Need a recommendation for brake line flaring kit

[SouthernIllinois]

I am going to have to make all new brake hardline for the Rusty Corvair project car.

I have to admit, this will be something new for me - I haven't flared a brake line since high school.

Anyhow, I am in the market for a good flaring kit to make the lines.

Quality and "user friendliness" is as important as the budget.

If it's something available online, I'd be very grateful for a link.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Firebrick43]

Eastwood Professional Brake Line and Tubing Flaring Tool

Create 3 kinds of precision flares, in 5 sizes of tubing

www.eastwood.com

By far the best mix of ease, speed, and wonderful job. It’s a clone of a Sykes picovent sp?

 

[Gutman]

2nd the Eastwood. Bought it because my vehicles developed NVa road cancer.
Use nicop lines and fittings too.
You make the flares using a vise, so on car repairs are a little harder. I think a previous thread pointed out some amazon clones, but Eastwood's was well worth it.
Sadly, I've had to replace too many lines, and at some point, I'll probably replace the remaining originals proactively, vice upon failure.

 

[Firebrick43]

https://www.amazon.com/RIDGID-36117-Instrument-16-inch-Degrees/dp/B001D1ITLC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I would suggest this style of bender or an Imperial 364-FH03. The make very nice bends without dents or collapsing.

The pot metal 3 different diameter make ok bends in brake tubing but can get crowded making multiple bends close together because of the other dies right aside of the one your are trying to use

 

[SouthernIllinois]

https://www.amazon.com/RIDGID-36117-Instrument-16-inch-Degrees/dp/B001D1ITLC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I would suggest this style of bender or an Imperial 364-FH03. The make very nice bends without dents or collapsing.

The pot metal 3 different diameter make ok bends in brake tubing but can get crowded making multiple bends close together because of the other dies right aside of the one your are trying to use

Thanks - I forgot to ask about bender recommendations.

 

[Steve_P]

The Eastwood (or variants) or Mastercool are what's mostly recommended here for flaring tools.

For bending, Imperial is an industrial standard but not inexpensive. I have a Lisle and some generic benders that get the job done.

 

[signcrafter]

I have the mastercool hydraulic one and love it. There are some places it can't get into but for the most part it does everything I need. https://www.amazon.com/MASTERCOOL-7...ic-Flaring/dp/B01NCYKQSN?tag=atomicindus08-20

For the places it can't get I have an older blue point set that works good also. Can't remember who the actual manufacturer is but blue point rebrands them so you can probably find it cheaper from the actual manufacturer, https://b2b.snapon.com/productDetails/637121/2/885115.

This little kit comes in very handy sometimes, https://www.amazon.com/Cal-Van-Tools-165-Master-Flaring/dp/B00AOTBVJQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Good benders like mentioned above are a must. Also I like a line straightening tool to make the lines smooth when you unroll them. Think this is the one I have, https://www.amazon.com/ARES-18076-A...raightens/dp/B0BRTK1Y7P/?tag=atomicindus08-20

With good tools brake lines are almost fun to make up. I used to hate doing them until I invested in all the tools to do them right and it's almost like art now. Having the right tools makes all the difference.

 

[no704]

The Master Cool is the gold standard. But a little pricey. For what you are doing especially with nicp lines the cheap HF unit will get the job done with ease, and a couple practice flairs.

 

[cgrutt]

Mastercool has been on my wish list for a long time I'll buy one eventually. Currently have an old school Snap-on that has worked every time I've needed it, which isn't that often.

Nice car!

 

[Burt Shaver]

https://a.co/d/5vqv1Hd

I was very happy with this Capri flaring tool, perfect flare first try. Tool feels good in your hands

 

[51dueller]

The nice thing about the Eastwood one is you can get the 37 degree die and make hydraulic or custom fuel lines.

 

[mikedodge]

This is the one I use. Pretty cheap, simple to use and it works every time. It also works great for flaring lines that are still on the vehicle.

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

https://a.co/d/5vqv1Hd

I was very happy with this Capri flaring tool, perfect flare first try. Tool feels good in your hands

I have the same kit. It's what I used to flare new lines for my Scout II project. It works pretty well and is usable underneath the vehicle if you are working on lines already mounted up.

 

[lotus_esprit]

Eastwood Professional Brake Line and Tubing Flaring Tool

Create 3 kinds of precision flares, in 5 sizes of tubing

www.eastwood.com

By far the best mix of ease, speed, and wonderful job. It’s a clone of a Sykes picovent sp?

Correct, it is a copy of the Sykes Pickavant 270 flaring tool which in the UK is the best flaring tool available. I’ve tried everything over the years and the SP270 is the only tool which consistently flares correctly, I’d imagine the Eastwood would do a similar job.

 

[Jgaz]

Imperial double flare kit rebadged as a MAC that I bought in the late 70’s.

Most of my early mechanic career was in the rust haven of Michigan.
I’ve done hundreds of flares, on and off the vehicle and replaced many feet of brake line.

I had to repurpose this metal box after the original plastic gave out. Added a couple other tube cutters but this kit has served me very well for about 50 years.
Can still get cutter wheels very easily.

