Double Flare Tool Issues?

[JDon99]

Does anyone else have trouble getting the cheap double flare tools to make consistent flares every time? I have been making up some new lines for my work beater truck and have been having trouble with the flare tool I rented from the local parts store. I finally got fed up with it yesterday and ordered a Mastercool Hydraulic kit yesterday.

 

[devoncoolman]

Yeah the cheapie kits like to push the line through and break the little ****** off the tool. They usually work ok with the nicu lime but with steel lone forget it. The mastercool and sur&r kits are the way to go. Have both and use them constantly.

 

[mrvm]

Lot of the free rental double flare kits from the parts store are imported low quality tools that make an easy job frustrating. Under the right condition they can make an acceptable double flare but the adapters tend to break being a heavily used rental. Luckily they are exchanged with another kit off the shelf. Purchase a higher quality flaring kit if you are double flaring enough to warrant the purchase.

 

[TOOLFREEQ]

My made in usa craftsman one has been my go to for years after I've tried many! Blue Point / RIDGED/ OEM/ AMPRO? PT/ ETC... I use the BP adapters with the craftsman tool. It seems to grip the tubing better than others and tightens by hand the easiest out of the others I've used. I definitely agree the mastercool or equivalent kits are the way to go if you can afford it!!

 

[dnschmidt]

The only way to go is the new Eastwood tool that Eric the Car Guy demonstrated on YouTube. Anything else is frustration.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Quit expecting cheap flare tool kits to make good flares.

I own and use this USA made combination flare tool set and highly recommend it to anyone who is in the market for a quality set without spending a lot of $s on the same set off the tool trucks....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HAUYCC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[signcrafter]

The only way to go is the new Eastwood tool that Eric the Car Guy demonstrated on YouTube. Anything else is frustration.

You can't do flares on the car with that one can you? It is only for bench work right? That's the part that would make me want a mastercool kit before the eastwood kit.

 

[dnschmidt]

I don't believe so, you need to clamp the main body of the tool into a vise.

 

[signcrafter]

I don't believe so, you need to clamp the main body of the tool into a vise.

So why would you get the eastwood kit over the mastercool kit that from what I've read is as good if not better and can do flares on lines that are on the car? I haven't used either so don't really know but if I was to spend that much money I think it would be hands down the mastercool kit.

 

[dnschmidt]

I agree with you signcrafter. If you need to do it on the car then the Mastercool is superior. Mastercool makes good stuff period.

 

[JDon99]

Thanks for the replies fellas. Is the nickel/copper line that much easier to work with?

 

[Shadowdog500]

I never had luck with cheap flair tools. I even bought an expensive set off of the mac truck (same set as snap on). And I would still get a bad flair. Rigid makes a really good bar style flair tool but it is close to the price of the eastwood tool.

A year or two ago I bought the eastwood pro flair tool (which is a rebadged brakequip) and it works great. Perfect flair every time. If you buy it from Eastwood's ebay site things are usually less that thier regular price and/or have free shipping.

Here is a quickie video of mine in action.

The hydraulic mastercool tool that can be used on the vehicle is twice the price of the vise mount one. I'm not spending the dough for that one. NAPA has a $40 small flair tool that works really well but it only does one line size. If you need to do flairs on the car and don't want to spend $400 to $600 for a flair tool to do your handful of cars, you may want to get one of those. Here is a video of it

When I put the link to the above video I saw a link to the Cal-van set which must be what napa rebadged as thier own. You can get a bunch of sizes for $40 to $60 if you shop around.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AOTBVJQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Chris

 

[signcrafter]

I was just going to say the napa one is a cal van. Advance also carries just the 3/16" one for 23 bucks and you can use a discount code also. http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...-flare-tool-161/10459230-P?searchTerm=cal+van

 

[jimindm]

I have the hydraulic SO one, and would say it is a re badge of the mastercool. I have bought many over the years before buying the hydraulic one. If it broke tomorrow, I would get another one, and still not buy the cheaper hand held flaring kits.

 

[Professur]

You can use the Eastwood off the bench. Grab the base in a large adjustable or pipe wrench. It's a bit more awkward but gets the job done easily enough.

 

[kctyphoon]

I bought one from Napa, and what I did was put both halves into the jaws of adjustable wrenches to keep them perfectly aligned with each other. Even still, the flares didn't come out "perfectly" round like the prefab ones.. However, since the metal is soft enough they should bend and seat perfectly once you tighten them down into their permenant home.

 

[bob_the_builder]

Anyone know a good dealer to order the Eastwood tool from in Canada?

