Yellow Jacket 60295 Flaring Tool with Eccentric Cone, 45 DEG, 3/16 to 3/4 in

I am not an HVAC guy...just a brave homeowner who has successfully installed multiple mini-split systems in an old farm house. I didn't initially buy this version of a flaring tool because I wasn't convinced that there would be a difference in quality commensurate with the increased price. I was wrong. I ultimately have used three different flaring tools. The first was a fancy-looking multi-colored tool that I bought on Amazon. I ultimately returned it because it wouldn't do a 1/4" flare with any level of consistency. Then I had to go to the closest big box store (40 miles away) and buy their off the shelf flaring tool to finish the weekend project. It did finish the flare, but I was underwhelmed. Then...a few months later, I needed to install another unit with two different sets of connections, followed the old adage that you get what you pay for and I bought this version. What an improvement! Tool was easy to use, gripped the copper tubing securely, and made smooth, flawless (in my opinion) flares. If you can afford it, get this one...you will not be disappointed.

Doesn't have a depth stop, so the amount of material you start your flare with is something you have to guess, or know by experience. A lot of searching and googling yielded results from 1/16" to 1/8". But once you get a hang of it, the flares it makes are perfect, especially when touched up with nylog.For best tool life, definitely de-burr, and definitely use a lubricant/nylog on the elliptical head. At the pressures it's using, you can definitely mark/scratch up the head with a sharp copper burr.It didn't seem too important, but it's true that one of my thinner flares ended up tearing off after torquing. I think it was a combination of 1) a thin flare, 2) a touch too much torque esp w/ nylog as a lubricant (manufacturer did not spec lubricant), and 3) too many torquing cycles.Some instructions will ask you to "torque, back it off, then torque again". I'd say, unless your manufacturer recommends it at that torque spec, torque it once, preferably on the lower end of the specification, and leave it alone.

This Yellow Jacket flare tool with its eccentric cone works extremely well. I have used, admittedly cheaper, Rigid flare tools and have not been happy with those. Another excellent Yellow Jacket product. It is unfortunate that Yellow Jacket products are not more available on Amazon. The Chinese products are a waste of time for HVAC work. Spend more and get real quality that does the job right first time.

This flaring tool makes flawless flares. Just do your prep work. Deburr, deburr, deburr. Then a dab of Nylog on the forming anvil, rotate clockwise until you hear the click, and there you have it.

Buy high quality tools for premium results. A must tool for HVAC tubing work. Old fashioned flare tools for fuel and air are not the same as AC tubing and fittings and you are guaranteed to meet failure if you shortcut on this step. Speak to an expert or hire a pro. Any mistakes on your DIY mini-split and you just threw hundreds or thousands into the trash. My understanding is that any compromise or mistake in the install process will most likely cause the system to fail in less than a year, completely fail.

I was able to flare the copper tubes of a MRCOOL mini-split unit with this Yellow Jacket Flaring Tool. The lines were for R410a refrigerant. I left no more than 1/8 inch (actually a milimeter or so less than that) of tubing beyond the flat face of the tool. The lines sealed with no leaks. The tool is built to pop/skip when the flare is done. I would recommend this tool. It would be nice if the tool contained a flip down guide so measuring the amount of tube to flare was easier.

If you are a DIY, keep in mind, this is SAE. A lot of the piping sets that come with minisplits may/will be metric. I bought this at the same time I bought my minisplit, only to find out that I couldn't use it. And YJ does not make a metric oneFor metric, head down to autozone and get the loaner tool 27012. I just tried that out and ended up with very clean flares after a few tries. Just add a little refrigerant oil, like nylog blue to the cone, and make sure to properly team the pipe.It wasn't The seller's fault I ordered the wrong thing. Tool seems solid, delivered quick, I'm sure I'll use it sometime.

This tool works well if you are experienced at seating the tubing at the right depth in the clamp. Practice with some scrap tubing before using it on your line set.