Plus, in our experience, the low-end tools tend to break quickly. I have a block of Delrin that I drilled the long way, in all the sizes that I might use (3/16"-1/2" by 1/6ths). Hunter Engineering's Dave Fox discusses the steps required to reset or calibrate the steering angle sensor. We also recently upgraded to this bonus tool: a tubing straightener from, yes. It's worth the price. If not you are welcome to use mine. These tube bending pliers are ideal for working on brake lines.
Most bending tools feature a grooved radius, a clamping bar and a moveable bending arm.
No more slowly straightening lines with our thumbs. Not one joint leaked and when I decided to revise a couple of lines I made it was a non-issue. Copyright 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Sending a customer away because were not equipped to perform a job is money lost. Constructed of drop forged steel, these brake line pliers easily bend, align and adjust tubing while comfort grips reduce user fatigue. Copyright 1995-2008 Atomic Industry: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. I will use nothing else from here on out. There's definitely an argument to be made for just ponying up for the nice tool. I recently replaced all the brake and fuel lines on my 63 Chevy with Nicopp using the Eastwood flaring tool. Item f. Woops. This article is from a past issue of the magazine. the quality and finish of your flares for critical applications is well worth the price. And I highly recommend the Ridgid one over the ones that look like the one in the picture below. This article is from a past issue of the magazine. This keeps it from twisting and losing its 3D reference. Weve successfully bent up hundreds of brake lines over the years. Does this stuff come all rolled up? I have the big Eastwood flare tool and love it. Moving down the line, we continue to use found objects as bending tools. The fixtures will move a bit, so its important to accurately line them up. Also helps to use a piece of solid elect wire to pattern the tube. What tool does this picture above represent? Youre going to need to put an end on your new lines, and having the right setup is essential. Secret 4 solves what we believe is the biggest brake plumbing issue for most people: As we move along the line to make new bends, we tape it to the old line. Using the old line as a reference, we made our initial bends by hand, working from one end to the other. NAPA AUTO PARTS Spotlights Key Brake-Related New Multi-Size Tubing Straightener for Fluid Access to digital editions, contests, news. How did we know we couldnt achieve that tight radius? tubing without kinking or bending. IMG_4722 by krbarnes posted Mar 16, 2016 at 1:07 PM, IMG_4718 by krbarnes posted Mar 16, 2016 at 1:07 PM, IMG_4724 by krbarnes posted Mar 16, 2016 at 1:07 PM, http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-coiled-tube-straightener, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Before I had this kit I hated to anything with brake lines if I could avoid it. Instead, they advise using an abrasive cutoff wheel. in retrospect, I waited too long to buy mine (about 15 years ago). I wish I had bought this years ago. Sliding the tubing through that straightens it out. Once the fixtures are lined up, we clamp them in place. Get 10% Off Your Entire Purchase When You Open a New Account, Get our best deals and latest news delivered straight to you. Heres a decent toolset made by Ridgid, available for about $100. I'm certain the Mastercool tool is considerably easier to use than the Rigid tool (that style is irritating on a good day and GRM stated as such), but how much better is it than the intermediate step? Technicians can create SAE and DIN flares including 3/16, 4.75mm and 1/4 sizes with this tool. and 1/4 in.
That said, it ain't cheap. I guess the question becomes is it 250 dollars better than the Eastwood 25304? I guess I'll have to break down and buy the tubing straightener. Entries must be received by the end of the month. We have invested millions of dollars in our own test labs and factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands.
Those who make good ones will end up on top. Nope. just take a come-a-long and stretch it just till it straightens and you got it. Cheap tools will work okay if youre finicky (and dont mind redoing things a few times). My next car to do will be a 1979 Ford Fiesta later this summer. Employees of Babcox Media, industry manufacturers and TechShop advertisers are not eligible to enter. I got tired of dealing with leaking flares - tool budget doesn't count against the project, right? We guarantee this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship 90 days from the date of purchase. Weve also used steel bars, hammer heads, fire extinguishers and welding tanks. Our new line is officially bent. Can it be tweaked to work right? (716) 759.1800 I hate trying to straighten it out. If were lucky, we can find the exact length we need and avoid having to cut and flare one end. This die adds the final shape to the flare. This is especially important if you cant afford a high-quality tool. Copyright 2000-2009 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited. My primary one is that I'm going to need to totally redo the lines on the RX-3 since they've been open for 30 years. We bring shop owners and technicians the newest products and information they need to stay current with the technology and techniques for success, helping readers get the most out of their tools. All rights reserved. If we dont, we make our own pattern, usually out of 1/16-inch welding rod. Subscribe now. I tell them the part is for my pool filter no mater what it is. Karl. I bought it because the Eastwood tool will only work when clamped in a vice, and won't work on the car. We start the process by using the 3/16-inch holding fixture to clamp our line. Terms of Service. Tim, I bought one at Napa for $50.
