I Need a double flaring tool that is worth a ****!!!!!!

[1969]

Watching and learning.....

 

[Fender1325]

Well heres the big ******* report. It does NOT work. Im pissed.

It DOES work on 3/16 NiCopp line fine enough. But it does not work on 5/16 steel. I clamped it down hard all the way and it just slides through on the first flare process. You can unclamp it and it comes out untouched.

What the ****. Its this material I dont get it!!!!!! I bought 5/16 steel not stainless. It chewed up the teeth on it.

 

[housedad]

Another vote for the eastwood. It cost a bunch, but it works with everything.

 

[Fender1325]

CHECK THIS OUT!!!

I called Napa and spoke to the guy - he clearly is "done and over it" and said just to come get some nicopp line. The problem is the steel line chewed the teeth up on the 5/16 clamp. So I called Cal Van the manufacturer. The lady asked me what color the clamps are and I said silver. She told me theyve been having trouble with those and now make them hardened and would ship me all new clamps free of charge.

Im happy about this big time, especially because the screws for the silver clamps werent really machined all that cleanly anyhow. Some were tough to turn.

Sets back the project but I hope to God the new clamps work.

 

[zmotorsports]

I have an old Blue Point/Snap-On one that I have had for nearly 20 years but I bought a Mastercool about 6 years ago that I have been very happy with.

Mike.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Well heres the big ******* report. It does NOT work. Im pissed.

Is this tha Cal Van one ? Contact them at
Cal-Van & Horizon Tool Inc.
7918 Industrial Village Rd.
Greensboro, NC 27409
Phone: 800-537-1077
Fax: 800-537-1717
Email: [email protected]

Napa ?
For customer service, including product information and order status, contact us at: 1-800-LET-NAPA (1-800-538-6272)
Mon - Fri:8 AM - 5 PM ET
[email protected]

 

[Fender1325]

Hey theoldwizard1, from my previous post:

CHECK THIS OUT!!!

I called Napa and spoke to the guy - he clearly is "done and over it" and said just to come get some nicopp line. The problem is the steel line chewed the teeth up on the 5/16 clamp. So I called Cal Van the manufacturer. The lady asked me what color the clamps are and I said silver. She told me theyve been having trouble with those and now make them hardened and would ship me all new clamps free of charge.

Im happy about this big time, especially because the screws for the silver clamps werent really machined all that cleanly anyhow. Some were tough to turn.

Sets back the project but I hope to God the new clamps work.

I appreciate it. We'll see what happens and I'll let you guys know. I'm not sure I'll even try that damned steel line anymore with the new clamps as I wont want to ****** them up too. NiCopp all the way

 

[ttpete]

Did a google search and came up with an old thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55590

I've had an Imperial Eastman kit for years and it works fine. It's popular with the HVAC trade.

Imperial Eastman is my choice as well for all of my tubing tools including benders and tube cutters. To those having problems double flaring steel tube, the double flare button is also a gauge for adjusting the tubing protrusion in the clamp block. You turn the button upside down and the thickness of the button is the amount that the tube protrudes above the block. Turn the wing nuts down until the blocks contact each other using the sliding handle of the flaring tool to prevent the tube from sliding out. Then flare as usual.

Good benders are required to do a professional job, and are mandatory if using steel tubing.

 

[DetroitDIESEL444]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/u...CgIQpYeuFL_6977xpcCp9bcUjg9dxLnjBBRoCm_nw_wcB


Perfect flares every time. Takes a few seconds per flare. I have at work this unit and a mastercool unit, the mastercool unit only gets used on the vehicle.

 

[matt01073]

this is a little of topic but if you are using the nicopp on brake lines be sure you get us made , sur+r is a good bet we had a demonstration at our shop from a supplier where we got china made 3/16 and 1/4 inch lines by the roll cut in several random places and measured the wall thickness the variation was unbelievable the sur r brand was consistent on every cut our roll of chinese line went right back where it came from

 

[Fender1325]

Wow good to know

 

[bigredmf]

How heavy of a wall 5/16" tube are you flaring?

