Double flair tool opinions needed

just got one from Sears for 60 bucks made in USA and does a good job

 

Add me to the positive feedback on the Eastwood unit. Couldn't be easier to get a nice double flair.

 

I just got the turret style one from eastwood
http://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html
I am super happy with it.

 

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I bought a Rimac.

Ok tool, but the guide pin kept breaking off the 3/16" size interchangeable seat die.


Bought a Blue-Point from a Snap-On dealer, no probs.

 

I bought an Imperial Eastman double flare tool kit a while back. Reasonably priced at around 45-50 bucks. I have used an Eastwood, Matco, and several cheapie models. The Imperial set was by far the most effortless one I have used.

I have found a few things that make life easier when flaring. Be sure it is cut flush. Be sure the wheel on your tube cutter is sharp. I use a small countersink bit in my drill to debur the ID. I use a smooth mill file to bebur the OD. I use oil on insert where it meets the tubing and where the cone seats on top. And the number one thing I finally realized is that overtightening the flare tool makes for the worst flare possible and is hard on the tool. With the imperial I can tighten everything by hand only and it comes out perfect.

The only problem I ran into was trying to flare a piece of tubing for a friend. He bought some of that cheap hand bendable tubing from AutoZone that is dark grayish green. I had to use pliers to tghten the clamp to get the tube to stop slipping almost like the tube OD was too small.

One more tip, PRACTICE!!! Get some tube and practice before you start doing it on the lines you just spent two hours bending.

 

There's a trick to flaring and I don't know what it is... personally, I've never had a flaring tool incident where I didn't break the tool, and spend a bunch of time trying to fix it.

I've done lots of research and in all my efforts, I've never successfully flared an end...

... and according to a friend of mine who's the MASTER of flaring ends, I wasn't doing it wrong either.

Just a little too much elbow grease.

So I can't help you... because i just saw the thread and thought that maybe there's some other galoot out there with the same flaring-related curse placed on them.

 

Here is a link to the Imperial Eastman tool I refered to in my post above.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950463000P?keyword=imperial+tools

 

I just bought the same one two days ago, I'm glad to hear it works. They have them on e-bay for $179 plus $12 shipping.

 

Yep, thats where I got mine from about 2 months ago.

 

The Eastwood tool is on sale for $186.99 with free shipping (expires today 8/28).
Bruce