Bob

 

[mrvm]

Thanks for the replies fellas. Is the nickel/copper line that much easier to work with?

The ni/cu lines are very easy to bend/curve by hand but I still used a tube bender for best results. The ni/cu lines are nearly twice the price but they should last longer than the steel lines.

 

[bob_the_builder]

I guess no too many Canadians use the Eastwood tool.

 

[Professur]

Hawkes. http://hawkesauto.com/ But if you can get it on their Ebay store, the shipping will be lots cheaper.

 

[ijroorda]

I have the Cal-Van inline double flare tool mentioned above; pretty sure basically the same product is sold under Cal-Van, Napa, ATD, Snap-on and Matco names - maybe others too. In any case, I'm sure it's not as nice a tool as the Eastwood; however, at a fraction of the price, I think it's a great tool for DIY. I've used mine pretty extensively and don't think I've ever had a bad flare. It works well for use on the car, too.

 

[JDon99]

I have the Cal-Van inline double flare tool mentioned above; pretty sure basically the same product is sold under Cal-Van, Napa, ATD, Snap-on and Matco names - maybe others too. In any case, I'm sure it's not as nice a tool as the Eastwood; however, at a fraction of the price, I think it's a great tool for DIY. I've used mine pretty extensively and don't think I've ever had a bad flare. It works well for use on the car, too.

I picked one up locally to try. About half of the flares would come out decent and the others would be lop-sided. This is with steel line. I wonder if the nickel/copper line would flare more consistently?

 

[User_Name]

I picked one up locally to try. About half of the flares would come out decent and the others would be lop-sided. This is with steel line. I wonder if the nickel/copper line would flare more consistently?

It's probably user error and inexperience on my part but I found that I needed lots of practice to get consistent results with Cu-Ni using both Cal-Van and Mastercool flaring tools. The stuff is soft and easy to overstretch. Cut a bunch of pieces and practice til you're comfortable with it.

 

[paranoid56]

i bought the eastwood one and of the 400+ flares i have made with it, zero have been bad. it gives a perfect flare every time. true you cant do it on the car, but for what i do i have never needed that, and if i did i would just remove the line from the car and or make a new one from scratch.

 

[JDon99]

My Mastercool Kit came in yesterday, I have only made one flare with it just to try it out, came out perfect and was super easy. Even came with a tubing cutter, which was nice even though I have some good Ridgid cutters. I'll be doing the brake lines on my truck tomorrow and will report back after the job is done.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

My Mastercool Kit came in yesterday, I have only made one flare with it just to try it out, came out perfect and was super easy. Even came with a tubing cutter, which was nice even though I have some good Ridgid cutters. I'll be doing the brake lines on my truck tomorrow and will report back after the job is done.

i have the same set love it

 

[ijroorda]

I picked one up locally to try. About half of the flares would come out decent and the others would be lop-sided. This is with steel line. I wonder if the nickel/copper line would flare more consistently?

That's interesting, I've never really heard anybody say anything bad about the in-line style tools. I've used steel and Cu-Ni and haven't had any trouble.

You were using the in-line style tool, right?

This:

Not this:

 

[Professur]

My Mastercool Kit came in yesterday, I have only made one flare with it just to try it out, came out perfect and was super easy. Even came with a tubing cutter, which was nice even though I have some good Ridgid cutters. I'll be doing the brake lines on my truck tomorrow and will report back after the job is done.

And that's when you start kicking yourself for spending all that time trying to get the cheap one to work instead of spending the cash for the better tool immediately. Been there, wearing the t-shirt.

Paranoid56, yes you can use the Eastwood off bench .. just not easily. That's why the Mastercool is still more expensive than the Eastwood. But if you're doing all the lines off vehicle, the Eastwood cranks them out soooo fast it's not funny. It's all give and take. Like you, I'm not one for repairing a line that's failed once already. Off it comes.

 

[JDon99]

That's interesting, I've never really heard anybody say anything bad about the in-line style tools. I've used steel and Cu-Ni and haven't had any trouble.

You were using the in-line style tool, right?

This:

Not this:

I tried both, I would have thought the inline tool would be capable of making a perfect flare every time, but that was not my experience with it. Even after reaming the line well and lightly filling the outer edge of the cut, and lubing the flares/line, it still was not consistant enough for me to trust. The tubing may have something to do with it too. I am considering picking up some Nicopp line today instead of using the steel line that way I shouldn't have to worry about any corrosion under the truck.

 

[Professur]

Yes, get the nicopp. I don't know why anyone still carries the steel anymore. File it with bias ply tires as something we only used to use.