Help me find a better flaring tool

[IntrstlarOvrdrve]

I've had my eyes on a master cool 71475 for quite a while but recently I discovered that Eastwood has a flaring tool as well (linked below)

https://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html

I'm curious if anyone has any experience with this? Its about half the price of the mater cool unit I'd been wanting and I've since read people complaining that the hydraulics end up leaking on the master cool unit. Any other tools that I should be looking at? I've had my rigid flaring tool for YEARS, and it's been excellent but over the past few years I've plumbed more and more chassis and I'm ready to use something easier/more efficient.

 

[Finky198]

The 71475 is a compact hydraulic unit that can easily be used in place on a car were the Eastwood is a vise/bench mount system... they both have their uses id say 71475 will do a bit more do to its mobility, but they are both excellent setups...

If your doing frame off Restoration the eastwood is A+ measure, cut, flare and install.


While the master cool is perfect when one line is leaking and needs a simple repair while on the lift or on the ground for that matter... it will also do the same as Eastwood to ^^^

 

[yaidunno]

I've used the Brakequip branded tool that you have linked. It works great and makes accurate repeatable flairs. Ironic timing, as I have the Eastwood kit in the mail, along with the 37 degree die set.

 

[55bigblockcid]

I have the Eastwood vise mounted and I love it.Flaring brake lines was never this easy.

 

[trackwelder]

I have the mastercool and love it. I have flared easily a couple dozen complete vehicle line replacements and no leaks. Only issue I had was I broke the stem on the 3/16” adapter but that was my fault for not getting it in straight.

 

[gearhead1]

Didn’t know these existed, nice! I’ve always used the hand held manual ones. I love Garage Journal!

 

[Danglerb]

Master cool makes perfect crimps even with expensive "harder" steel tubing.

 

[LXCam]

I have both the master cool and the rigid sets in 45 and 37. I've done hundreds of flares with both and both will make flawless flares as I've also heard will the Eastwood set. I think each one of them bring a certain convenience to specific situations. Normally if I have multiple flares to do I'll break out the MC kit but if it's less then a half dozen I'll just grab the rigid one. Personally if I had to rely on one set it would be the MC since the rigid doesn't do double flares. And if I'd had known how good the Eastwood set was before I bought my MC kits I probably have gone with it based on the reviews from here


Good luck

 

[johninct]

I have the Eastwood and it works great.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The best thing you can do for easy, good brake line flares is to change to nickel-copper (NiCopp) brake line. A bit more expensive, but you can bend it by hand without kinking and it flares easily.

Eastwood also sells a hand held flaring tool. It only does standard sized brake line

This tool has been available in EU for a few years and had gotten excellent reviews.

 

[dogdog]

I've had my eyes on a master cool 71475 for quite a while but recently I discovered that Eastwood has a flaring tool as well (linked below)

https://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html

I'm curious if anyone has any experience with this? Its about half the price of the mater cool unit I'd been wanting and I've since read people complaining that the hydraulics end up leaking on the master cool unit. Any other tools that I should be looking at? I've had my rigid flaring tool for YEARS, and it's been excellent but over the past few years I've plumbed more and more chassis and I'm ready to use something easier/more efficient.

If you flare on the bench only.... and not do any other fuel line stuff.... that East Wood is super idiot proof, 5 yr old kid can flare a perfect bubble ISO flare. The only drawback is that this is a bench vise mounted tool... I wouldn't hesitate to get it.... if I only do all my flares on the bench... I tested it and liked it a lot better than the MasterCool sets. That master cool set ...have about 75% success and 25% failures... just because it is a handheld tool... and it is bulkier than it is pictured... pretty heavy. and clunky.. but it is portable... saying that I do have the master cool set... only for one reason... portability... not because it is better..

 

[454ragtop]

Strange that you're getting 25% failure rate with the MC, I've had mine for 5 or 6 years, haven't had a bad flare yet. True lifesaver doing on vehicle flares up here in the rust belt.

 

[LXCam]

Strange that you're getting 25% failure rate with the MC, I've had mine for 5 or 6 years, haven't had a bad flare yet. True lifesaver doing on vehicle flares up here in the rust belt.

Me neither, I might have one practice piece and that's about it.

 

[PugetDude]

Subscribed; will be plumbing the '32 in the Spring.

 

[Schurkey]

Mastercool = Professional-grade tools

Eastwood = overpriced, re-branded homeowner/hobbyist tools, some of which stand up to professional use.

 

[dogdog]

Strange that you're getting 25% failure rate with the MC, I've had mine for 5 or 6 years, haven't had a bad flare yet. True lifesaver doing on vehicle flares up here in the rust belt.

