I bought a good Snap-on flare kit 20 years ago when I was 17, and it's still offered by Snap-on, for only $130 (it was $97 when I bought it). Worth EVERY penny. I highly, highly HIGHLY recommend it. I have never made a bad flare on stainless or mild steel lines. I haven't had good luck with the new green coated "soft" lines in the parts stores these days.
Inline Tube offers a straightener that will take the curl out of coiled brake line (bought in a box). I've got one ordered.
Do NOT go with a cheap tubing cutter--they work harden the area more, and it's tough to get a square cut with them. I also have a set of cheap needle files I added to my kit, to deburr the newly cut ends.
All automotive fittings are a 45-degree double flare. NOT 37-degree flares, such as A/N fittings.
-Brad
