Comments on: Harbor Freight Double Flaring Tool http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:59:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: 67gtman http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-1037398 67gtman Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:41:34 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-1037398 Any type of HF flaring tool IS VERY UNLIKELY to make a concentric flare to a degree that such flare will seal well enough. The tip, and shaper are too shaky to stay in center while fastening the jaws. I simply do not believe if someone is saying that with snapon or imperial set you will make perfectly concentric and sealing, production quality flares. Neither from copper. Mastercool may work if it has precisely fixed hydraulic press. Any type of HF flaring tool IS VERY UNLIKELY to make a concentric flare to a degree that such flare will seal well enough. The tip, and shaper are too shaky to stay in center while fastening the jaws. I simply do not believe if someone is saying that with snapon or imperial set you will make perfectly concentric and sealing, production quality flares. Neither from copper. Mastercool may work if it has precisely fixed hydraulic press.

]]> By: ambush http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-830073 ambush Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:04:45 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-830073 the cheap ones aren't reliable, the threads on the flaring bar and the yoke always get screwed up, but for most purposes the expensive ones aren't worth it anyway. the cheap ones aren’t reliable, the threads on the flaring bar and the yoke always get screwed up, but for most purposes the expensive ones aren’t worth it anyway.

]]> By: shopmonger http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-827304 shopmonger Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:53:36 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-827304 I have used one of the these for hot rods and car restos for years and have never had any problems... In fact i love my HF version...... double flares are the way to go.... just be patient most of the time you are literally betting your ass on these I have used one of the these for hot rods and car restos for years and have never had any problems… In fact i love my HF version……

double flares are the way to go…. just be patient most of the time you are literally betting your ass on these

]]> By: fritz gorbach http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-826562 fritz gorbach Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:01:49 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-826562 http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=69952&group_ID=18146&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog you can check that out here http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=69952&group_ID=18146&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

you can check that out here

]]> By: fritz gorbach http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-826551 fritz gorbach Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:56:22 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-826551 I agree with everyone else...I did my first brake lines wih a crap double flaring tool and every joint leaked. The flares, especially in steel, have to be perfectly concentric, or they won't seat right, and then forget it. This means the bars must go together square and tight and STAY that way. If you cant afford the tool, buy your brake and fuel lines premade, but really, you can get a good set-up for forty bucks or so. I have three imperial sets now(home, work, truck) and I bought all of them used, for under fifteeen bucks a piece. Same goes for plumbing, ac, refridgeration, whatever you do with this. If it leaks, it won't work. Oh, yeah, and the Hydraulic sets (mastercool, etc) are fantastic. I'm always eyeballing the blue point version at my snapon rep's place, and you can make any flare you ever need, but...I think last month they were on special for about $450. That''s a lot of tubing. I agree with everyone else…I did my first brake lines wih a crap double flaring tool and every joint leaked. The flares, especially in steel, have to be perfectly concentric, or they won’t seat right, and then forget it. This means the bars must go together square and tight and STAY that way. If you cant afford the tool, buy your brake and fuel lines premade, but really, you can get a good set-up for forty bucks or so. I have three imperial sets now(home, work, truck) and I bought all of them used, for under fifteeen bucks a piece.
Same goes for plumbing, ac, refridgeration, whatever you do with this. If it leaks, it won’t work.
Oh, yeah, and the Hydraulic sets (mastercool, etc) are fantastic. I’m always eyeballing the blue point version at my snapon rep’s place, and you can make any flare you ever need, but…I think last month they were on special for about $450. That’’s a lot of tubing.

]]> By: Andrew http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-826222 Andrew Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:27:10 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-826222 I am HVAC/R and Plumbing trained I have a yellow jacket deluxe flaring tool on my amazon wish list for a reason, I even was disappointed by the rigid brand 35 dollar model cheap connection could not easily use for swagging, imperial Eastman are also nice. I am HVAC/R and Plumbing trained I have a yellow jacket deluxe flaring tool on my amazon wish list for a reason, I even was disappointed by the rigid brand 35 dollar model cheap connection could not easily use for swagging, imperial Eastman are also nice.

]]> By: MatthewW http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-826003 MatthewW Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:16:27 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-826003 unless your flaring cooper or aluminum dont waste your money I like most hf tools, but not this one unless your flaring cooper or aluminum dont waste your money
I like most hf tools, but not this one

]]> By: river1 http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-825996 river1 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:13:51 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-825996 a second vote for the mastercool set. if there is a tube end you need to make it will make them. later jim a second vote for the mastercool set. if there is a tube end you need to make it will make them.

later jim

]]> By: fred http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-825885 fred Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:11:40 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-825885 For years we worked with yoke and bar type flaring tools from Imperial Eastman. The better ones had ball bearings. We now use a Mastercool Hydraulic tool - that can be bought in pieces (as we did) or in a fancy set (has sizes that we wouldn't know what to do with - but you auto repair guys might): http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=MAS71475&source=froogle&kw=MAS71475 For years we worked with yoke and bar type flaring tools from Imperial Eastman. The better ones had ball bearings. We now use a Mastercool Hydraulic tool - that can be bought in pieces (as we did) or in a fancy set (has sizes that we wouldn’t know what to do with - but you auto repair guys might):

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=MAS71475&source=froogle&kw=MAS71475

]]> By: BobH http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-825856 BobH Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:54:51 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-825856 I needed one of these when I was running the fuel line for my (fuel injection conversion) '73 TR6. The HF price was so good that I bit. I'd recommend avoiding this step, and just going to step 2: Buy a Yellow Jacket 60225. The HF version would not/could not grip the line firmly enough to prevent pushing it out of the anvil while trying to flare it. So you'd end up cutting the mangled end off, and then trying again--only to mangle it some more. (repeat until you start to cry) (or the line is too short to use). The Yellow Jacket? As if magic. I still walk around just looking for things to flare...Of course, at 6x the price, you'd expect magic. Let me know if you want to borrow it. :) BobH I needed one of these when I was running the fuel line for my (fuel injection conversion) ‘73 TR6. The HF price was so good that I bit. I’d recommend avoiding this step, and just going to step 2: Buy a Yellow Jacket 60225.

The HF version would not/could not grip the line firmly enough to prevent pushing it out of the anvil while trying to flare it. So you’d end up cutting the mangled end off, and then trying again–only to mangle it some more. (repeat until you start to cry) (or the line is too short to use).

The Yellow Jacket? As if magic. I still walk around just looking for things to flare…Of course, at 6x the price, you’d expect magic.

Let me know if you want to borrow it. :)

BobH

]]> By: Bill Murphy http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/02/harbor-freight-double-flaring-tool/#comment-825639 Bill Murphy Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:31:06 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=20857#comment-825639 I cannot recall the number of frustrations I experienced while using this ``tool''. I've thankfully blacked most of those memories out. My advice? Buy pre-flared lines, skip this thing. Good luck if you do get it... --Bill I cannot recall the number of frustrations I experienced while using this “tool”. I’ve thankfully blacked most of those memories out. My advice? Buy pre-flared lines, skip this thing.

Good luck if you do get it…

–Bill

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