In my 28-year career as a HVAC and refrigeration tech, I’ve installed a lot of copper gas and refrigeration lines that required flare fittings. Traditional flaring tools are slow; they can be fussy to use in confined spaces, and when flaring several pipes back to back, twisting those wing nuts is hard on your fingers and wrists. With the goal of working smarter, I invested in the cordless Navac BreakFree Power Flaring Tool that makes fast pipe flaring simple.

Besides the fact that it only takes a fraction of the time to finish a flare, this tool’s slim body and LED light allows me to easily get into those tight spots, and since it’s only 3 lb., working overhead is not a problem. Best of all, no more cramping hands. Consistency is a key feature: One of the most common reasons a flare fitting fails is that the pipe gets positioned improperly in the clamp, which is why I love that this tool has a “limit baffle” that perfectly positions the copper pipe in the tool every time. Also, the flaring is initiated with one button, which frees your other hand to fully support the pipe.

The BreakFree comes with the five most common-size flare dies ranging from 1⁄4 in. to 3⁄4 in. The battery indication light lets me know when it’s getting low, so I don’t get stuck in the middle of a flare, and Navac says one battery will produce up to 100 flares per charge. So far, I’ve shared this tool on two occasions, and both of those techs ordered their own the same day. You can buy the BreakFree tool online or at HVAC supply houses for $380. Check out the video that shows how it works at navacglobal.com.

— Jason Crow,HVAC and refrigeration specialist in Lonsdale, Minn. Photo courtesy of the manufacturer.

From Fine Homebuilding #323

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