I didn't find anything with a search for Nicopp but this seems pretty impressive in comparison to steel or stainless steel lines for brake and fuel line fabrication. Has anyone used or tried this stuff? If so what are your thoughts on the pros and cons of using it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXLUx4RmGZ4&index=5&list=TLRukkAP6cgXWJRfOKHrgDoQ-wSl8mLkzc
Easy to bend, no rust, SAE certified almost seems too good to be true for slight cost increase and more careful flaring.
No one has any experience with this stuff?
I used some on my RX7 and plan on using more. Everything they say is true - especially the part about being careful while flaring.
What's the flaring deal? Im about to try this stuff on dads 50 f1 pickup. And yes, it has a built flattie.
It goes by the name cunifer (Cu=copper/N=nickel/Fe=Iron) when you buy it at industrial hydraulic supply vendors. They seem to call it that in the UK as well. I use a LOT of it. Hell I guarantee I have run 125 feet of it in the last year. It bends easily and flares well. I use a tubing straightener from Jegs and eastwood, snap on and Ridgid benders and most importantly the Eastwood cam style flaring tool.
My main issue is the color. It looks pretty much just like hardware store copper tubing and therefore a bit cheap in appearance.
We are actually switching over to stainless because of a few complaints on the appearance. Some of the folks paying for high quality restorations are disappointed when they look under the car and see it. Stainless is only $1 per foot more expensive and with the cam flare tool it requires no extra effort.
But to answer your question it is very easy to work with. You can bend it without special tools, takes flares beautifully and seals nicely. The shop has never had any issues with it other than the appearance.
What Ditchdigger said. I've used it on a few cars. For daily drivers in the salt belt it's better than plain steel and cheapter than stainless. It flares nicely and bends very nicely too.
It does have a copper color to it, but not as dark as plain copper.
I had a customer's custom '47 Ford pickup on the lift a few weeks ago. He bought it done and wanted me to go over a few things. At an NSRA event he took it to their inspectors to have it gone over. The inspector liked everything except the brake lines. He thought they were plain old hardware store copper and recommended having them changed. Turns out they were NiCop/Cunifer. The NSRA inspector probably hasn't seen it used in the cars he's used to looking at.
In reply to Rob_Mopar:
Thanks all for the information. I'm looking at doing an ABS system on an Exocet and any help with running all the lines would be nice. Looks were never going to be an issue. Safety, function, ease of install, bending and flaring are the important points. Cost is close enough to stainless and regular steel lines that none are cost prohibitive.
Seems like there would be a market for conifer tube pre-plated with a white metal. Would have to be something malleable, etc.
http://www.fedhillusa.com/
best there is for easy of use and lack of rust down the road
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