[Cape Codder]

I live in the rust belt and brake lines are a big part of my work here. I have the same old Blue Point basic manual flare tool I have used for 40 years. I only cut with a tubing cutter as the most important thing is a true 90 degree cut. I find that giving just a tad more tubing exposed than the die thickness gauge for the first bend and press it down real firm. The second press without the die takes half the pressure. Even if the die fits loose (as they all do) if you have a clean square cut it will sit square and flare square to the tube.