Parker makes a special inverted flare nut that works with single flares.

As many tools as you have broken it may be your material?

Just a thought

Red


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[volaredon]

I dont think they make them any more, but I found an old Imperial/Eastman kit at a swap meet, dont look to have ever been used, (before I got it, that was) that is awesome. I do ALOT of brake lines, I have been wanting a hydraulic one for years.
I have 2 Matco kits, one about 10 years old and so far so good, the other one broke after years of use and abuse, (probably 20 years old or more) just got it replaced under warranty, I am so pissed, they replaced it with a Made in Taiwan one...
I have not tried to use the new Matco one yet.
I have had one for home and one for work......
just recently though it seems the 3/16" button for the 1st stage of the double flare likes to snap off about every 15-20 flares....

 

[bigredmf]

http://imperial-tools.com/products/tube-working-tools


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[johninct]

I got an Eastwood kit a few weeks ago for my birthday and finally tried it out today. Perfect flair on the first try.

 

[Fender1325]

How heavy of a wall 5/16" tube are you flaring?

Parker makes a special inverted flare nut that works with single flares.

As many tools as you have broken it may be your material?

Just a thought

Red


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thats what Im thinking. But its just regular steel 5/16 from napa. Cant be anything weird about it right?

 

[jim keris]

imperial Eastman kit I bought back in the 70's American made, hasn't failed me yet. single and double flare kit

 

[ironmutt]

if you were close to me i would lone ya my hydrualic one best money i spent when it comes to making lines if you check some advance auto stores have it in the loan a tool program

 

[theoldwizard1]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/u...CgIQpYeuFL_6977xpcCp9bcUjg9dxLnjBBRoCm_nw_wcB


Perfect flares every time. Takes a few seconds per flare. I have at work this unit and a mastercool unit, the mastercool unit only gets used on the vehicle.

Looks identical to the Eastwood tool !

 

[theoldwizard1]

Hey theoldwizard1, from my previous post:

I guess my point is, go to corporate.

 

[Ms6peters]

imperial Eastman kit I bought back in the 70's American made, hasn't failed me yet. single and double flare kit

One more vote for the imperial kit; got it via Eastwood last year.
http://imperial-tools.com/content/2000-fs-flarepro™-four-one-flaring-swaging-kit

 

[theoldwizard1]

One more vote for the imperial kit; got it via Eastwood last year.
http://imperial-tools.com/content/2000-fs-flarepro™-four-one-flaring-swaging-kit

Any videos of this in action, especially on stainless steel ?

 

[jerseykat1]

Started with the $25 napa one. Works great on smaller nickle copper line, but the 5/16 regular steel line I had it would slip through the teeth, even clamped all the way tight.

Went back and upgraded to their $70 one. Ate the teeth off and its all lop sided and ****. Yes Im filing it to a perfect 90 degree cut, deburring, chamfering and all. The clamp sits cockeyed so I'll be returning this too.

I checked snap on's double flaring tool and its identical to the napa one even same price.

I know theres hydraulic ones for 2-300 bucks but Im just doing one car.

This doesnt need to be this complicated to make a tool that works!!!!!

Call calvan tools they will send you a new set of line clamps that won't slip, for free. I have the full set.. It's an okay set (i will do a review) But I think I may get the Eastwood set one day.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[bigredmf]

Thats what Im thinking. But its just regular steel 5/16 from napa. Cant be anything weird about it right?

What is regular tubing?

What is the wall thickness and what is printed along the side of it?

You can keep buying tools and continue breaking them.

Let us know.

Red


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Looks identical to the Eastwood tool !

Those are all the same tool, I'm aware of a few more brands with the same thing as well.

They work pretty well, I like them. I've thought about making our own.