Yea.... I find aligning that tool and tube to a perfect height for flare is a lot more difficult... than the Eastwood one.

 

[Doc Moses]

I was sold on the Eastwood $35.00 model after reading this. Then I went to checkout and it said 10-14 days shipping. What? It is 2017. That ship time is ridiculous. SO I found it for a little less cost (same thing as Eastwood) at JB tools, 2-5 days shipping.

For what its worth: https://www.jbtoolsales.com/cal-van...x_bFHaSNNXnIPtQLIhdGGNZ7yj2A9aUhoCbQ8QAvD_BwE

 

[skruft]

There is also one made by Imperial but I have no experience with it.

 

[dogdog]

I was sold on the Eastwood $35.00 model after reading this. Then I went to checkout and it said 10-14 days shipping. What? It is 2017. That ship time is ridiculous. SO I found it for a little less cost (same thing as Eastwood) at JB tools, 2-5 days shipping.

For what its worth: https://www.jbtoolsales.com/cal-van...x_bFHaSNNXnIPtQLIhdGGNZ7yj2A9aUhoCbQ8QAvD_BwE

...... That is probably why... It's not 2017.

 

[gnxtc2]

If you flare on the bench only.... and not do any other fuel line stuff.... that East Wood is super idiot proof, 5 yr old kid can flare a perfect bubble ISO flare. The only drawback is that this is a bench vise mounted tool... I wouldn't hesitate to get it.... if I only do all my flares on the bench... I tested it and liked it a lot better than the MasterCool sets. That master cool set ...have about 75% success and 25% failures... just because it is a handheld tool... and it is bulkier than it is pictured... pretty heavy. and clunky.. but it is portable... saying that I do have the master cool set... only for one reason... portability... not because it is better..

I've mounted my Mastercool flaring in the vise along with making flares in the car.

The only problem I've had with MC tool was trying to seal a double flare made with stainless tubing. After countless hours of ruining stainless tubing to later finding out that stainless is not suppose to be double flared. Bought the 37* kit from MC, made single AN flares on the stainless and no more leaks.

Billy T.
[email protected]

 

[rsanter]

I have the master cool. I bought it for doing stainless as I have broken a couple of the traditional type snap on flaring tools and was getting mixed results on stainless.
With the MC every one has come out perfect.

I like the idea of the Eastwood one but the MC is more portable if needed so that’s the way I went

 

[dogdog]

If you used both and compare it, you'll see what I mean.... like I said the only reason I kept the MC is because of portability.... at that time they didn't have the other tool for bubble flares. The die on both sets looks similar... but the one on the MC also marr the neck a little if that matters sometimes.

 

[Htscheg]

Ive beennusing the Cal Van Tools 165 Master Flaring Kit

https://cal-vantools.com/products/master-inline-flaring-set/

Works great for my needs

 

[IntrstlarOvrdrve]

Good feedback so far, thank you guys. The Eastwood I assume would be capable of doing stainless as well? I think I'm going to do stainless on my next project.

I'd say 95% of my flares will be on the bench, I can say I've only ever had to do a flare on car twice out of the hundreds of flares I've made.

After others opinions, I'm starting to lean towards the Eastwood. I can still use my rigid to make an on car repair if needed (since I'm only a hobbyist), but my hands are getting too tired to plumb entire chassis using the handheld unit.

 

[yaidunno]

Mastercool = Professional-grade tools

Eastwood = overpriced, re-branded homeowner/hobbyist tools, some of which stand up to professional use.

Generally speaking, I whole heartedly agree with you. They are a sticker slapping company, and much of what they sell lacks quality. As another member noted, they are painfully slow as well. I placed my order early Tuesday, and its not expected to ship out until Friday. Perhaps I've been spoiled by McMaster and Summit with same day shipping, but I think 3+ days is a bit absurd.

The linked flaring kit, and applicable die sets are one of the exceptions, IMO. It is the same set that K-tool sells, and that Summit Racing sticker slaps. I have reason to believe its the same thing that brake quip sells, but can't confirm this.

Classic Tube also sells the "mastercool" set as their own re branded version.

The bottom line is that both of these tools are about the very best the industry has to offer. Both can make single, double, and bubble flares. One offers portability, one does not. Choose accordingly

 

[theoldwizard1]

Ive beennusing the Cal Van Tools 165 Master Flaring Kit

https://cal-vantools.com/products/master-inline-flaring-set/

Works great for my needs

I have read some mixed reviews. The one guy who was having a problem, got in touch with Cal Van and they sent him a new die. Problem solved.

