4.0 out of 5 stars | I'm skeptical because there's no warranty, and as is it only makes one type of bubble flare
I'm skeptical because there's no warranty, and as is it only makes one type of bubble flare. Unfortunately, this wasn't the bubble flare I needed. The bubble flare I needed (image with steel line) makes a 90 degree angle with the base and tube. The bubble flare Mastercool makes (image on white carpeting) is roughly a 45 degree angle with the base and tube. At this point, I thought my only option was going to be one of those $30 brake flare kits instead of the Mastercool, and the one I tried worked ridiculously poor (image with black fabric). I finally figured it out, use a #8 washer (when flaring 3/16 tubing), which created the flare as seen with wire cutters in the background. I had the wire cutters ready because after you make the flare, you have the cut out the washers. Anyways, it bothered me that I had to figure this one out on my own (not in the owners manual), but regardless this tool will make more than one type of bubble flare with a little imagination. Again, I don't like that this has no warranty. What am I going to do when it stops working??? And how long should I expect this thing to work?
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2019 by Danny
5.0 out of 5 stars | First try? PERFECT double flare.
I was playing around with the RIGID 345 double flare set. What a joke. I kept looking at these flares and said they were junk. Didn't matter what I did, they never came out good!!!! First try on 3/16 brake line and my double flare was PERFECT with the MASTERCOOL. It's pricey yes but I am not messing around with brake lines. I want the ends done correctly. Flare on the left is MASTERCOOL. Junk flare on the right is the best I could do with the RIGID 345.
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2019 by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars | This is the tool to use if you only have one chance to get it right.
I had to replace the ABS hydraulic unit on a 2008 Tundra. The part was ~$2000 at the dealer, hard to swallow for a truck with 270K. After buying two bad junkyard units (don't waste your time) I found the same unit for a Nissan brand new OEM for $100 on ebay, so I bought it. It is the same except that Nissan used bubble flare vs. reverse flare connections. So I had one chance to modify the OEM brake lines for bubble flare or they would be too short and I would have a real mess having to replace/splice them all. If anyone is doing a similar project one tip that might help is DON'T use a tubing cutter to cut off the existing flares, it takes too much of the line off. Instead I used a small air saw (like a small sawzall) or similar to just cut the flare off, maybe 4-5mm. Then I was able to re-flare the fittings to bubble with this tool and with some slight hand manipulation they fit perfect and no one would know it wasn't factory. Not a single leak, not a single problem. Zero chance this would have worked out so perfect without this tool.
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2021 by Alex Baker
4.0 out of 5 stars | Amazing performance, kit needs more to be complete.
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.
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2020 by Kevin C.
5.0 out of 5 stars | Definately makes a darn good flare!
Although I purchased for and have only used it replacing most of the brake lines on a van I'm restoring, I have to say that it dramatically turns a chore into almost a pleasure. I look forward to the day I can say I've used all of the dies without having to replace any thus far as the one I'm using is the smallest but it's definitely getting a workout. I no longer work as a tech but wish I'd had one of these back then. Probably not worth it (cost divided by number of flares done) for casual or limited use BUT the time and effort saved after 31 flares it was well worth for me; especially when I consider how many I botched prior to having it.
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2021 by David Q.
5.0 out of 5 stars | Fantastic tool!
Does what it says, everytime, the first time. Yes, it's expensive..... But we'll made tools aren't cheap! Buy it, it'll make your life so much easier. Throw those cheap setups straight in the trash...... Only complaint is, you kinda need a 3rd hand if you're flaring a long tube. For example, today I struggled with a trans cooler line that was 6 feet long and had a million bends in it making it awkward to handle while trying to keep it straight and clamp down the blocks. Only critique I could add is to use magnets to hold the blocks in place. I may modify mine to do this.
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2021 by Noah
3.0 out of 5 stars | Tool works great but cutting tool provided is very poor. You need to buy another
Got it and tried it out right away on some 1/4” brake line. Double flare came out great. The cutter provided with this tool is plain junk. Took a while to cut through one line with many turns and cut had to be debured a lot due to uneven cutting piling up metal on one side more than the other. Maybe I got one with dull blades, who knows but you will have to get a quality cutter. Tool may arrive with individual parts scattered all over. Minds did, but most likely due to the awesome care that shipping companies deliver
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2019 by scottk
5.0 out of 5 stars | I wish I knew about this sooner
As someone who has purchased several screw-style flare tools to find one that will put a decent flare in steel line without slipping, I could have bought this one with the money I had wasted. This is effortless to use, and does a fantastic job.
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2019 by Paul Carter
