Teach me inverted flarimg tools

I am trying to add a brake pressure gage to my racecar.  I bought the fitting to do so.  Now, i just need to cut my lines and make new flares to use the fittings.

Any tips or tricks?  What is the best bang for buck tool to make 4 Japanese inverted flares on 3/16" tubing?

Find a friend with the Mastercool kit.  Far and away the best flarer, double that for on-the-car work.

I have one like this, and have done a lot of brake lines with it.

May not apply here, but when doing the cupro-nickel lines, you don't want to really squash them cause they will go askew. Steady turn and you will feel a resistance and then stop.

Don't skimp too much on the price because I know for a fact that the cheaper ones don't hold the tube worth a damn. If it LOOKS cheap, it probably wont work well. Invariably, the ones they lend out at the parts store are too cheap.

I completely agree with 93gsxturbo. When it absolutely has to be done right the first time, seek out a Mastercool from someone. I have used most near all of them over the years before getting my Mastercool. In the end, I wound up giving away several hundred dollars worth of flare tools that didn't give as consistent results as I needed, and get, with the Mastercool.

I've had mine for about 8 years and it is hands down the best money you can spend on a tool.

Anyone I've lent the tool to has the same opinion after using it too.

300+ dollars to do 4 lines is a bit much!

I would be willing to drop closer to 150.00 if anybody has any other suggestions.

In reply to wvumtnbkr :

The best of the old-school ones like I posted wont cost over $100 and if it were me doing just a few lines, I would be looking in the $50 range. They will do the job just fine.

I dont do a LOT of brake lines, but it seems like I am doing more as time passes, makes me re-consider if I should spend the $$$ for the mastercool flare kit; I see it does a lot more than just brakes.

I settled on this https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-on-car-flaring-tool-for-3-16-tubing.html after watching the videos and reviews.

I think it will be exactly what I need and it seems to make good flares.

Luckily, my lines are 4.75 / 3/16"...

The parts store ones are junk, but Blue Point makes a good version of the same style. The $50 ones do not do the job fine in my opinion.

One thing that makes a really big difference is preparation. Make sure the line is cut square. Clean up the burrs and chamfer the inside and outside. Pay attention to your placement of the tool and how much tube protrudes.

Do this and you'll get a decent flare. Until the cheap old-school setup snaps in half and you wish you'd bought the Blue Point.

Ridgid makes a couple nice flare tools. I have the AN version and have been very happy with it: https://www.ridgid.com/nz/en/precision-non-ratcheting-flare-tool

The Eastwood brake flaring tool is also good, but is no cheaper than the Mastercool one.

I've made the cheap ones work by clamping the line holder in a bench vise. The threads and wing nuts on the cheapos don't generate enough clamping force to keep the line in place. The results aren't as pretty as what you'd get with a nicer tool but if your cuts are good and you work carefully as Keith said, you can make decent flares that won't leak.

I can rent you my Mastercool for $100.

Paypal me $400, I will mail it out to you, once I get it back I will send you $300.  

The Eastwood ON car flaring tool is awesome!

I was able to make a bunch of flares VERY easily with this tool.

Just make sure you REALLY tighten down the pinch bolts before flaring.

Awesome and only 40$.