To learn the rest of our secrets, just follow along as we make a brake line for one of our projectcars.
These 45-degree tools range from cheap to decent to excellent. Hey Thanks Carl you are the best, we have our Jensey Healey challenge car we have to plum. Simple two piece that has a two stage operation to do a double flare. Story and Photos by Carl Heideman Some stores have tools to loan. Milwaukee Locks in Fastest Cordless Lockbolt Installations, Ingersoll Rand Impact Features Visual Air Pressure Gauge. Everything worked like a dream. I will get a model number and picture here in a bit. It's just that simple! We buy our brake lines two ways. For this replacement, we started with a 60-inch line sourced from our local NAPA store. The Hydra-Assist Flaring Tool features a hydraulic assist T-handle ram, a quick chuck for fast-punch change over, an S-lock for quick assembly and dual-handle placement for ease of use. This die flares the inside of the line. Before we pick up our flaring tool, we remember to install the fitting, using some tape to secure it. We insert the first die into the tool. The larger tool is our tubing cutter of choice, while the little one works best for tight spots. Subscribe now. Some people advise against tubing cutters because they can work-harden the end of the line and make it more likely to crack when flared. Copies of this tool kit are available for a bit less, but we chose to get ours from Classic Tube because theyre a trusted supporter of the car hobby. We recently stepped up to this Universal Hydraulic Flaring Tool Kit from Classic Tube. And the finished line is ready to go in the car. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements). Classic Tube. ). Their lines are annealed for easier bending. Don't get scammed by websites pretending to be Harbor Freight. Secret 5: Whenever we just cant perfectly duplicate a bend, we stray from the pattern a bit. For example, this tight radius just wouldnt bend nicely, so we made it larger. Terms Of Service. Secret 3: Instead of using a tool, we simply bend the tube around a found object that happens to have the right radius. [classictube.com](http://classictube.com) Like stories like this? And Ni-cop lines are great!
Instead, weve invested those funds in a high-quality flaring tool. The cheap ones can be found for as little as $10 and are hard to use successfully. What is the fail on the harbor freight version? We wont mention how many times weve flared a line and then realized we didnt have the fitting in place. The Mastercoolsetup has completely changed my perspective. Certain projects seem to instill anxiety in even the most hardcore enthusiasts. IMO, if you're reading GRM and are the kind of person who makes brake lines, you'll end up making the other lines that the mastercool set can do. At about $400, its an investment, but in addition to high-quality brake flares, it can make barbed flares for fuel lines plus metric bubble and even O-ring flares. 8 bucks each way. Should ship OK in a USPS flats rate env. Other than that, my experience has been that it's as easy to use as the Mastercool and produces results of similar quality. When were tackling a big job, we buy our brake line in bulk coils of 25 or 50 feet. I've had my Mastercool kit for about 10 years now. My last project was a 1974 Capri. It works awesome to the the very least and is effortless. It seems like these are available in many places for $15-75 and they have a lot of minor differences that make them much less effective. This video includes a demonstration of the Hydra-Assist Flaring Tool, along with several other S.U.R.&R. So maybe this qualifies as Secret 7: Dont forget the fitting first. For any difficulty using this site with a screen reader or because of a disability, please contact us at 1-800-444-3353 or cs@harborfreight.com. Carl's recommendation is listed in the article. In this case, its a cast-off piece of 3-inch-diameter tubing. Heres another big secret: Always work from a pattern. Custom-fit brake line tubing with this brake line forming tool. (If youre working with AN fittings, you need a single flaring tool that makes 37-degree flares.) The main issue: Each tool can bend line to a single radius, meaning multiple benders are needed for bends of different sizes. Only one winner will be selected. It will create SAE and DIN flares including 3/16, 4.75mm and 1/4 sizes. In this case, our radius die is just three tubing cutoffs. I use the green stuff from NAPA, buy a long piece, cut it in 2 pieces, only have to flare 1 end. and I have had the nicer ones. What makes brake plumbing such a headache? Another style of bending tool uses a spring: The line fits inside, allowing the tool to work like an external mandrel that keeps the line from collapsing. Our main secret? There are some online that have a very similar number, but are short a few fries in the kit for a couple pennies cheaper. HFT50 Hydra-Assist Flaring Tool makes on-vehicle brake line flaring fast and easy for the technician, says the company. Now the straight part just needs a fitting and a flare. We insert the second die and again pump the tool. I've used all but the RIGID versions shown. Like stories like this? This is why I don't use it. In our two-plus decades of using it, its made only the occasional bad flareusually because we were going too fast and not being fussy. products and specialty tools for brake line repairs: youtube.com/watch?v=xMgK3LiMoyI, Tools:Ingersoll Rand Impact Features Visual Air Pressure Gauge, Tools:Dent Fix Spot Annihilator for Easy Spot Weld