 

[joe_padavano]

The "Eastwood" tool is sold by a LOT of different vendors with their own brand name. I assume it's Chinesium. Having said that, I have one (I got mine from Inline Tube on sale at the Carlisle swap meet) and it is impossible to make a bad flare with this tool. I've used a lot of different flaring tools over the last four decades and this is by far the fastest, easiest one I've ever had. The current $170 Eastwood price isn't bad, but they are all the same, so shop around. I think I paid $149 for mine about three years ago, but it was the display model at a swap meet.

 

[stioc]

I almost ordered the Cal-van 165 master kit (cost was the main factor since it'll be a seldom-use tool) but reading the Amazon reviews about stripped threads I'm not sure it's a good deal.

 

[454ragtop]

Yea.... I find aligning that tool and tube to a perfect height for flare is a lot more difficult... than the Eastwood one.

If you're having a hard time getting the tube height in the die right you can use 1 of the other die blocks as a stop, just stick it in the tool before putting the flaring tool in. Use the smooth side to stop the tube at the right height, tighten the tubing in the die blocks, pull out the extra die block and pop the flare tool in. HTH, Jim

 

[dogdog]

If you're having a hard time getting the tube height in the die right you can use 1 of the other die blocks as a stop, just stick it in the tool before putting the flaring tool in. Use the smooth side to stop the tube at the right height, tighten the tubing in the die blocks, pull out the extra die block and pop the flare tool in. HTH, Jim

I think for ISO bubble flares it needs to stick out a little... I do that once in a blue moon, I'll try that tips the next time.... Thx

When I was learning single and double flare for hydraulics with hand tools, I was told to use a penny to measure the depth to set... The Eastwood one actually does this automatically as one of the steps...


As far as the other comment about MC is pro, east wood is home gamer stuff...
It all dependents on what you are buying... This particular case it is definitely the reverse, especially if you are only doing tubing flares it is made for.. not some weird stuff like GM fuel lines.. You can go fedhill (British company brake connectors / line specific) and get the same tools for 2x or some other online parts like summit and find it more $$$ for the exact same tool... and if you are cranking out flares like a child labor in a sweat factory... I bet the Eastwood one would crank out more perfect flares than the MC... I don't like everything Eastwood, especially their spam hard gorilla tactics ads.... but this particular case.. I voted for them on this tool..

Regarding stainless steel.... Read these comments... I know they used to listed them that it is not for stainless steel tubings..., seems they took it down or something.....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-...iewpnt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00063YR2I#R3N9JQSS2G6GI4

https://www.eastwood.com/universal-hydraulic-flaring-kit-not-for-stainless.html

vs

https://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html

actually listed them as for stainless lines....

 

[Htscheg]

I almost ordered the Cal-van 165 master kit (cost was the main factor since it'll be a seldom-use tool) but reading the Amazon reviews about stripped threads I'm not sure it's a good deal.

I havent stripped one yet... 2 years use out of it working in shops and using it atleast once a week... i paid 50 bucks on Amazon for mine so its not that expensive...

 

[Handyfarmer]

the cal-van type, have different brand, but same tool, I have found the best for a double flare, like on brake lines,

on other single flares I have used the Ridgid tool #345 both the 45 and 37 degree #377 hydraulic, also have the Ridgid, #455 or the larger 45 degree unit, they make very nice flares,

I never had a problem with the cal van tool it made very good flares, and the Ridgid has too.

 

[stioc]

I havent stripped one yet... 2 years use out of it working in shops and using it atleast once a week... i paid 50 bucks on Amazon for mine so its not that expensive...

Thanks for the feedback, I'll add it back to my long wish-list

 

[LXCam]

Good feedback so far, thank you guys. The Eastwood I assume would be capable of doing stainless as well? I think I'm going to do stainless on my next project.

I seem to remember several comments regarding stainless and most of them weren't good. I know for fact the MC unit does stainless without much difficulty since I recently did one complete build using SS for everything. Just remember that SS is a mutha to deal with and is very time consuming but it sure is killer looking when it's all finished up.

 

[Interceptor]

I've had the Mastercool flaring kit for many years. When I bought it I think it was the only affordable tool available for making push-connect fuel lines. Even now I'm not aware of another option, though I haven't really looked. The ability to make those push-connect lines is very valuable for doing custom work like engine swaps. I've probably used the fuel line dies as much as the flaring dies. I do think the tool is a bit awkward to use, and I have managed to screw up a few flares, but overall I think it's a really good tool. I also own the Mastercool A/C hose crimper and have been satisfied with that as well.