The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Double flare tools, what works best on stainless?

I have been having trouble finding a good flare tool for making double flares on stainless brake lines.

To start with (a few years ago now) I got an OTC Stinger brand flare kit, http://www.amazon.com/OTC-Stinger-Double-Flaring-Tool/dp/B000HTNO6G
and it worked fine for about 4 or 6 double flares in 3/16" stainless tube, then it lost its grip and would flare no more.
I forget who I bought it from, but they sold it to me understanding I was going to use it for stainless, and they said it would. They (or was it OTC?) sent me a replacement set at no cost, and it sits on my shelf unopened, as I don't expect it to work for long with stainless.

My next step was to buy a flare tool kit from the same folks I bought the coil of stainless line from, Inline Tube (won't deal with them again for several reasons unrelated to this discussion). They sold me Imperial kit number 93-FB as seen here http://www.imperial-tools.com/tools/flaring_swagingtools/flaringtools_03.html Imperial does not say it will work with stainless, Inline Tube says it will....
I have used it for a few dozen double flares in both 3/16" and 1/4", it works reasonably well. Although it is very hard to use, takes lots of force, all I can do to hold on to it and turn the handle. The "cone" rotated freely when new, as it should, it is now locked to the screw. I have split two of the 3/16" buttons, one lasted a while, one only lasted for one flare and busted on the next, I have one spare left. I understand they break because I use to much force, but I only use the force necessary to form the first step of the double flare in stainless, which happens to be more than the tool is designed for.

So, I have been looking for the past year or two for the best flare tool I can buy, as I have had it with this mickey mouse stuff.

I have a Kent more J-2185 set, like shown in my AD shop manual, but mine is for 37 degree. This style should work if I ever find the dies or clamp blocks, or a whole set in 45 degree. One significant down side is it needs about 3" of straight tube to make a flare, so flaring close to a bend is not possible like you can with the other types of flare tools.

Some of the ones I have looked at, and my thoughts:

Imperial production unit
http://www.imperial-tools.com/tools/flaring_swagingtools/flaringtools_07.html
Looks good, but not sold for use with stainless, and would be a several hundred dollar mistake to find out exactly why they don't say you can use it with stainless.

This one from Eastwood
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=18935&itemType=PRODUCT
They say it will work with stainless, and it is an "imported tool". I am hesitant to try it, would like to hear from someone who has used it first. If it were made in the US I would probably go ahead and try it..

The hydraulic type sold by many different folks, including Snap-On
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=14790&itemType=PRODUCT
I don't think they mention stainless, and I don't know any one who has one. I do think a less complete set can be bought if all you need is one type of flare.

I would like to know what kind of flare tool the folks like Classic Tube http://www.classictube.com/ use, as they do this every day all day, and can't afford to put up with poor quality tools, or ones not intended for stainless. I have to order some stuff from them tomorrow, I'll ask then.

Anyone have a flare tool they really like for use on stainless?

Grigg