Removal, Tools:First Impact Glove with Low-Profile Impact Protection, Tools:NEBO Offers Inspection Lights for Work, Home and Hobby, The automotive industrys knowledge base for equipment, tools and supplies. Dn0ZtfIfhon0TNmUOFAXZ4oaj1ycCrH9VE06uYYEMBAAE4h2uLK17jTiNcv8rXUZ. Youll see every article as soon as it's published, and get access to our full digital archive, by subscribing to Classic Motorsports. Copyright 2022 Babcox Media Inc. All rights reserved. The result is a perfect flare that wont leak. That function, plus the mastercool having the dies for just about everything you could imagine including push to connect adaptors was well worth it.. Just pay attention when ordering the kit and make you you get the Mastercool part number that has all the bells and whistles. My most common thing to have to fix is one end of a line or another, and taking it all off the car to flare the line just wouldn't be worth it. These benders tend to be even less useful than the grooved radius variety, but every now and then one will bail us out. We strongly believe its the quality of the tools. Thats why we usually bend our line around found objects that happen to have the correct radius. No matter how things change in the future, first impressions are everything. The disadvantage to the Eastwood is that it's vise-mounted, so you really can't use it on a line that's still installed on the car. The hydraulic pump presses the die on the line. Classic Tube This tool can also flare a line in position; most others require removing the line from the car and placing it in a vise. It comes in sticks at Advance Auto, right next to the green stuff. Guardair GunVacs feature convenient point-of-use vacuum capability and are equipped with a low-capacity filter bag. Not all stainless lines are created equal, so weve settled on Classic Tube as our go-to source. For California consumers: more information about our privacy practices.
Most bending tools feature a grooved radius, a clamping bar and a moveable bending arm.
No more slowly straightening lines with our thumbs. Not one joint leaked and when I decided to revise a couple of lines I made it was a non-issue. Copyright 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Sending a customer away because were not equipped to perform a job is money lost. Constructed of drop forged steel, these brake line pliers easily bend, align and adjust tubing while comfort grips reduce user fatigue. Copyright 1995-2008 Atomic Industry: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. I will use nothing else from here on out. There's definitely an argument to be made for just ponying up for the nice tool. I recently replaced all the brake and fuel lines on my 63 Chevy with Nicopp using the Eastwood flaring tool. Item f. Woops. This article is from a past issue of the magazine. the quality and finish of your flares for critical applications is well worth the price. And I highly recommend the Ridgid one over the ones that look like the one in the picture below. This article is from a past issue of the magazine. This keeps it from twisting and losing its 3D reference. Weve successfully bent up hundreds of brake lines over the years. Does this stuff come all rolled up? I have the big Eastwood flare tool and love it. Moving down the line, we continue to use found objects as bending tools. The fixtures will move a bit, so its important to accurately line them up. Also helps to use a piece of solid elect wire to pattern the tube. What tool does this picture above represent? Youre going to need to put an end on your new lines, and having the right setup is essential. Secret 4 solves what we believe is the biggest brake plumbing issue for most people: As we move along the line to make new bends, we tape it to the old line. Using the old line as a reference, we made our initial bends by hand, working from one end to the other. NAPA AUTO PARTS Spotlights Key Brake-Related New Multi-Size Tubing Straightener for Fluid Access to digital editions, contests, news. How did we know we couldnt achieve that tight radius? tubing without kinking or bending. IMG_4722 by krbarnes posted Mar 16, 2016 at 1:07 PM, IMG_4718 by krbarnes posted Mar 16, 2016 at 1:07 PM, IMG_4724 by krbarnes posted Mar 16, 2016 at 1:07 PM, http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-coiled-tube-straightener, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Before I had this kit I hated to anything with brake lines if I could avoid it. Instead, they advise using an abrasive cutoff wheel. in retrospect, I waited too long to buy mine (about 15 years ago). I wish I had bought this years ago. Sliding the tubing through that straightens it out. Once the fixtures are lined up, we clamp them in place. Get 10% Off Your Entire Purchase When You Open a New Account, Get our best deals and latest news delivered straight to you. Heres a decent toolset made by Ridgid, available for about $100. I'm certain the Mastercool tool is considerably easier to use than the Rigid tool (that style is irritating on a good day and GRM stated as such), but how much better is it than the intermediate step? Technicians can create SAE and DIN flares including 3/16, 4.75mm and 1/4 sizes with this tool. and 1/4 in. That said, it ain't cheap. I guess the question becomes is it 250 dollars better than the Eastwood 25304? I guess I'll have to break down and buy the tubing straightener. Entries must be received by the end of the month. We have invested millions of dollars in our own test labs and factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands.
