Brake pipe flaring tools. which one?

[Lankytim]

Hola gang.

 

The Austin 1300 reassembly is very slowly taking place. All of the brake pipes are corroded, cut or snapped so everything will need to be replaced. I'm going to have a crack at doing it all myself but have no idea what size or type tool I need to do the job. Just been on ebay and there's s big selection. I'm confused!

 

Anybody here know what they are doing with brake pipes?

[whitevanman]

I do make all my own, my only advice is do NOT buy the cheap and cheerful pipe makers they are shit beyond belief

 

ie this sort -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat ... ol&_sop=15

 

decide how much you can afford and buy the best possible,,,,do not scrimp on this

[whitevanman]

One like this will be Ok

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNIB-FRANKLIN ... 3ccc910a52

[plasticvandan]

I have a sykes pickavant type one that i am selling,the proper heavy duty vice mounted jobbie,still in the metal box,with 2 tool attatchements for different size lines,that do both types of flare,plus 2 rolls of copper pipe and a tray of fittings,was after £80 the lot,i did my Rebel vans entire brake line system with it in a morning,beautiful job every time,and makes it so easy

[plasticvandan]

looks identical to this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sykes-Pickava ... 1c2d8239e5

 

i bought it myself after struggling with one of the halfords type ones,which went in the bin,along with several feet of wasted pipe..

[richardthestag]

I got one of these to build up a new set of pipes for dads series iia landie

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEALEY-AK5063 ... 0606548382

 

Brilliant is all I can say, didn't try any of the others but this was an excellent tool for easy male and female flares.

 

Used it more recently to replace all the copper pipes on the stag with kunifer.

 

Also need to invest in a good quality pipe cutter. I have a pipe bender why also proved very useful for smooth and professional looking bends. A bit like this one, fiddly to use but worth it

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUALITY-MINI- ... 0599101514

 

Ps you do your own research re copper vs kunifer. Copper pipes on the stag had been there a decade, none were leaking but as part of a brake overhaul with new flexies etc I replaced all the copper. They were all quite stiff

[Lankytim]

Thanks for all the info guys, I may have to point the wife in the direction of one of these kits when she's looking for my xmas pressie!

 

Plasticvan, I may be in touch, but probably after xmas when I have to buy my own present!

[Guest]

I use and have for years, a Bluepoint/Snap On job that I got at a boot fair for £2. It's an old style hand wind job and I've probably done maybe 5 complete cars and numerous odds and sods.

Did buy a Sykes Packavant Carlos Fandango hydraulic easy job which lasted 2.3 mins hence the purchase of the £2 job.

[<type username here>]

Have to say, the Franklin one mentioned at the start of this thread is hard to beat!

 

We have a proper Sykes Picknmix vise mounted one and for years I had a Sykes 'flaremaster' but when it wore out I bought one of those Franklin ones because I had an Astra to do at home and it flares everything! Even works on painted steel pipes (which the expensive flaremaster didnt) which is handy at avoiding major messing about (ideal for old Vectras/BMW 3 series! )