The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Need a flaring tool for brake/gas lines

I know we all have our favorites, what are yours? I probably won't use it very often since the brake/gas lines have been replaced, but in case I do.. I am not looking for the most expensive, but don't want a cheapy either.

http://www.brakequip.com/shop/high-speed-flaring-tool-kit-standard-sae-bq351

I went with this one. Higher priced and yes, not used often, but I did it anyway because its for not just brakes, but fuel, vac lines, everything. Works with stainless (hard) and softer metals too.

I just got sick and tired of that dumass little flaring tool that we all have slipping and then wondering if the slippage is why I have leaks. You can do it for your friends too. Great stuff.

That's the one that Tiny did a workshop on at the Reunion last fall.
More cost, but worked slick with no split ends.

Don

Yes Don. I was there! Same one.

Actually, it was Mike Wahl

And I'll concur with Deve and Don -- I have three flaring kits in my tool cabinet (Chinese, NAPA and Snap-On) and I hate ALL of them. Mike showed us how to use that one and I did a perfect flare first attempt. Made me want to rip out all my brake lines in all my vehicles and redo them.

Well, not really, but you get the point.

At least you have a cabinet. All I have is box.

Not to brag or anything, but I actually have several cabinets. A friend gave them to me when he redid his kitchen

Darn it, I should have never tried to name someone.
Sorry Mike and Sorry Tiny for the mixup.

But it did work slick and would be worth the extra money, with just the tubing scrap saving alone.

Don

I also have the brakequip kit, the larger one, and extremely satisfied with it. Not quite cheap but well worth the money, and perfect flares always, all materials.
I've also bought several kits at once (better prices in quantity) and passed them on to friends, they have all also been pleased with them.

I too have had other lesser tools, even the expensive Fed-Hill, Brakequip gets my vote for best tool and value.

Grigg

It was Grigg that mentioned it here a long time ago that got me to thinking about it. I think I paid like $300 for it. I know that sounds crazy to pay that much for something that replaces two pieces of steel and a wing nut, but that is one issue I don't have to think about anymore.

The BQ351 is the intro kit, the one I have, and the BQ350 is the pro kit and the difference is the pro kit goes to 1/2" and does the 37 degree AN style too. If you choose later to upgrade to the pro kit, you can just order the extra parts separate since the boxes are the same.

I have the Mastercool hydraulic unit and I am very happy with it..in fact so are my neighbours, buddies, etc... Once they use it they are sold. Not cheap tho.

This sounds like a very well made tool and I do appreciate good quality when I can afford it. I am just looking for more options. Thanks for the information on a obviously well made tool, however it is not in my budget. Steve

Steve,

I agree, that flaring tool looks sweet, but too much for my budget. I bought a good-old plain Jane USA made double flaring tool from Sears for ~$45. The design is much like the cheapo Chinese versions but was tooled much more precisely. It seems to be relatively well made and has created many leak/crack free flares on steel lines. I would not recommend it for stainless though.

Paul

Thanks Paul, not to discredit the other tool mentioned but as you suggested, there are good flaring tools out there. I would like to hear from more people and what they have and if they are satisfied with them. Steve

Eastwood is selling their version of the Brakequip system for $219. I know that they have a dealership with Brakequip so I would think its the very same system I have.

http://www.eastwood.com/professiona...010&gclid=CLLHyM7r-8QCFZGDaQod4RQApA

I know its alot of money, but over a lifetime, even using the best of the normal style ones, the sharpness of the grabbing portion of them decline, and you need to re-purchase new ones. If you do stainless, it was killing me trying to find a decent tool. If you never plan on doing stainless, you are good to go with the less expensive ones.

I have an old Superior 200 flaring tool someone gave me. It's just like all the other cheap ones except the face on the yoke where it contacts the die block is milled flat. I was missing the dies for double flares so I bought a cheap one at Autozone just to get the dies. I just replaced all the brake lines on my '41 with copper-nickel. I didn't have any problem making flares as long as I was careful to get everything lined up. I tested the lines with air pressure before adding fluid, had 2 or 3 that leaked but stopped when I tightened a little more.

I think the determining factor for a good flaring tool comes down to 2 parts:

How much surface area is in contact with the tube to hold it in place and how accurate the die is placed.

Most $20 flare tools have a 1/2 thick clamp with multiple holes for tube sized. Well, take away a 1/4in for the flare bevel that leaves you with only about 1/4in to hold the tube in place.. not a lot to clamp and hold straight. The high end tools have at least 1/2-1 inch JUST for the line clamp.. much more clamping force.

Also the high end tools usually have a fixed mount for the dies, the cheap ones have a moveable horse shoe thing that needs to be lined up and can move.

Now just to find a $50 flare tool with those two features....

