427V8

Does anyone know where to find a good reliable double flare tool?

I have bought two recently and they both suck. One is barely useable the other is a pile.

I'll pay money but sheesh it should be able to make a decent looking flar without mangeling the tubing :U:U

lostpatrolman

I used the one that autozone lends for free. Worked fine for me. If you want to buy one, i guess you could try getting a matco or snap on one. Sears should have pretty decent ones.

69vette66

How About one of these flaring tools. They look really cool and very high priced.

But it will do the job.
:cheers: Larry http://mpbrakes.com/ac71400a.htm


[Modified by 69vette66, 3:16 AM 3/22/2004]

PRNDL

I had the same experience. Wasted money on 2 different sets in the $10 price range. Finally got a Rigid brand set at Home Depot for about $29 that could handle a double flare. :) MJ

bluebelVETTE

I've purchase a Universal Hydraulic Flaring tool set Part# 71475 from Mastercool Inc. very pricy $292.00 but its worth it. I can make a profesional flare from double flare, push in fuel line (Ford) style, the GM style fuel line, and metric bouble flaring.

PRNDL

The Rigid tool pictured looks like the one I got. I thought it came with dies, but I have plenty of dies from the other 2 crappy sets that I bought. I was successful in making a double flare with the Rigid tool. BUT, I was using the double flare for a fuel line, not for a brake line. MJ

427V8

Jack,
Is this the tool you got? It looks quite nice compared to the typical crap out there.

bigvette1

Would someone tell me how the Home Depot unit works with the side screw bar and no dies? Thanks.

rick1025

please understand there is a differece between a single "plumbing type " flare and a double flare as is used on brake lines. The flare tool shown by RIDGID is a single flare plumbing type. DONT USE THIS TYPE FOR BRAKE LINES it is not designed to handle the pressures generated in a hydraulic system. Try Eastwood co. for the tool. Also for all you young guys on a budget...you get what you pay for!!! There is a reason some things cost more than others. If you are only going to use the double flair tool for a limited number of uses, then bend the tubing and take it to your local auto parts storwe to flare it. If they wont do the job , it is because they dont want to accept the liability for the work...nuff said? I cant stress this enough, you are dealing with the BRAKE system...do you want to trust yuor life to some kid at home depot?

rick1025

Sorry, but would just like to add, I am a 58yr old plumber with a BS in mech eng so I know what I am doing.

cardo0

Ya know I've had trouble trying to double flair the 3/8" stuff too. I currnetly have 2 of the cheaper flairing tools and can only produce a winpy little double flair on 3/8" stuff. But a few monthes ago someone posted this problem and the airforce mechs sweared by using a little sand paper to help grip the tube. I thought I had saved this post but cannot locate it. So do a search in archives for tubing flairs/or brake lines in C3. :thumbs:
BTW that hydraulic unit looks tempting but there has to be a simpler way.
And thanks rick for the precaution about single flares. :seeya

ZD75blue

From what I understand Rigid makes the best out there... on most anything for plumbing cars/planes/boats/houses etc... :cheers:

427V8

Actually Ridid make two versions of their flare tool.
1 is single only
but the one pictured can do double flares...

And no, I won't let the home depot kid do the flares!

69vette66

K-D make a cheap dbl flare tool. they do a ok job, but only single and dbles. Any auto parts store should have them in stock. I like the one that mpbrakes has, for the fact that it will make all sorts of flares. But the K-D works well.

:cheers: Larry

David68

I bought a double flare kit from Eastwood, #49102, and have made up several fuel lines that worked perfect. With the tech paper that Lars wrote, flaring is no problem. http://www.eastwood.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=49102&Dep_Key1=