Making brake lines

SSG_Karg said

I use one of the el-cheapo tools from Harbor Freight. It has been my experience that the best way to get a good flare is to clamp the bar in a vise after inserting the tube. What I mean is, place it in the vise so the two halves are being squeezed together, increasing the clamping force to prevent the tube from pushing out. Then insert the die and begin tightening. I usually have to tighten and back off several times to keep the die square to the bars.
I’ve been using the NiCopp tubing and so far I’m in love with it. Easier to flair and easier to install. If making a tight radius a bending tool is a must though, as it tends to kink pretty easily.
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Yeah, that’s exactly why I bought the Eastwood flaring tool. Insert die, insert tube, clamp, pull on handle. Change die, pull on handle, done. No fiddling with any of that stuff.

The Eastwood tool is more than worth it if you’re doing more than a handful of flares. It’s not quite what I would consider a professional level tool, the Mastercool one is more like a professional tool. But the Eastwood tool will totally handle doing brake or fuel lines for an entire car on multiple occasions with no issues. I’ve done a ton of lines with it and it’s held up great.

I have a couple of the clamp style tools, from HF all the way up to vintage Snap On. They’re all a pain in the ***, and even the snap on version I have sits in the drawer. They work, sure, but if you’re doing more than a flare or two it’s just not worth the frustration.