Those who make good ones will end up on top. Nope. just take a come-a-long and stretch it just till it straightens and you got it. Cheap tools will work okay if youre finicky (and dont mind redoing things a few times). My next car to do will be a 1979 Ford Fiesta later this summer. Employees of Babcox Media, industry manufacturers and TechShop advertisers are not eligible to enter. I got tired of dealing with leaking flares - tool budget doesn't count against the project, right? We guarantee this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship 90 days from the date of purchase. Weve also used steel bars, hammer heads, fire extinguishers and welding tanks. Our new line is officially bent. Can it be tweaked to work right? (716) 759.1800 I hate trying to straighten it out. If were lucky, we can find the exact length we need and avoid having to cut and flare one end. This die adds the final shape to the flare. This is especially important if you cant afford a high-quality tool. Copyright 2000-2009 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited. My primary one is that I'm going to need to totally redo the lines on the RX-3 since they've been open for 30 years. We bring shop owners and technicians the newest products and information they need to stay current with the technology and techniques for success, helping readers get the most out of their tools. All rights reserved. If we dont, we make our own pattern, usually out of 1/16-inch welding rod. Subscribe now. I tell them the part is for my pool filter no mater what it is. Karl. I bought it because the Eastwood tool will only work when clamped in a vice, and won't work on the car. We start the process by using the 3/16-inch holding fixture to clamp our line. Terms of Service. Tim, I bought one at Napa for $50.
To learn the rest of our secrets, just follow along as we make a brake line for one of our projectcars.
These 45-degree tools range from cheap to decent to excellent. Hey Thanks Carl you are the best, we have our Jensey Healey challenge car we have to plum. Simple two piece that has a two stage operation to do a double flare. Story and Photos by Carl Heideman Some stores have tools to loan. Milwaukee Locks in Fastest Cordless Lockbolt Installations, Ingersoll Rand Impact Features Visual Air Pressure Gauge. Everything worked like a dream. I will get a model number and picture here in a bit. It's just that simple! We buy our brake lines two ways. For this replacement, we started with a 60-inch line sourced from our local NAPA store. The Hydra-Assist Flaring Tool features a hydraulic assist T-handle ram, a quick chuck for fast-punch change over, an S-lock for quick assembly and dual-handle placement for ease of use. This die flares the inside of the line. Before we pick up our flaring tool, we remember to install the fitting, using some tape to secure it. We insert the first die into the tool. The larger tool is our tubing cutter of choice, while the little one works best for tight spots. Subscribe now. Some people advise against tubing cutters because they can work-harden the end of the line and make it more likely to crack when flared. Copies of this tool kit are available for a bit less, but we chose to get ours from Classic Tube because theyre a trusted supporter of the car hobby. We recently stepped up to this Universal Hydraulic Flaring Tool Kit from Classic Tube. And the finished line is ready to go in the car. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements). Classic Tube. ). Their lines are annealed for easier bending. Don't get scammed by websites pretending to be Harbor Freight. Secret 5: Whenever we just cant perfectly duplicate a bend, we stray from the pattern a bit. For example, this tight radius just wouldnt bend nicely, so we made it larger. Terms Of Service. Secret 3: Instead of using a tool, we simply bend the tube around a found object that happens to have the right radius. [classictube.com](http://classictube.com) Like stories like this? And Ni-cop lines are great!
