The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Brakequip Bending Tool

At KC I mentioned this awesome bender that is adjustable for all popular metric and standard sizes. I have used it many times for stainless steel and it works flawlessly. I get my tubing in 20 foot rolls, then use the straightener to cut out dipstick tubes, PCV hard lines, brake lines, fuel lines, etc.

The bender is here:
http://www.brakequip.com/shop/adjustable-tube-bender-bq613

The straightener is here:
http://www.brakequip.com/shop/tube-straightener-bq1028

Their really nice flaring tools are here:
http://www.brakequip.com/shop/high-speed-flaring-tool-kit-standard-sae-bq351

I have been very impressed with their products. The bender goes in the vise in any orientation and makes bending multiple bends in all directions relatively easy.

Looks like they're good tools, but that flaring tool really wouldn't work very well if have to make a flare on a line that's in the vehicle.

That's true. But it works so good that you may have a tendency to remove the piece and do it on the bench. Its amazing how perfect the flares are. One of the tools I left out was the bending tweaker that everyone should have for tweaking the bends a bit while on the truck...

http://www.toolsource.com/brake-hose-pliers-p-104558.html

BQ402 is the Brakequip number.

Some of the work I tend to get involved in, removing the line isn't an option. It has to be flared in place. mainly, flaring lines for a splice or replacement of a bad fitting. The amount of labor requires to remove the line would kill the time on the job.
I have similar pliers to those. Mine are made by Lisle, and only do one size, requiring a pair in 3/16 and 1/4. But that style does work great, not only for tweeking, but also for making really tight bends.

Nice looking tool...might get to my list of stuff I have to have. Flare tools...I have used some, some broke, and some worked. Some were useless. Swagelok makes some nice benders, used on the job. never had to buy one. Were in specific sizes not universal like this one. Is the toolbox ever full?

Oh yes. I've had to up size 4 times in my career. Here is an old pick of the latest one. http://www.bunchobikes.com/toolbox.jpg

Nice system Mark. The day you have too many tools is the day you move into the old folks home. So be sure to share a pic when the next up sizing occurs!

Nice tool chest, MNSmith, Won't push that onto a trailer any day soon I hope.

I went from 6 movable (if you are King KONG) tool boxes to 2 Rollaround,s 6 yers ago. best money I ever spent. I can outrun any one holding one of those.I can tell if something is missing at the end of the day. How many tools went down the street after a project was dome? Lots, I think. I have left tools on the floor after some dash work, gone forever. I can only hope that the new home is good to them. something sad about watching the favorite pair OF vice GRIPS SLIDE DOWN THE STREET AFTER A CAR OR TRUCK LEAVES THE DRIVE WAY, aH, HELPING OTHERS, SO MUCH FUN. My Buddy wants to know why I let the Jack down so fast st the end of the day, that drop will shake loose things left on the frame. And put them on the floor where I can retrive it.I remember cutting lots of Rigid foam at work. Tool box told you when a wrench was missing. A hole was looking back at you.Air planes don't play well with loose bits floating around in side places they don't belong in. Pilots don't like playing catch at 500 MPH either. Missing sockets are a pet peeve of mine, always the 1/2 or 7/16 for some reason. 12MM and 10MM if it was modern stuff. Must be a thing with the manuf. Now I have a cart. Put stuff on the cart and save running back to the roll around. Parts go on the cart too. Now I need another cart...does it ever end?

http://devestechnet.com/Images/SmallSocketDrawer.jpg

I learned to do that in the Air Force years ago. You know at a glance what is missing. All of our shop boxes were organized that way. Your tax dollars at work!

The nice part about those wrench organizers is you can take the whole rack to the work.

Something I thought of since I watched the video for the flaring tool; There is an error in it about the flares and how to make them. The show the first operation of making a flare, and call it a "bubble flare". That is incorrect. While it is a correct first step of the operation of making a double flare, the die for making a bubble flare is completely different. A bubble flare has a flat back part of it where the tube nut seats on it, rather than a 45 degree. The front part of it also rounded much more than shown. I will admit, I do know plenty of guys that will fake a 1/2 formed double flare in a bubble flare situation, and sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.
Now, this is not a knock on the tool itself. It looks like a very well made unit, and looks do an excellent job. But I would think that it would have the proper dies for making the flare type needed, and that the folks making the video would at least know how to make the flares properly and demonstrate them as such. It can be very misleading to someone not familiar with brake lines and the appropriate flares.

Let them know Bill. It's the only way to make change. The terminology to me didn't matter since I didn't know anything about it in the first place. Step 1, pull the handle, turn it to Step 2, BAM! I am so thankful the tool works as advertised, that I completely overlooked all that. Step 1 looks kind of like it could be characterized as a bubble flare. Lettem know!