Flare Fittings | SAE 45° Adapters, Elbows, Tees & Caps | Apex Flow Solutions

SAE 45-degree flare fittings create a metal-to-metal seal by deforming the tube end into a 45° cone that seats against the fitting body — no sealant, no gasket. They are the standard for refrigeration, HVAC, gas lines, and hydraulic tubing where a reliable, vibration-resistant connection is required. Apex Flow Solutions stocks brass flare adapters, unions, elbows, tees, caps, plugs, and nuts from Midland Industries.

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How to Choose Flare Fittings

SAE 45-degree flare fittings require a flared tube end — the tube is spread to a 45° cone using a flaring tool before assembly. The cone seats against the fitting body and the nut draws it tight, creating a metal-to-metal seal. This means flare fittings only work with copper, aluminum, or soft steel tubing that can be flared; they cannot be used on rigid materials that crack when flared or on pre-cut tube ends without flaring.

Flare fittings are sized by tube OD. Common sizes in HVAC and refrigeration are 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", and 5/8" OD. The fitting's thread and seat dimensions must match the tube OD — do not mix SAE 45-degree and SAE 37-degree (JIC) fittings as their seat angles are different and they will not seal correctly even if the threads engage.

For automotive brake and fuel lines, specify inverted flare fittings rather than SAE 45-degree — these use a different geometry designed for double-wall steel tubing in DOT brake applications. For instrumentation and high-pressure hydraulic lines, JIC 37-degree fittings or bite-type flareless fittings are typically specified.