Who's used a manual pipe expander for exhaust work?
 

I plan on buying a pipe expander like this,
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...m-900662_m.jpg
and was wondering how well it works? I'm going to be expanding 3" pipe for duals and wondered if it's going to be a beast to expand the pipes so I can slip fit them together, or if it works well with a regular wrench, wratchet?

This tool worked well for me. I used it to reopen slightly crimped pipe and header ends from using U-Clamps.

I used a tool just like that. Got it from Harbor Freight. Very first time I used it to expand some aluminized pipe, the threads stripped and made it completely useless

I have broken 2 of them. I wouldn't buy it. I know here in Ohio you can rent them from Auto Zone and even if they break you still get your money back.

The pipe expanders are made to take the clamp indents out of pipe and to reshape the opening, not to enlarge pipe. It can be done but requires a heavy duty expander and a good deal of time, patience and preferably - heat.

And they really only work on thin walled tubing. That thing doesn't work very well at all on a good quality stainless steel catback pipe. I have one from harbor freight, and I use it occasionally, but I do know its limits.

If you need a piece of pipe flared, take it to your local Midas. Slide the guy 5 bucks and it's a done deal. ;) (been there, done that)

-Andrew

It worked well for me. I rented it from an auto parts store (forget which one), but I ended up buying it from them.

The thing is though, you need an air compressor to use it. I couldn't imagine trying to manually expand a pipe with it. Someone mentioned that they break, well the only thing that can break are the rubber o-rings that hold it together. I did break one of the o-rings, but you can pick those up anywhere. It's one of those tools that makes you happy when you need it, but you might not need it that often.