Mastercool72485-PRC Universal Hydraulic Flaring Tool – 45° Double & Single Flares, Push Connect, GM Fuel Line, Brake Line & GM Transmission Cooling – Includes Hydraulic Ram & Mini Tube Cutter

Crimps very well! Takes a few practice tries to get used to. It's easy to use, good design, and fast!

I bought this in preparation for doing some brake work on several different vehicles where I would be making my own lines. Being able to make fuel line and transmission line connections is a bonus too.So far it has performed flawlessly on everything I have used it on. Inverted double flares come out perfect with no worries about leaks.Granted I have not used every fitting and adapter it has yet, but I did play around with some of the ones that I have not had a call to use just to verify it would indeed make the proper ends without any trouble.Being a mechanic since the late 1980s, I have seen all sorts of shade tree hatchet jobs on transmission, power steering, and even brake lines over the years. Most of the time it is because they did not have the proper tools for the job and/or did not know any better. Compression fittings are fine for non-critical, low pressure use but I would never trust such a fitting in a brake system that has to work in emergency circumstances with pressures over 1000psi. I have seen many of these develop leaks over time and have heard of them blowing apart. I have even seen a brake butcher job where someone tried to use just a single 45 degree flare to join the lines. Thankfully they could not get it seal off and brought it to me to fix it properly.Before this tool, I would just buy lines in predetermined lengths as close to what was needed as possible and bend them to shape and try to make sure any excess was safely out of the way somewhere or buy line with the correct bends already in place. Now, thanks to this tool, I am no longer confined to those two choices as I can make my own lines the exact length I need without worrying about the ends.I have seen numerous PS & transmission lines patched with rubber hose over the years that often leak later because people just slide the hose right up on the smooth metal line. Eventually the hose slides off because there is no flare for a clamp to hold against. This tool solves that problem too. Just use the fuel line fitting dies but do not crimp them all the way. About 3 to 6 pumps (depending on the line) after all the slack is out of the tool will leave a nice rounded bubble flare in the line that doesn't have any sharp edges so a hose can easily be pushed over it but have enough flare to keep the hose clamps from allowing the hose to slide off over time. It may take a bit of experimenting to get the proper size bubble in the line. I have included a picture of such a bubble & the fuel line flare that results if you go until the tool stops.The included tubing cutter is the small type intended for close quarters and works well enough. I would advise buying a dedicated tool for reaming/deburring your lines after you cut them.The case is also a decent case with an actual hinge & decent clasps to hold it closed. Not just a thin plastic strip hinge that always cracks after a few years leaving you with a box that no longer stays closed & loses components.If you regularly work on automobile hydraulic or fuel lines I would say buy this tool. The only thing that would make it better is if you could buy it with the 37 degree dies for AN fittings already included with these instead of having to buy them separate.

Works amazing! Perfect double flare everytime.

So far this tool worked right out of the box and made a perfect bubble flare, something the last tool could not accomplish after several attempts. I will update as this tool is further used. For now my expectations are high for performance and durability and longevity. Sorry First Picture was a double flare. Last 2 pics show the bubble flare.

I needed to make a custom fuel line and therefore I naturally needed a flaring tool. While this tool is overkill for my one project because it has the ability to do a variety types of flares, I went for it. I found a couple YouTube videos on how to use it. I then cut some 6 inch scrap pieces to practice on and after about the 3rd of 4th try, they were coming out great. Very happy with the product and now I'm set for my next project as well.

It makes beautiful flares easilly. I was so happy to get a perfect flare on 5/16" tube the first time after many failures with the auto parts store kit that i had absolutely no buyers remorse after spending all that money. It's that good.Getting the dies in and the tubing aligned takes a little practice but is easy once you get the hang of it. It's almost like the grip you use on a guitar neck.To get a full rating from me the kit needs a few things. First, a better tubing cutter. Fortunately the one i bought a while ago at the hardware store fit in the case. Second, a deburring tool. I used the one from my P.O.S. flaring tool kit I got at the auto parts store. See the picture for the part number. Third, a small jewlers file to get the outside of the tube cleaned up. And finally, a 1/2" ratchet wrench. I had one from Harbor Freight and it works perfectly. All that actually fits in the case, too.To do 3/8" tube, you need to grease up the threads on the die clamp screw real well, remove the t-handle, and use the 1/2" ratchet wrench. After that, it's no different effort wise from the smaller stuff, and the tube was not crushed or damaged. I did not have any 1/2" tube to try. The flares in the pictures are all 3/8" tube.TLDR: I am pleased with the performance of this tool. The kit needs help for tube prep tools and a 1/2" wrench, though.

This project has made my life so much easier easy to adjust and easy to flare

Makes new ends so much easier and they come out perfect. Already well worth the money spent and tossed all my other fitting tools in the garbage. Nothing worse then having fresh lines leak because an end wasn't formed properly. This is night and day better than anything I had used prior. Plus still being able to use on a vehicle if need be.