Flaring tools

[Kodiak]

What tools are you guys using to flair brake and fuel lines ? What works and what to stay away from. Thanks

[Quincy]

A friends would be the best anwser.

Other I have heard mentioned quite a bit is Eastwood.

[Hoooper]

What line material are you using? If you are using nicopp pretty much any flair tool will be fine. If you are using stainless youre going to want a better tool.

[NAZ]

Buy cheap tools -- buy twice. Quality matters.

If you have a passion for cars and serious about this hobby, BUY GOOD TOOLS they last a lifetime. You can't go wrong with the Eastwood tool, it works great, is study, and makes the job easy. https://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvrGQh8a_7QIVoj6tBh0gIw rlEAQYASABEgLCdfD_BwE

[Kodiak]

3/16 steel, But stainless is also considered.

[JohnK]

Buy cheap tools -- buy twice. Quality matters.

If you have a passion for cars and serious about this hobby, BUY GOOD TOOLS they last a lifetime. You can't go wrong with the Eastwood tool, it works great, is study, and makes the job easy. https://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvrGQh8a_7QIVoj6tBh0gIw rlEAQYASABEgLCdfD_BwE

^^^ This!

The Eastwood tool is often recommended here, so it's what I bought and it worked perfectly for me even on stainless steel.

I would also add... buy good benders (plural) in each size you plan to bend. If you plan to do hard fuel lines (5/16 or 3/8) buy a separate bender for those. I started off with one of those "does all sizes" benders and it was just an exercise in frustration when trying to accurately bend. I ended up buying Ridgid-brand tubing benders in 3/16 and 3/8 and they made life so much easier.

[rich grsc]

Fuel line, and brake lines use different flares. I think the Eastwood tool does both

[JohnK]

Yes, it will but just to point out that the tool only comes with 45 deg. dies (in various tubing diameters). If you plan to incorporate AN fittings in the fuel delivery system you'd need to buy the 37 degree dies separately.

[RoadRacer]

Come on, I can't be the only one to see "flailing tools" and think Game Of Thrones.. :D

But yes, Eastwood tool is the bomb

[jrcuz]

I bought the Eastwood tool and also their 37 deg. dies all worked great. Loaned them to another builder and he had no complaints either.
JR

[BradCraig]

I found out the hard way that if the flaring tool doesn’t hurt a little to buy, it probably won’t work. Eastwood.

[nucjd19]

Buy cheap tools -- buy twice. Quality matters.

If you have a passion for cars and serious about this hobby, BUY GOOD TOOLS they last a lifetime. You can't go wrong with the Eastwood tool, it works great, is study, and makes the job easy. https://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvrGQh8a_7QIVoj6tBh0gIw rlEAQYASABEgLCdfD_BwE

Truth.... As one of my partners in my practice says.... " Buy once cry once."

[Kodiak]

Just ordered the Eastwood bench flare tool Thanks for the feedback .

[jrcuz]

Kodiak, if you haven't watched the Eastwood video on using their flaring tool it is worth the watch. They caution you on a few points.
JR

[phileas_fogg]

I bought the Eastwood tool and also their 37 deg. dies all worked great. Loaned them to another builder and he had no complaints either.
JR

That's a fact. JR loaned me his Eastwood tool and it makes perfect flares, every time.

Thanks again JR!


John

[nuhale]

I just sold my eastwood on this forum a few weeks ago... Was one of the best tools for this build. I would also HIGHLY recommend Nicopp lines for both fuel and brake. They were easy to work with and came out looking great (as we builders only care about the "look" of our brake lines :cool:).

I got all my lines in coil so had to purchase a straightener tool (also sold a few weeks ago).

[Papa]

I forget who makes it, but there is a kit that is virtually identical to the Eastwood tool that comes with both the 37 and 45 degree heads at a bit lower price.

Edit:

Found it: https://www.toolguyrepublic.com/products/brake-line-flaring-tool-45-and-37-degree-set#:~:text=45%20and%2037%20degree%20Brake,steel%2 C%20and%20soft%20metal%20tubing.

[Skip]

I tried using the cheap flaring tools. Had great difficulty on the double flare for the 5/16 steel tubing I’m using to replace the aluminum wiper tubing. Ordered the Eastwood tool last week.

[RBachman]

Cheap flare tools are a PITA. Heck, most cheap tools are a PITA. The Eastwood is a good tool and it worked great for me. Likewise, get a good bending tool as well.

[FLPBFoot]

This is what we used in Build School.
https://www.otctools.com/products/master-brake-flaring-tool-kit

I did nicop for my lines so this worked great.

Steve