 

[steve855]

https://a.co/d/5vqv1Hd

I was very happy with this Capri flaring tool, perfect flare first try. Tool feels good in your hands

I have the same Capri tool, it's a quality unit. We discussed it in some detail in another thread. This thing makes very nice flares- Metric bubble, SAE bubble, SAE double. The big advantage other than cost over the lever type Eastwood is the ease of use on the car.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/bad-bubble-flare-cheap-tool-or.530554/post-10937151

I've used the Mastercool set (borrowed) and it's probably what you need if you're wrenching as a pro. I didn't need all those other sizes, most brake lines made in the past 60yrs are all the same size.

The other thing I bought that was quite useful on my last brake line job - flare nut crows foot sockets.
https://www.tekton.com/individual-3-8-inch-drive-flare-nut-crowfoot-wrenches
I got 10mm and 12mm, worked great on a Honda that needed brake lines. I would have had a hard time without them in a couple spots. Well worth the cost.

EDIT to add- If I was planning on full brake line replacement of multiple vehicles, I would get the Eastwood flare tool to speed things up working at the bench.

 

[NHtoolguy]

This is the one I use. Pretty cheap, simple to use and it works every time. It also works great for flaring lines that are still on the vehicle.

I have a similar version of this tool from Lisle, part number 33260. It makes 3/16 and 1/4 double flares. It's not particularly fast, but it's repeatable and works well for "on car" flares in tight spaces.

 

[Steve_P]

This little kit comes in very handy sometimes, https://www.amazon.com/Cal-Van-Tools-165-Master-Flaring/dp/B00AOTBVJQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have that, and while it does work, I'm not really a fan. If I wanted a similar "on car" tool today I'd go with the Capri, or a variant, as they do a much nicer job from user review pictures vs what I get from the CalVan. But yes 10+ years ago it was a good choice.

 

[regguy1]

I have the Eastwood, it's very good.

 

[Wrench97]

I have the same kit. It's what I used to flare new lines for my Scout II project. It works pretty well and is usable underneath the vehicle if you are working on lines already mounted up.

This one is a lot easier to use in place under a car then the Eastwood model. I have both and use both but if had to make a choice of one or the other the handheld model is the way to go.

 

[zendriver]

This is the one I use. Pretty cheap, simple to use and it works every time. It also works great for flaring lines that are still on the vehicle.

Brand name? or source.

 

[Firebrick43]

Brand name? or source.

Eastwood On Car Brake Line Flaring Tool for 3/16 Tubing

Eastwood On Car Flaring Tool for 3/16 Tubing

www.eastwood.com

Its also a clone of a sykes pickavant tool

They are very nice under a car but If I was doing a whole car, the bench one is so much faster

 

[theoldwizard1]

2nd the Eastwood. Bought it because my vehicles developed NVa road cancer.

The Eastwood flare tool is one of the best, but it (typically) can NOT be used "on the vehicle".

For "on vehicle" flares, this is what you want (this same tool is sold under different brand names at different prices).

Use nicop lines and fittings too.

I never heard that NiCop required special fittings.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I would suggest this style of bender ...

You can bend NiCop with your bare hands. It won't "look as pretty", but it won't kink !

 

[theoldwizard1]

https://a.co/d/5vqv1Hd

I was very happy with this Capri flaring tool, perfect flare first try. Tool feels good in your hands

Interesting ! SAE and DIN sizes !

 

[Burt Shaver]

Interesting ! SAE and DIN sizes !

It was a DIN flare for my sons 09 Elantra

 

[mikedodge]

Brand name? or source.

TITAN - 51535

I got it on amazon several years ago. The slow part is having to open up that block every time to put the line in it but that's no slower then any of the other similar priced tools. But it makes perfect flares every time.

 

[mikedodge]

You can bend NiCop with your bare hands. It won't "look as pretty", but it won't kink !

You can also bend it around a socket if you want good looking tight bends.

 

[tak1313]

I used the Lisle 33260 when I had to do our Prius. I needed one that could be used under the car because I was splicing a Nicopp section to the original coated steel, so needed to do the cut end of the steel line - it made perfect double flares.

33260 Double Flaring Tool 3/16" & 1/4"

Low Profile Design Allows Tubing to be Flared in Tight Spaces.

www.lislecorp.com

 

[calandrod]

I bought stainless for my fuel line and my imperial set won’t even begin to flare it.

Will the master cool set be able to hold it and flare it? Mine kept slipping out under the pressure. Trying to decide if I should just buy the master cool or just buy cheaper line. I have to redo all fuel and brake lines. I’d appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Steve_P]

Stainless is a huge PITA to work with. Use nicop. Stainless is a solution looking for a problem. It can be difficult to get stainless brake lines to seal because they work harden from the flaring and then won't deform to mate to the other surface- BTDT, never again.

 

[no704]

I got one you use in a bench vice on amazon. Works great on ss. Make sure you get one that says for ss.

 

[rd65]

Stupid question of the day, can same tool be used for trans cooling lines?