No flair

[Jim S.]

What tool do you guys suggest for double flaring brake lines. I am having a hell of a time trying to get good flares with a cheap tool. All the flaring tools I have seen are pretty much the same junk unless I want to spend $300 on a hydraulic one which I will probably only use 3 times in my life. Granted this is not for the RR, I'm working on my winter beater Ford but, I still have to stop, so I can enjoy the RR in the future......

 

[abodybill]

I got mine at NAPA over 25 years ago so it was made in the USA.

You would think any top name brand tool would have a good flaring kit and made in the USA.

Don't think a "cheap one" will do the jump? :cents:

 

[A31PKG]

Could you use a pre-fab? Auto parts stores carry brake lines in various lengths already flared with fittings. If the length is too long you can always add a carefully placed bend here and there. :cents:

 

[69hemibeep]

I have an old NAPA that never fails me. The only trouble I have is when I flair it to far on the first step.

 

[Big John]

I use a K-D I bought decades ago.

A couple of things help. Don't use a tubing cutter. It can "work harden" the end of the tube. Cut it square, deburr and use a bit of oil on the flare tool.

I bought some of that green brake line from NAPA that's supposed to bend easier. I read it flares easier too, but I haven't tried it.

 

[SomeCarGuy]

I bought a Bluepoint off the crap on truck about 15 years ago and have never had an issue getting the flares I want. Have had one or two where I didn't debur the inside and had to redo the flare.

 

[moparchris]

Rigid has a nice kit available at the man mall (home depot) it works pretty well. I had a Snap-on one I had wasn't very good.

 

[John69RR]

Went to the local Pawn shop yesterday and there was double flare kit for $59.00. No adapters!!!! Told the clerk about it and he pulled it off the shelf. This kit was for copper and aluminum tubing though. It was a Matco kit.

 

[moparchris]

Went to the local Pawn shop yesterday and there was double flare kit for $59.00. No adapters!!!! Told the clerk about it and he pulled it off the shelf. This kit was for copper and aluminum tubing though. It was a Matco kit.

You can buy the adapters seperately from Matco, probably for a million dollars though.

 

[Hoosier Bird]

I've been thinking of getting one of these.......

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

 

[Jim S.]

Sometimes I find myself having to do a flair while the lines are on the car. So maybe a hand held hydraulic tool would be best. Still not going to buy one though. Only would get used once every 5 years. Probably find a place to rent it. BTW I finally got the lines leak free after numerous tries with the Chinese flair tool on the goofy Ford... :crazy:

 

[Big John]

I've never used one, but if you're gonna spend $$, this works like the Eastwood tool plus if you buy the dies, you can do other flares.
http://www.tooltopia.com/mastercool...tm_term=MAS71480&utm_campaign=pricegrabber_r1

I've thought a couple times about buying the Eastwood tool myself. I was flaring some 3/8 line last night and was getting a little frustrated. If that tool had been on sale (it does go on sale once in a while, get on their email list) I would have bought it. I tried mine again, spending a little more time and chamfered the ID of the tube with a countersink and used some grease to lube it. I started getting good flares then.

 

[BBillyC]

I've been using an old General since I was a kid. I've done lots of double flares with it and I just did the rear lines on the bird when I shortened the rear end a month ago. I thin kit was about 5 bucks then and 5 bucks on the bag now.

 

[Jim S.]

I've been using an old General since I was a kid. I've done lots of double flares with it and I just did the rear lines on the bird when I shortened the rear end a month ago. I thin kit was about 5 bucks then and 5 bucks on the bag now.

Thanks, I think I'll look for one....