Looking for a good double flare tool

Doesn't quit classify as a major tool, but I only want to buy one and I want it to work. I've heard a lot of cussing about them. The old man's double flare never gave me a bit of trouble. If I could steal it I would...

We just turned the first hard line into a candy cane on project Bertha. I can only guess that the rest are going to follow the same fate. Along with the 4 of 9 bolts that came out of the skid plate intact That's another story... Lets just say Miss Bertha is a fighter? and that asshole Murphy is on her side?

When the lady gets ready she'll post an official build thread. We talked it over and she'll be posting it under my login. Here's my favorite pic from last weekends work.


Any thoughts on a flare tool would be appreciated.

I have found that the ones that have a split plate that clamps the tubing and a C shaped piece that straddles it with a bolt in the center that hold the die, even the expensive name brand versions, are iffy at best. The Mastercool #71300 is the best on the market, just be sure you get the one with the 45* dies, not the 37* refrigeration dies. It's pricey but worth it, saves a lot of cut off flares and too short lines. Major part of the process is cutting and preping the end of the tube before flaring. DON'T use a spin around wheel type cutting tool! Use a thin abrasive cutoff wheel in a dremmel type tool or a very fine toothed hacksaw blade. Cut as square as possible without any scaring or scoring. Use a fine cut quality flat or triangular file to dress the end perfectly square and remove any burrs inside or out. Next file the outside corner at a 45* angle. Do not sharpen, but be sure to leave a small flat around the center of the face. Do another swipe square across the end if it gets too thin. Now make your flare.

[qoute]The Mastercool #71300 is the best on the market[/quote]

That looks like the Cadillac style tool for the collection. Thanks for the input. As for cutting lines. for flaring I've had great luck with the conventional style tube cutters. The cut is close to perfectly square. If you don't rush it with a good sharp blade you'll get a fairly clean cut with minimal burrs on the I.D. and no noticeable crushing of the tube. My last flare tool was a split type It never gave me any trouble until it walked off with the rest of my tools. I hope someone is putting that $10K to good use... fuckin' theives!!! tool box full of machinist and mechanic tools went missing one night about 8 years ago.

Kaptn' Obvious wrote:. I hope someone is putting that $10K to good use... fuckin' theives!!! tool box full of machinist and mechanic tools went missing one night about 8 years ago.

I never lost 10K worth of tools at a time or anything else for that matter but I do know the feeling when some low life piece of shit steals your property. In the case of tools it gets down right personal. It's more than just money. That's why Cyndi our Rottweiler always has the run of the place including being able to get down in the shop and garage. If you happen to be someone she knows and likes you could carry away the whole place and she would help you but if not family or one of only five or six people she likes, then you need damn good medical insurance because she will tear you up. We didn't train her that way, she just turned out that way. Of course it only takes about five minutes to become her life long friend if I introduce her to you and approve.

Later Man...

Kaptn' Obvious wrote:[qoute]The Mastercool #71300 is the best on the market

That looks like the Cadillac style tool for the collection. Thanks for the input. As for cutting lines. for flaring I've had great luck with the conventional style tube cutters. The cut is close to perfectly square. If you don't rush it with a good sharp blade you'll get a fairly clean cut with minimal burrs on the I.D. and no noticeable crushing of the tube. My last flare tool was a split type It never gave me any trouble until it walked off with the rest of my tools. I hope someone is putting that $10K to good use... fuckin' theives!!! tool box full of machinist and mechanic tools went missing one night about 8 years ago. [/quote]

I'd rather buy a 250.00 tool once than buy a 80.00 tool that turns out to be a piece of crap that I have to fight with and end up rebuying/replacing it. But that's just me.

I don't recommend the wheel type tubing cutters for tubing you are going to double flare for several reasons:
1. they all look alike so the tendency is to buy a cheap one and throw it in the tool box with the rest of the tools, where it gets banged around and accumulates dirt and moisture, rather than caring for it like a fine cutting tool.
2. cheap tools often have a soft/dull wheel coupled with the rust/dirt/bumps accumulated in the tool box it cuts more like shaving with a cold chisel than a razor blade, crushing in the end of the tube and leaving the inside ragged.
3. poorly aligned, soft, rusty/dirty/dinged roller wheel coupled with excessive pressure to force the dull cutter thru the tubing work hardens and/or scores the end of the tubing. Work hardened tubing is more likely to crack when flaring, and any concentric scoring, even from twisting the end in a piece of fine sandpaper, will promote vibration cracking.

I'll not argue with one person's success, but will caution the rest about many failures. (In an emergency I've cut tubing with a pocket knife, I'll not even decribe how, but I would never recommend it.)