[oglyoodoo]

I have a Sykes Pickavant Cam operated garage type unit which is fine but previously had a Sykes Pickavant Flaremaster. Looked like a nice little job with good well respected name to go with it!
BEWARE.
The hydraulic ram was screwed into a horseshoe shaped alloy casting clamp. After the first couple of flares on Cupro/Nickel pipe, which weren't that good, the clamp broke in two where the Ram is screwed in.
Sykes Pickavant relaced the clamp and told me they had no previous problems with that part. The next time I tried to produce a flare the clamp split with a loud bang, well before the flare was complete, and the two bits shot across the garage one hitting a wall and the other narrrowly missing another car in the garage. When I spoke to the Motor factors I got it from they told me they had no end of trouble with them.
The Picture in the instructions showed the clamp with extra strengthening ribs at the point where mine broke. The ones supplied were doomed to failure at that point without additional strengthening. If it was made out of a decent piece of steel it would probably be OK. Any one out there that can mill up a piece of steel?? I don't know if Flaremasters are still available but I would certainly suggest you have a close look at the clamp before buying one....

Steve if you have a few pipes you want to flare you are welcome to pop over and flare the ends I'm only about an hour from you.

Denis