Thanks pfarber, do you know of one that has those features? I'm sure that it is possible to find something like you describe that falls somewhere between a cheapo and $200. Steve

I bought a kit from http://inlinetube.com/ . I think it is the same thing Eastwood sells. I hardly ever buy from Eastwood because most of their stuff isn't what they claim it to be. If theirs is the same thing, and I think it is, it is the only way to make flares. I also bought the kit to make 37° flares. The whole thing cost $300, but it makes the other flaring kits I have look like junk.

I was very impressed with Brakequip's business model. Rather than keeping everything to themselves, they allow their vendors to customize and sell at a lower cost. Eastwood's offering IS the Brakequip solution. Had I known this earlier, I could have saved $100. I have a bad taste in my mouth over Eastwood in general, so it was hard for me, but in this case, its a win.

Since I am hard headed about using Stainless Steel, and I order the tubing in 20 foot rolls from Summit, I also ordered the 1028 Tube Straightener. There is NO WAY you will be straightening Stainless 3/8" rolls without something like this:

http://www.eastwood.com/tube-straightener.html

They are $70 cheaper than the Brakequip store.

I general, I have not been impressed with Eastwood. Eastwood probably deserves a little bad press now and then. I bought my Eastwood kit at the recommendation of someone I trusted and the tool did eveything they said it would, so I am very satisfied with this particular tool.

If you can buy the same tool under a different label, then I say spend the $200. You won't regret it. You will need a decent shop vise or other tool to anchor the flare tool for any flare procedure.

Here are some pics.

Eastwood flare tool

Ready to flare

Flare complete

Kit photo

Just noticed Eastwood has employee pricing - ends tonight though. Their tool regular $250 now $198.

Dennis

This will do 45deg double flares

http://www.amazon.com/Ridgid-23337-...?ie=UTF8&refRID=1HYP9R25GY5DSYEX4CRS

for $80 but won't do Stainless

I think that Ridgid tool would be a good option at lower cost than the brakequip style, though not a full replacement for. I have a similar ridgid 37° single flare (not double) and it does a fine job, well made.

Prior to the Brakequip I used an Imperial traditional looking double flare tool with the little buttons. Not much good for stainless and not nearly as easy to use as Brakequip. Considering the price it too has a place, not a bad tool.

I have that Rigid set in a box somewhere. Not happy with it at all. It did not work well for me, especially 1/4" flares.

Mastercool This is what I use. I've tried a few other brands and types, this one outperforms them all. Plus, it'll make pretty much any type of flare you might come across. single 45, double 45, ISO bubble, GM and Ford push connect, plus there's a kit of dies for doing the 37 degree.

$400 brake line tools are really not an option... its well known that over the $200 mark the quality of the tool is impressive, and that $20 flare tools are not even a comparison.

My post is more about what makes the $200+ so much better than the $20. It sure is not $180 in metal. Much larger clamp area and positive setting of the die holder are the only two differences.

You'd think that someone else would have figured it out.

I like the Rigid tool design, and reviews have been mostly positive. And for $80 its not a horrendous expense... plus Home Depot will take it back if it doesn't work to your liking.

The Rigid was better made than most but up here in Canuckistan it was well over $100 and I had to buy it from an industrial sales supply. I found the grip on the dies was not great. This was a few years ago and I contacted Rigid Canada regarding my concerns and they told me it was not designed for steel brake line double flaring but primarily for refrigeration and air conditioning work. They did not recommend it for auto use

Looks like my results varied, others seem to love it.

That is when I went to Mastercool.

Bill, which model do you have? I did'nt find prices. Steve

Im seeing anywhere from $300 (71745 model) at Toolpan.com out of Los Angeles, to $540 at Eastwood.

Hydraulic is THE StoveBolt (Cadillac) of flaring equipment. But if you are doing less than 20 vehicles, the $200 Brakequip unit will get it done IN style! I WANT the hydraulic unit, and Toolpan's price may make it possible to get it, but if you arent in the brake/fuel business, hard to justify.

Eastwood's is on sale for $200.

Dennis

Steve, I got mine from a Snap-On dealer, it's Mastercool rebranded as Blue Point. I don't recall the model number, I'll have to check to see where it is, as my tools are in a bit of a disarray at the moment.

I have Mastercool. I used it to make steel fuel lines for my tri-carb 348. It was so easy and made perfect double flares every time. I was a bit disappointed when I ran out of things to make. It is one of the few tools I felt was worth the extra money.
don

Just used my Mastercool on the weekend. Rear brake line broke on my 97 GMC. As Donsz said, actually enjoy making the flares. I replaced both lines on the rear axle and was back on the road fast. The tool is expensive but is more of a community resource now LOL.

Now if only my Motive pressure bleeder had the modern GM adapter...but my old vac unit works ok.