How long do you try before getting the right tools?

"MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s" (mastermario)
10/11/2017 at 16:14 • Filed to: None

How long will you guys work on something with the tools on hand before giving up and getting the right tools?

I found my limit is right around 20 minutes. If I spend that much time trying to do something I know would be easy with the right tools I stop what I am doing and go get the tools.

Unrelated car for your time

Oh...also. I hate, hate, hate these stupid flaring kits

Any of you able to get decent flares with these on a consistent basis? Every time I’ve tried these it takes 3-5 tries to get a good flare. I debur the tubing, file the edges, and have even used cutting oil to try and help but inevitably the flares go crooked or don’t bend over properly. Maybe a better quality one would help, but if I ever need to do a ton of brake line work in the future I’m almost inclined to go by a nice hydraulic flaring tool.

DISCUSSION (38)

interstate366, now In The Industry > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:16

When I break something, usually...

crowmolly > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:17

Any of you able to get decent flares with these on a consistent basis?

LOLNOPE. They can work but not consistently in my opinion. Especially with stainless. Hydraulic rules.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > interstate366, now In The Industry
10/11/2017 at 16:18

You sound like a stubborn man lol

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:19

The only way to get a perfect flare with one of those is to get an absolutely perfect chamfer on the outside of the line. That is very, very hard, they give you almost no information on how to do it, and they do not tell you that is the case. But it is.

Also, most of that type of tool in existence are crap, but mostly it’s the chamfer thing.

OPPOsaurus WRX > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:20

if it will take less time to go get the tool than how long it will take to make it work with what I have.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > crowmolly
10/11/2017 at 16:20

This has been my experience with these so far...I probably could have saved 2 hours of work yesterday had i had a hydraulic tool

Wacko > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:20

guess it depends on the price of the tool and ease of a workaround

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > OPPOsaurus WRX
10/11/2017 at 16:22

I’m usually bad at realizing that before I’ve been working on it for 20 minutes

Nothing > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:24

I used one of these when I had to make the lines for the proportioning valve. It took more than a few times to get it right. I figured I was just an idiot.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Nothing
10/11/2017 at 16:25

If you are, then I’m right there with you.

interstate366, now In The Industry > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:26

No, just hilariously incompetent at fixing cars.

benjrblant > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:27

Before starting a job, I’ll usually research what it takes. If I’ll use the tool again and it’s not too expensive, I’ll just go rent or buy it. It’s not worth my frustration to sit and fight with the incorrect tool when the proper one makes life so much easier.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > crowmolly
10/11/2017 at 16:29

I’m hoping that CuNiFer being softer, it’ll be easier to get things done properly. Going to repipe a Land Rover with it some time this year and see how it goes...

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:29

Here are the factors:

How likely am I to use the tool again?

How cheap is the tool to get?

How quickly can I get said tool?

Thanks to Amazon, the last two are quick and easy. The first can be separated between single use and general use. Gear pullers I’ve gotten some pretty amazing multiple use out of. Same with the radiator pump.

crowmolly > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/11/2017 at 16:31

It’s much easier than stainless, that’s for sure. For what it’s worth, if you have to do a lot of flaring I’d at least pop for the nice Eastwood one.

http://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html

Tell ‘em to just put it on your tab. LOL.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > crowmolly
10/11/2017 at 16:33

Probably going to get a slip roll this month, but not out of Eastwood. Friend of the family has or had an old Pexto one for sale. Yeah, I probably have a problem, but on the other hand my brake made a really damn fine chimney cap out of 20GA 304 stainless last week. Something to be said for having the tools to do things.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:34

If you don’t have the right tool, everything at hand is almost guaranteed to become a hammer.

crowmolly > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/11/2017 at 16:36

I am currently talking myself out of buying an old Bridgeport. It is maybe 5% need and 95% want.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > crowmolly
10/11/2017 at 16:37

Oh, and also on the brake/other assorted toys front, I will most likely at some point soon be making lower door skins for a ‘57 Ford. I also just ordered a pair of smoothing hammers for an air chisel - can use them for planishing or stretching in place. Also thinking I need a bullseye pick...

