Double flares - frustrating

[Ken Macfarlane]

I haven't had to make a double flare in 10 years until today.
Sat down and made rather tried to make a flare 30 times. Was
thinking I don't remember this kind of trouble getting a good
flare. Dug around and found a different die I had from my
grandfather and the first one and next 5 all perfect.

The cheap Chinese kit with all the dies I had bought - all
garbage, wrong shape on the face ad they single flare the tube
instead.

 

[timcasbolt]

Yea, needed new ones a few years ago and had to shop around quite a bit for American made that wasn't too expensive. This is one situation where Harbor Freight is the wrong store.

 

[MarkB_MI]

I have found from experience that it makes no sense to skimp when it comes to flaring tools. There's a world of difference between the cheap Chinese tools found in most hardware stores and the quality US versions. I had to do a couple of flares a while back and spent around 90 bucks on a Ridgid double-flare set. Worked perfectly.

 

[JRSutton]

Amen.

I don't mind some cheap tools if they work a few times and you at least get what you pay for.

But the cheap flaring tools I've tried don't even give you that.

A true waste of money,

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

Have a good ridgid flaring tool just doesn't have the double flare dies with it. Use it on copper lines normally, and have metric bubble flares on most of our vehicles.

 

[Malibu Nick]

If you make more than one flare a year look strongly at the MaterKool hydraulic flaring tool. They make the same tool for SnapOn and NAPA and others. It is expensive but it is very easy to use, and it always makes the flare correctly. It will do, single, double, bubble ( metric), fuel line with the clip ring and others. Very nice tool

 

[Butch(OH)]

Year ago I had to purchase a Mastercool hydraulic flaring tool kit to make a push connect line that was no longer available. It also does many types of single and double flares and I must concur that the quality of the tooling sure makes the flare. My double flare brake lines now look like factory and seal perfectly. Expensive tool to do a couple brake lines a year but,,,,

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

There is a nice cam type with a turret tool holder out there too.

 

[Roy Suomi]

Last year I purchased a set from the Snap-On truck... What a great tool this ended to be.. It's a set that will allow you to flare a fitting with the line in place.. It consists of 3 different split dies and 3 double flare starters and long threaded nut and bolt with taper.. The die gets clamped onto a line and tightened down with allen wrenches.. then the double flare starter gets put into place then screw the long nut onto the die , then the tapered bolt.. Hold onto the die with channel lock pliers and turn the bolt .. Works great.... Now..... AW SHOOT, Forgot to put the flare nut on the line....

 

[Anonymous-0]

when I double flare I have the tube stick up just a little more than they recommend. This gives me a good double flare every time.

 

[circus]

I've found that premade brake lines are brittle, hard and difficult to double flare.
On the other hand, 20 ft roles of brake line easily double flares. So it isn't always the tools fault.

 

[JDemaris]

I bought the double-flare kit on sale for $16 from Harbor Freight. That because I lost a few dies from my Snap-On kit. It has worked flawlessley. I've made many brake lines from steel and copper-nickel with zero problems. I late bought a bubble-flare kit from China for my Dodge Grand-Caravan. It too has worked perfectly.

 

[RodinNS]

I had a couple of those cheap china sets of flaring tools. I could never make a double flare on anything to save my soul. Then I realised that the fixture wasn't holding onto the line. Some guys use a vise grip to cure that problem. I bought a good WeatherHead set of flaring tools and that cured the problem...
The cheap sets might be OK on small diameter lines but when you get into 1/2" tubing like I was using at the time... cheap don't work.

Rod

 

[55deere70]

I have the Blue Point flare kit from Snap On. It always makes good flares. I have also found that if you leave the line up just a little higher than the shoulder of the die, it makes perfect double flares.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I had the same experience. Harbor Freight set was no good and just frustrating. Bought a good USA set and problem solved. I haven't used it in so long that I can't remember the brand right now.