_________
Chris
Product Manager

 

[theoldwizard1]

They work pretty well, I like them. I've thought about making our own.

10% discount for GJ members ?

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

10% discount for GJ members ?

If we ever had a store or sold direct, sure.


__________
Chris
Product Manager

 

[Luciferi]

Spend the extra money on a mastercool hydraulic one. It is well worth it even if you are doing just one car. I tried a few supposed quality ones that never worked before I got the mastercool. Wasted more in time, material, and money by trying to cheap out on the tool.

Drawback is that everyone will want to borrow it.

 

[Motorhead Extraordinaire]

Spend the money on the Eastwood one. I've given up swearing since I bought mine.

 

[Franknbeans]

I picked up this OTC one last fall and for the few jobs it has done all went smoothly



OTC master flairing kit



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0075XHDHI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have this one as well. There is definitely a learning curve and an art to doing this. I recommend some one showing you or practicing on some scrap until you get it down.

 

[Fender1325]

If the new clamps from calvan doesnt work Im definitely going eastwood. The whole reputation is very good

 

[ddawg16]

These guys sell one....pricey....

http://www.inlinetube.com/

But this is also a good web site for general info

I was doing SS brake lines on my jeep....at the flare tool from Sears....a POS **** tool. Wasted a lot of SS line because of it.

The basic problem...the holes in the main body were not exactly perpendicular to the body....hence, the flares were skewed.

The stupid kid in the tool dept was so blind that he couldn't see how out of square it was when I showed him....had to get a manager.....one of the few times I cussed out a store employee

 

[theoldwizard1]

I was doing SS brake lines on my jeep....

From what I hear, the "durability" of the nickel-copper line is approaching that of SS. That means SS is only for "show cars" !

 

[Fender1325]

Hey guys, an update.....the updated hardened dies for my flare tool came in. They work like a charm!

Just fyi I got nicopp line, ditched the steel, and the nicopp wouldnt even work on the original dies. But with the hardened its easy!

 

[Docman]

Hey guys, an update.....the updated hardened dies for my flare tool came in. They work like a charm!

Just fyi I got nicopp line, ditched the steel, and the nicopp wouldnt even work on the original dies. But with the hardened its easy!

Could you post a picture of the updated dies side-by-side with the old ones?

I'm thinking about the same set and i'd like to get the updated version if I can to avoid the hassle you had to go through.

Thanks!

 

[theoldwizard1]

I bought the 25 dollar NAPA one and it failed, as did the 70 dollar one. That one is IDENTICAL to the Snap On one. Even the price.

So being that I'm going to NAPA to return the first 2 flare tool kits I figured I'd check and see if they carry one like the Cal Van.

I found the Cal Van online for like 46 bucks plus shipping which was 60 bucks total. Napa has the IDENTICAL Cal Van one for like 100 bucks. I basically said if you can match it online I'll buy it from you. He wasn't too happy but said since I went through all the trouble with the first two he'd do it for 60. Everybody's happy.

I am still surprised that your NAPA guy would have 3 different flares sets, in stock!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Hey guys, an update.....the updated hardened dies for my flare tool came in. They work like a charm!

Glad you finally got a tool that works !

Even better It is nice to know that CalVan stands behind their product

Could you post a picture of the updated dies side-by-side with the old ones?

I would like to see that also.


If you are doing a lot of flares, carefully check the point of the forcing screw. One guy on YouTube had the point chip/wear. Quickly warrantied.

 

[Skin]

The new clamp blocks are silver instead of black, about the only way to tell a difference visually. The set is a really good idea but if they gave a damn they would of made the blocks out of machined steel instead of a powdered metal. Even if the price doubled it would be well worth it.

 

[Fender1325]

Skin you have it reversed.....the OLD ones are silver and new are black oxide.

 

[Fender1325]

I can post pics if need be but if the set you get is black, youre in the clear, if silver thats the old stuff