the movement of the engine.

Consequence, copper harderned and cracked
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ka



Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 600
Location: Orkney.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 7:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where I have exposed lengths of Cunifer, I have disguised them in a black plastic sleeve.
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Better three than four.
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