"Ray,
I partly understand your desire to do a lot with next to nothing. I often find myself in the same situation and just do what you need to to get the job done well.
What I'm not so clear on is are you discouraging the use of good tools just to make the job harder on yourself, just for the "challenge" it presents?"
Wait a second Grigg. I'm not a total troglodyte. When I need to light a fire I don't rub 2 sticks together, I strike a match.
With regard to double flaring tools, I'm strictly a hobby mechanic and I've probably double flared less than 50 tubing ends in my entire 66 year life. For that level of use, making only 45* double flares and no other kind, my palm of the hand tool really does get the job done. I last used it years ago when I made the transmission cooler hard lines for my '32 Ford roadster street rod.
If I were a professional mechanic I would undoubtedly favor the same tool you do.
This thread matches the current one on the Drill Doctor drill bit repointing tool. On that thread I've tried to describe the freehand drill bit repointing method that I was taught in evening adult education machine shop. You might want to check it out.
Obviously, it's a lot easier to demonstrate a technique like that than to describe it in words, but I tried.
My bench grinder is right next to my drill press. So, a drill bit that isn't cutting well can be removed from the chuck and made sharp in less time than it takes to talk about it. I will admit that bits under 3/32" I don't see so well any more and I check them with a magnifying glass after I repoint them.