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > crowmolly
10/11/2017 at 16:38

I mostly need a Bridgeport for things like replacement inlet plates on a pair of Power Bee two strokes that I have.

Okay, so “need” is a strong word.

sony1492 > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:43

It depends on if I can technically do it without the special tool. If I can it could be years before I buy the tool, example: balljoint separator set.

If it’s something like torx sockets for working on a BMW I’ll buy them before I even start.

Frenchlicker > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:44

Where I live now and the money I have on hand limits me. Once I move and have a better paying job it will depend on how long until I get pissed and if I feel like going somewhere.

Chariotoflove > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:53

Of course this is modified in the real world by variables such as how far I have to drive to the store to get the tool, how many times I think I might use the right tool in the future if I buy it, and whether or not I’ve had lunch.

Kinja'd!!!

Die-Trying > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:55

i can do a whole lot, with not much. torch and welder, hammers, vice, pipe wrenches, and griders/cut off discs, impact wrech...... everything else is luxury. i have a lot of tools that make things easier, and tools for specific things, like ring compressors. but they are definitely the go-tos......

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 16:58

Never. I almost always just end up cobbling together a collection of things that were not meant to do that until it’s fixed. Except for my rear diff bushing. I got the right tool for that about -4 weeks after I tried to remove it.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
10/11/2017 at 17:10

I don’t necessarily mean purchase...you can usually borrow the right tool if it’s a specialty tool from an auto store

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/11/2017 at 17:12

That’s actually what i was working with...it kept bending off to one side or the other on the first flare.

Urambo Tauro > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 17:14

I futzed around with a loaner ball joint press kit from the local O’Reilly store for a few minutes before I realized that it wasn’t going to work. It was missing the adapter that goes between the clamp and one of the cups.

So I returned it and borrowed one from Advance Auto, which not only had all of its pieces, but had a wider selection of cup sizes to choose from, too. Worked like a charm!

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Chariotoflove
10/11/2017 at 17:15

I should have clarified more, but by “get the right tool” i didn’t necessarily mean purchase since most specialty tools can be borrowed from auto shops

Urambo Tauro > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 17:16

It took me a few tries to figure out how meticulous you have to be in order for those flaring kits to work. Just a little bit off-center and the whole thing goes wonky.

What really helps though, is using it to bend nickel-copper tubing instead of steel. Much easier!

Chariotoflove > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 18:15

Or rented. But then the x-axis becomes dominated by the effort involved in obtaining the tool. In reality, the curve is not a line, but is reduced to one here by some simplifying assumptions.

But your point is well taken.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 19:30

Before I moved I could make a call and pretty easily find someone with the right tools. But not many people here actually work on cars. I think I have the widest selection of automotive tools of anyone I know.

shop-teacher > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/11/2017 at 23:24

I’m kind of a tool nerd, so I go for the right tool pretty quickly when possible.

For flaring tools, I have a really nice old one that I found at my wife’s aunt’s house. It makes a BIG difference.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
10/12/2017 at 02:23

I usually call up my dad first to see if he has what I need and more often than not he does. Unfortunately only one of my neighbors seems to be mechanically inclined with a decent tool selection

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee
10/12/2017 at 02:26

And your hands are almost guaranteed to take the most abuse

PartyPooper2012 > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/24/2017 at 10:57

most of the time, I am in the house doing something... and the right tool is in the garage.... and I need to put on shoes to go get it. so I rather use a spoon as a hammer and a knife as a screw driver than put shoes on and get the tools.

In an unrelated idea - what do you guys think of those sun visors on outside of the car? I was contemplating putting it on GX470

Kinja'd!!!

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > PartyPooper2012
10/24/2017 at 11:09

Which kind? It really varies between vehicles whether I like them or not.

Kinja'd!!!

PartyPooper2012 > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/24/2017 at 11:18

Like the ones in the images of the OP