OTC double flare tool

[martell06]

I'm considering purchasing this OTC double flare tool on eBay and I'm looking for opinions. I don't know whether or not it has a lifetime guarantee and with such a low price it makes me wonder. I know many people here have OTC tools and like them. I would like to purchase a quality flare tool without breaking the bank.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=120143428164&rd=1&rd=1

 

[Uncle Buck]

I'm considering purchasing this OTC double flare tool on eBay and I'm looking for opinions. I don't know whether or not it has a lifetime guarantee and with such a low price it makes me wonder. I know many people here have OTC tools and like them. I would like to purchase a quality flare tool without breaking the bank.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=120143428164&rd=1&rd=1

At that price it would not suprise me if they were not a rebadged import job. You may want to ask the seller. But OTC is a great brand, and that is a fantastic price. I would prolly just go for it!

 

[chevy302dz]

That is from the OTC Stinger line, it's almost definitely imported. Quality won't be all that great, but it's not going to be total garbage either. For 15 bucks, if I wasn't going to use it very often I'd give it a shot.

 

[Vicegrip]

I have that very kit. It does make good bubble and double flairs. it is imported and not the kind of tool that makes you go "Niiiice" every time you pick it up but it has worked fine for me so far.

 

[Junkman]

For the price, $23.45 when you add in the shipping, I don't see it as any great bargain. I have used the same type of flaring tool since the very early 1960's, but mine is made by New Brittan. (Actually my original one was borrowed and not returned, so I am on my second one.) It is OK for the occasional flare, but you will tire quickly if you were using it all day long. There are better tools out there, but the cost will be a lot more. I remember a thread about flaring tools a while ago, and the one pictured in that thread is far superior for production use.... It also costs about 10 times as much...

 

[eschoendorff]

If I were ever going to buy a flaring kit, it would be the Mastercool one. No frustration!

 

[Uncle Buck]

I need to double flare once in a blue moon so I did the unthinkable and bought the cheopo HF version. I have used it a few times and have actually had no problems at all with it. I see this as one of those areas I will take a chance on with them. I lucked out this time.

 

[bluesman2a]

Rigid makes one that is less than half of the mastercool units. Not on the same plane as the mastercool, but it is miles ahead of the import stuff.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4A518

It's the one I have, have used on stainless, and it makes PURDY factory-looking flares.

 

[Vincent Vega]

I have the Old Forge brand and it has been excellent. Don't buy ****. I had a Craftsman brand. It was **** and they would not exchange it.

 

[jimmycrackcorn]

Rigid makes one that is less than half of the mastercool units. Not on the same plane as the mastercool, but it is miles ahead of the import stuff.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4A518

It's the one I have, have used on stainless, and it makes PURDY factory-looking flares.

Looks like very good quailty, sorta like imperial

http://www.stridetool.com/tools/flaring_swagingtools/flaringtools_01.html

 

[Uncle Buck]

Looks like very good quailty, sorta like imperial

http://www.stridetool.com/tools/flaring_swagingtools/flaringtools_01.html

Imperial stuff is alright, certainly better than anything put out by HF but definitely not the quality of Rigid.

 

[jimmycrackcorn]

Imperial stuff is alright, certainly better than anything put out by HF but definitely not the quality of Rigid.

Thats good to know, own a rigid tubing cutter which was a hand me down. But i own a KD flaring tool and a astro pnumatic, just cause i needed it right away. When they go i will be looking in to Rigid.

 

[Uncle Buck]

To my thinking in the world of plumbing tools like pipe wrenches, cutters, threaders, etc... there is no brand to compare with Rigid. In the day there was at least one other quality name that comes to mind Stillson, however I think they went out of business long ago leaving Rigid as the benchmark for plumbing tools.

 

[chevy302dz]

The Rigid set is nice, but if your going to spend that much you might as well go all the way and get the MasterCool, it's that much better.

 

[Uncle Buck]

The Rigid set is nice, but if your going to spend that much you might as well go all the way and get the MasterCool, it's that much better.

What is Mastercool, I doubt it is better than Rigid, or perhaps I should rephrase that, I find it hard to believe. I have been mistaken before. It is just if the stuff is that good how come I never heard of em?

 

[jimmycrackcorn]

Mastercool

Snap on, mac and matco sell it as well with there price.

But sometime you can't use it in certain situations, Great tool makes them ford, and gm factory flares. You don't have to work your muscle as much. I have used it before but its pricey for a flaring tool. But then again it does 5 types of flares.

 

[bluesman2a]

What is Mastercool, I doubt it is better than Rigid, or perhaps I should rephrase that, I find it hard to believe. I have been mistaken before. It is just if the stuff is that good how come I never heard of em?

As somebody who OWNS the Rigid and has USED the Mastercool...

Mastercool is the shizNIT it's a hand operated hydraulic press. Very nice action. If you have the pennies, it is the best out there, but the Rigid is also a very respectable tool, a clear cut above other flare tools of similar design.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Now I remember a few guys on the board talking about this tool some months back. I viewed the link above, it does look high quality, but I guess it should for stupid money! I am sure it is a great tool for someone that must need to bend up a ton of lines, the only real drawback to that tool would appear to be it's size. Every time I need to do a double flare on a vehicle it is always in a real crappy place to get to that almost always has a lot less space than that tool would fit in. I think that tool would work fantastic for bending up lines at a bench, but lack of fit for the tight places would kill it for me. I think I will be sticking with the old skool technology, plus I am simply too poor to afford it!

 

[TT66']

I just bought this model from Snap-on for the work truck the other day.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1338&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I had an import one and all it did was tear up the tubing due to the cheapness of the clamp fixture.

We have a Ridgid model in the machine shop. You just can't beat those if you can afford one.