Instead, weve invested those funds in a high-quality flaring tool. The cheap ones can be found for as little as $10 and are hard to use successfully. What is the fail on the harbor freight version? We wont mention how many times weve flared a line and then realized we didnt have the fitting in place. The Mastercoolsetup has completely changed my perspective. Certain projects seem to instill anxiety in even the most hardcore enthusiasts. IMO, if you're reading GRM and are the kind of person who makes brake lines, you'll end up making the other lines that the mastercool set can do. At about $400, its an investment, but in addition to high-quality brake flares, it can make barbed flares for fuel lines plus metric bubble and even O-ring flares. 8 bucks each way. Should ship OK in a USPS flats rate env. Other than that, my experience has been that it's as easy to use as the Mastercool and produces results of similar quality. When were tackling a big job, we buy our brake line in bulk coils of 25 or 50 feet. I've had my Mastercool kit for about 10 years now. My last project was a 1974 Capri. It works awesome to the the very least and is effortless. It seems like these are available in many places for $15-75 and they have a lot of minor differences that make them much less effective. This video includes a demonstration of the Hydra-Assist Flaring Tool, along with several other S.U.R.&R. So maybe this qualifies as Secret 7: Dont forget the fitting first. For any difficulty using this site with a screen reader or because of a disability, please contact us at 1-800-444-3353 or cs@harborfreight.com. Carl's recommendation is listed in the article. In this case, its a cast-off piece of 3-inch-diameter tubing. Heres another big secret: Always work from a pattern. Custom-fit brake line tubing with this brake line forming tool. (If youre working with AN fittings, you need a single flaring tool that makes 37-degree flares.) The main issue: Each tool can bend line to a single radius, meaning multiple benders are needed for bends of different sizes. Only one winner will be selected. It will create SAE and DIN flares including 3/16, 4.75mm and 1/4 sizes. In this case, our radius die is just three tubing cutoffs. I use the green stuff from NAPA, buy a long piece, cut it in 2 pieces, only have to flare 1 end. and I have had the nicer ones. What makes brake plumbing such a headache? Another style of bending tool uses a spring: The line fits inside, allowing the tool to work like an external mandrel that keeps the line from collapsing. Our main secret? There are some online that have a very similar number, but are short a few fries in the kit for a couple pennies cheaper. HFT50 Hydra-Assist Flaring Tool makes on-vehicle brake line flaring fast and easy for the technician, says the company. Now the straight part just needs a fitting and a flare. We insert the second die and again pump the tool. I've used all but the RIGID versions shown. Like stories like this? This is why I don't use it. In our two-plus decades of using it, its made only the occasional bad flareusually because we were going too fast and not being fussy. products and specialty tools for brake line repairs: youtube.com/watch?v=xMgK3LiMoyI, Tools:Ingersoll Rand Impact Features Visual Air Pressure Gauge, Tools:Dent Fix Spot Annihilator for Easy Spot Weld Removal, Tools:First Impact Glove with Low-Profile Impact Protection, Tools:NEBO Offers Inspection Lights for Work, Home and Hobby, The automotive industrys knowledge base for equipment, tools and supplies. Dn0ZtfIfhon0TNmUOFAXZ4oaj1ycCrH9VE06uYYEMBAAE4h2uLK17jTiNcv8rXUZ. Youll see every article as soon as it's published, and get access to our full digital archive, by subscribing to Classic Motorsports. Copyright 2022 Babcox Media Inc. All rights reserved. The result is a perfect flare that wont leak. That function, plus the mastercool having the dies for just about everything you could imagine including push to connect adaptors was well worth it.. Just pay attention when ordering the kit and make you you get the Mastercool part number that has all the bells and whistles. My most common thing to have to fix is one end of a line or another, and taking it all off the car to flare the line just wouldn't be worth it. These benders tend to be even less useful than the grooved radius variety, but every now and then one will bail us out. We strongly believe its the quality of the tools. Thats why we usually bend our line around found objects that happen to have the correct radius. No matter how things change in the future, first impressions are everything. The disadvantage to the Eastwood is that it's vise-mounted, so you really can't use it on a line that's still installed on the car. The hydraulic pump presses the die on the line. Classic Tube This tool can also flare a line in position; most others require removing the line from the car and placing it in a vise. It comes in sticks at Advance Auto, right next to the green stuff. Guardair GunVacs feature convenient point-of-use vacuum capability and are equipped with a low-capacity filter bag. Not all stainless lines are created equal, so weve settled on Classic Tube as our go-to source. For California consumers: more information about our privacy practices.