I have this one. Works great. All the other wing nut ones Ive tried always failed. I tightened them until I broke the bolts. The Ridgid one works great and easy. Even used it to flare 3/8" Stainless tubing. Double flare 5/16 was a piece of cake.
Think I'll buy the Ridgid. Looks like a good product. Cheapest I found so far is $85.60 with shipping.
Everything from Harbor Freight is cheaper, but it's throw away stuff, or you have to modify the hell out of it to work/last.
I was told by a respected member (on a different forum) that the problem lies with the tubing, not the tool(s). Allegedly, brake tubing is mostly foreign-made stuff with slightly off spec outer diameter, which cause the tubing to push through the die blocks. I have not verified this though. It would be nice to find something that would work correctly with any "brand" tubing...
The Ridgid tool would flare things that the wing nut type would not. I was breaking them and trading them out for different cheap ones and just couldnt get any of them to work. A friend let me have the Ridgid tool he used to us at work and didnt need it anymore. Havent had a problem flaring anything with it.
Ridgid has always made top notch tools! I used them exclusively when we were drilling wells. Their pipe threaders and wrenches lasted seemingly forever! I'm glad to know they make a flaring tool. I see it has the pressure right at the tube area! I'll get one of those if it will fit into as small an area as the short Imperial that I have now! That's one issue with the hydraulic ones, they are just to big to use in confined areas.
I have a snap on, never failed me yet but its in use at my job. Justifies the cost. Of course i run screaming and get busy real fast if a rust bucket shows up. LOL.
I take one of the wing nuts and stud off and put it in my vise as deep as possible. It's the only way mine will hold and not slip.
Bought the Rigid and it works great. Even on the olive drab coated ones. Wished I would have bought this years ago. If your in the market, this is one to consider. Make sure you get kit #23337. Its the one with the dies for double flairs.
Exactly how I felt after I got one. I no longer fear doing flared brake lines. I actually even volunteered to help do them on a friends car after I got the tool.
Can't add alot other than this is the tool I use. Not sure of the brand but it is old. Picked it up at a swap meet with no dies. Bought an Autozone junk kit just for the dies. Works great.
