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Brake pipe flaring tool
neilp1 - 7/5/11 at 08:23 PM

Can anyone recommed a good brake pipe flaring tool at a locost price????

Neil


big-vee-twin - 7/5/11 at 08:30 PM

Got mine from Ebay same as this works fine 10 pc PIPE FLARING TOOL KIT MECHANIC BRAKE PLUMBER CAR | eBay UK


flibble - 7/5/11 at 08:34 PM

Same one I got, works a treat, helps if you dab a bit of brake fluid on the pipe before you flare it.
It worked 95% of flares on copper, much less luck on kunifer(sp?) as it wouldn't grip the pipe well enough.


britishtrident - 7/5/11 at 08:42 PM

With any type of flairing tool if the pipe starts to slip through the stationary die the cure is to rub the flat mating surface one of the halves of the die on a flat abrasive surface to remove metal and increase the clamping pressure on the pipe.

[Edited on 7/5/11 by britishtrident]


neilp1 - 7/5/11 at 08:44 PM

I should have stated that I intend to use kunifer brake pipe!!

Neil


big_wasa - 7/5/11 at 08:48 PM

get a Sykes Pickavant, either hand held or vice type. it will cost you seven or eight times that of the above but will give a 100% flare 100% of the time and last you forever.


daviep - 7/5/11 at 09:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
get a Sykes Pickavant, either hand held or vice type. it will cost you seven or eight times that of the above but will give a 100% flare 100% of the time and last you forever.


+1

Not had a bad flair in 10 years

Davie


nick205 - 7/5/11 at 09:08 PM

quote:
Originally posted by daviep
quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
get a Sykes Pickavant, either hand held or vice type. it will cost you seven or eight times that of the above but will give a 100% flare 100% of the time and last you forever.


+1

Not had a bad flair in 10 years

Davie



Ditto - although I borrow my Dad's when I need it so can't really comment on the cost!


Benzine - 7/5/11 at 09:14 PM

I have the same type as linked early on in this thread, it came last in a brake flaring test in PPC i think. They do work but can be hit and miss, I've got better with mine and can do a good flare every time now but only due to how much practise I've put in and how many turned out wrong. As I've got good with it i'll keep it but if I hadn't done a flare before I'd spend the extra


AndyW - 7/5/11 at 09:27 PM

If your using it on Kunifer dont bother, I wasted alot of time and pipe. Trust me.....worth either spending the money for like I did, finding a very kind locoster to lend me one! Thanks again to Rusty nuts!!

I wasted so much pipe using the e-bay one......really dont bother unless you use copper......


wilkingj - 7/5/11 at 09:31 PM

My Sykes cost me £117:50, and has never failed to give 100% in over 10 years.
Has now paid for itself.

The cheapo ones, do work. However, they leave gouge marks where the clamp bar grips the pipe, thus you have to rub the pipe down so the nut slides up the pipe easily. Thats what my cheap one does... Its why I bought the Sykes one.
The cheap one was false economy IMHO.
You get what you pay for in life.


bi22le - 8/5/11 at 01:18 AM

I am yet to flare brake lines but I do suggest you look at PPC last months issue. They had a whole section on brake pipe flaring tools. If you dont have the mag then U2U me and Ill scan it in for you. No point in putting it in my own words, I have never tried to use one!!!

Best of luck,

Biz


rusty nuts - 8/5/11 at 07:26 AM

Sykes Pickavant every time , proper flair first time every time, quicker, less wastage and a lot less stress. Had mine for over 20 years , it cost a fortune when I got it but worth every penny. The only time it isn't good is if you try to flare a steel pipe on the car due to not having it clamped in a vice. Check with your local tyre and exhaust centers , sometimes they will make up the pipes for you?


macc man - 8/5/11 at 09:45 AM

As said the cheap ones are a wast of time. I got 3 flares out of one before it was useless. Best thing is to buy the fittings and pipe cut to length and get someone to flare it for you. There are lots of folk on here who will help you.


The Black Flash - 8/5/11 at 10:25 PM

I have one which CBS sold - it was about 30 quid or so I think, I've done my whole car (in kunifer) with it and it's been fine. They don't seem to have it anymore though.

It was almost identical to this sealey one:

http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/sp-2-11813-93018-sealey-pipe-flaring-tool-kit.asp


NigeEss - 8/5/11 at 11:04 PM

Get the hydraulic Sykes Pickavant Flaremaster, superb and it's the only one I have found that is man enough
to to hand held flares on steel pipes in situ on the car.


neilp1 - 9/5/11 at 04:54 PM

Well it looks I'll have to dig deep!!!