Flare tool? - Lateral-g Forums

**GregWeld** · #1 02-16-2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sti_Guy

Guys I'm looking for a good inverted flare tool to use to do brakes lines on my car. Ive found few of them but they say not to use on SS tubing. I have a Nice Ridgid flaring tool for 37degree, but nothing for the Inverted 45, not trying to go all out with a hydro unit but something decent hand operated.

Most (stock) brake stuff uses "double" flare - is that what you're looking to do? Or a single 45? Different tools...

Doing SS tubing is an issue - depends on the tubing being used. SS is "brittle" and splits easily when flaring. Did you get seamless and annealed tubing from a good quality brake line supplier?

Sti_Guy · #2 02-16-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Most (stock) brake stuff uses "double" flare - is that what you're looking to do? Or a single 45? Different tools...

Doing SS tubing is an issue - depends on the tubing being used. SS is "brittle" and splits easily when flaring. Did you get seamless and annealed tubing from a good quality brake line supplier?

I'm looking for an inverted 45 so double flare tool, yes these are typically different tools. The stainless i picked up is seamless 304 .187 .028 wall. So far seems to work for the 37* stuff just fine.
I got the tube from Onlinemetals or metals supermarkets locally so i could get 20ft lengths

**GregWeld** · #3 02-16-2010, 10:08 AM

Yeah - Love Metal Supermarket!

Did you know that you can "rent" any tool Schucks has -- for the price of the tool - you "buy it" - the deposit is the price of the tool - if you bring it back on their "rental" program - they then just charge you a small price - or if you decided to keep it - you just don't take it back?

Sti_Guy · #4 02-16-2010, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Yeah - Love Metal Supermarket!

Did you know that you can "rent" any tool Schucks has -- for the price of the tool - you "buy it" - the deposit is the price of the tool - if you bring it back on their "rental" program - they then just charge you a small price - or if you decided to keep it - you just don't take it back?

Interesting, ill look into that, i don't have have an issue picking up a new tool

but it seems that everyone i find says it wont do SS. Maybe i need to get a MAC, or Matco, something like that. I hoping you guys would have an answer i see a lot of stainless brake lines in these builds!

**GregWeld** · #5 02-16-2010, 10:55 AM

All my brake stuff is 37* --- and I have a very expensive handy dandy 37* flare tool with rollers in it.... You CAN NOT DOUBLE FLARE SS.... Period - end of story. Sorry to tell you that....

**GregWeld** · #6 02-16-2010, 11:02 AM

Of course now I'm waiting for Mark (Bent Fab) to jump in here and kick my booty about making such a "complete" statement like the above....

SS is too brittle to make the double bend like that... when you make your first flare - the metal "work hardens" - and if you were to try to bend it again to make the double - it'll just crack... That's why when you see all these beautiful brake lines and fuel line in SS -- you'll see all AN fittings (37*).

A good source for supplies etc is BENT FAB -- he'll hook you up with stuff you need for the job. He has a website.

**GregWeld** · #7 02-16-2010, 11:13 AM

I'll add to my statement - before someone does jump in here and takes my head off.

Yes - you can double flare SS... I know this.... but the "average guy" with average tools --- will most likely end up with an unmitigated disaster. You really have to have the correct tubing (annealed) and you really have to have good tools - and skills - and de-burring etc etc. It's just a whole lot more effort and just isn't "necessary" when you can just do a simple (relatively) 37* AN...

So my "advice" - worth exactly what you paid for it - is to just stick with 37* stuff and use adaptors where you have to mate to a inverted flare.

DRJDVM's '69 · #8 02-16-2010, 07:23 PM

I was thinking about getting the Mastercool one... I'd be interested in some comments from the "experts"

Blown353 · #9 02-16-2010, 07:51 PM

I use a Mastercool hydraulic kit frequently... works great! I love that kit.

I've made dozens of successful double flares in annealed stainless brake lines too; I can only think of one that didn't come out as planned. The trick is do NOT use a rotary (pipe) cutter or cutoff wheel as they will work harden the stainless at the cut area leading to the flare cracking. I only cut with a saw and use a file for "fine tuning" the squareness afterwards and either a small round file or a drill bit (by hand) to lightly chamfer the ID. Then, flare as usual. My experience has been that stainless is much more "picky" compared to standard steel brake lines when it comes to the squareness of the cut and proper chamfering prior to performing the flaring operation.

**GregWeld** · #10 02-16-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRJDVM's '69

I was thinking about getting the Mastercool one... I'd be interested in some comments from the "experts"

Ned,

I almost didn't respond because you wanted to hear from "the experts"... so I DO NOT QUALIFY..

Personally -- I L O V E mine.... it makes killer flares - and or GM push to connect - metric bubble flares etc. AND because of the way it's set up - you can do repairs etc "on car"...

The one thing I will say -- DO NOT try a GM push connect on STAINLESS... It just doesn't want to work well on that.

A poster in this thread said he didn't like his - too many "parts" - but in my opinion that's just something that goes away with use.

I do 37* AN with a Ridgid tool -- not the MasterCool.