Warren,
I havent been on here for while due to the bickering comments that keep appearing more regularly. As you pointed out, this handheld set is good to do " in car flares" and i have used this same one for over 30 yrs!!! It is a matter of users skill level and not a matter of blaming the tools. There definitlly are better ones, hydraulic jaw type are great but not for confined spaces. Regards bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Guys,

To my limited knowledge Abw is part of the Sidcrombe group. The extra $ is for machine fit and correct hardening. There are better, sure, but I needed quality enough for 20 fitting, 1 car. I'm sure it will do 10 cars. I'm not setting up a brake business.

Cheers
Warren



Grizzly (Aussie Mainline)

The butterfly screw clamp style is what I call the junk you typically find at the parts store. But I've never used one of that style that cost more than $20-$30, so maybe the more expensive ones work better.
I've had those that were made in USA and made in China, all junk. They're what you use when you have no other choice and you just need to get home.
I did see fairly recently that there is a Craftsman of that style which does appear to be much higher quality than any I've used and is still made in the USA. It was about $70. This was within the last year but the way Craftsman is going, it could be Chinese by now.
K-Tool International have a tool just like the Eastwood tool. That may help to find a better price for it.
Keep me posted on this because I am in the market for a flare tool that actually produces quality flares, comparable to those on the tubing you get at the parts store.


Lawrenceville, GA

Sorry guys I just wouldn't even look at that type, I think unless you had an original one it just wont cut it [been there] . Im trying to source an Eastwood turret type, Jegs is looking like my only option at the moment..



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Warren. That particular tool you posted the link to looks like the one I use most of the time. Mine was originally sold by Mac tools and works well.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

check this out while I look. https://www.alltools.com.au/shop/index.php/556/2462_Flaring_Tool_(_Double_Flare_ Could be what I bought.

Cheers
Warren

Grizzly (Aussie Mainline)

Talkwrench, Slick, others,

I did all my hard line about two years ago and bought one (butterfly screw Clamp style) off a Australian online tool shop. It was reasonable $120ish and did all my flares and trials without any sign of wear. There were some flares that could only be done on the car so the fact that it was hand held was an advatage. If I could find it I would give you details. It's away and safe if that any comfort.

45deg double flare is the way to go and only thing leagle in Australia. Check out ytube and there is some instructional videos on how to do it. Preparation is 3/4 of the job. A bit of practice and your on your way.

I'll look for mine, it's bugging me now.

Cheers
Warren

Grizzly (Aussie Mainline)

Check out what RIDGID has. They have some very good tube forming tools. They usually have a couple of different ranges of quality.

Article on YouTube on tool i bought from eBay for $60.

He gets to the nitti gritti about 2:55

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUDyEu_NYK8


South Australia

Recently got one of these from Brake Quip http://www.brakequip.com/tools.html Once the tubing is cut and deburred, you can make an excellent double flare in seconds... a little pricey, but does beautiful work. The tool is vice mounted . Clamp in the tubing, select the punch from the rotating turret, pull the lever, select the finish punch to set the flare, pull the lever again, unclamp and you're done. Takes longer to explain it here than to make a flare. The tubing holders don't mar the tube . Only short coming is the ability to flare close to an angle (bend in tubing) as the tube clamping dies are about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. The optional 37 degree tooling is for AN fittings that use ferrules and a single flare....aircraft style. Barry