[sha_ba_do_bang]

I want to do all stainless brake lines on my latest creation. Anyone had any luck with hthe snapon metric bubble falre tool on stainless?
I don't own a bubble flarer and want to make sure it will work for stainless, how about that cool $300 hydraulic one? will that do stainless?

Thanks

Brendan

[Centerline]

Stainless brake lines are single flared at 37 degrees. Don't try to double flare stainless, it just won't work.

[powerrodsmike]

Centerline is right. Mostly. The standard for SS tube is a 37* flare and AN style fittings. The tools are easy to find as well as the fittings and tubing. BUT, if you want to be DIFFERENT and use DIN convex or 45* SAE fittings with stainless tube I will say this,(with no disrespect to centerline). You can bubble form or double flare stainless tube @ 45* if you use the right tube. 304 double annealed (soft annealed) is the tube to use. AND the right flaring tool. I'm not sure about the 300.00 hydr one that you are looking at but classic tube, (go here and look at the "tools" category)
http://www.classictube.com/catalog.asp
has a heavy duty tool that will do it. They list it in their catalog for about 450.00. They sell the tube and fittings also. I did a 65 pickup with soft annealed tubing using an Armstrong flaring tool. Double flared all of the ends. It was not easy and I won't do it again with that one. I have a strange looking K-D flaring tool that will do it but again it is not easy. It required several techniques that weren't in the instructions. All in all, the effort to use SS tube with DIN or SAE fittings, (instead of AN style), may not be worth the time, effort or money to do it. But then if we applied that philosophy to our cars we wouldn't be hotrodders. PS Here is another tool I found that will do it.http://www.fedhillusa.com/pages/709976/index.htm
Hope this helps

[Centerline]

You're not hurting my feelings.

Bubble flaring stainless isn't the easiest thing to do. But you're right you can do it that way.

[302 Z28]

The simplest method IMO is 37 degree flare and AN fittings, looks the best also.

Vince

[sha_ba_do_bang]

Well all the flares are bubble and AN so I guess i'm in for some fun

Brendan

[iiibdsiil]

Sounds like something I don't want to learn how to do on my brakes.

[powerrodsmike]

It is too bad that Swagelok fittings are not DOT approved. Then our plumbing could look like it belongs in a nuclear power plant. Hmmmm...