5mall5nail5
Well-known member
Well it goes without saying that HF units are going to be inferior to SK units. But, I wasn't really sure of what to expect when the SK arrived. Brief back story - I had picked these HF units up specifically for the 11mm and 14mm flare nut sizes. I never really used them until recently when I had a brake line that was being difficult. I slipped the 14mm over the nut without even thinking and started turning. Thought I broke it loose, but instead, I had actually rounded the nut and skipped it in the wrench opening. 
No big deal, as there was another junction already removed and I removed the trailing arm from the car w/ the brake line still attached. I ordered a replacement line but its not formed so now I get to muck around with bending the line to match. Fun. So to avoid all that, here I am with SK units.
The SK hold the nut in a much different manner than HF. I expected the SK to just be more rigid and better steel but they actually have a different geometry which makes a lot more sense. Here are the images of how the wrenches hold the 14mm nut.
HF 14mm nut by Jon Kensy, on Flickr
SK 14mm nut by Jon Kensy, on Flickr
So you can see the SK rotates the nut and then hangs onto it on every flat and all but one corner. The HF units leave one flat and 2 corners untouched. The worst part about this is that the HF unit leaves the front open end of the wrench un-bound. The SK has the little tangs that hit the corner flats and keep the wrench from opening more than it should. The HF lacks that and the pivoting point on the wrench is at the top and bottom of the nut in the image, right in the middle of the wrench mouth, meaning they are more prone to opening. You can tell they tried to counter this with more material, but being HF we know that doesn't mean much.
I know that this is a $100 vs $10 comparison but I honestly didn't think there'd be a difference, so I never thought to pick up a better set.
Here are the wrenches in comparison:
HF vs SK Flare Nut Wrench by Jon Kensy, on Flickr
The SK have a little area of the chrome not sitting perfect but its in the opening of the wrench where wear is high - its not peeling and the B&W macro photo makes it look worse than it is. I am not that concerned. The handles and all over are perfect on every wrench. The 14mm is the only one with a little chrome acting up in the opening. Don't think I will bother returning.
They were $100 from Advanced Auto believe it or not and I used a coupon for $40 off! Not bad!
Oh well hopefully someone learned like I did that its not just the materials in use but the actual design - something as simple as a flare nut wrench can be made right and wrong - who would have thought!?
Enjoy guys
No big deal, as there was another junction already removed and I removed the trailing arm from the car w/ the brake line still attached. I ordered a replacement line but its not formed so now I get to muck around with bending the line to match. Fun. So to avoid all that, here I am with SK units.
The SK hold the nut in a much different manner than HF. I expected the SK to just be more rigid and better steel but they actually have a different geometry which makes a lot more sense. Here are the images of how the wrenches hold the 14mm nut.
HF 14mm nut by Jon Kensy, on Flickr
SK 14mm nut by Jon Kensy, on Flickr
So you can see the SK rotates the nut and then hangs onto it on every flat and all but one corner. The HF units leave one flat and 2 corners untouched. The worst part about this is that the HF unit leaves the front open end of the wrench un-bound. The SK has the little tangs that hit the corner flats and keep the wrench from opening more than it should. The HF lacks that and the pivoting point on the wrench is at the top and bottom of the nut in the image, right in the middle of the wrench mouth, meaning they are more prone to opening. You can tell they tried to counter this with more material, but being HF we know that doesn't mean much.
I know that this is a $100 vs $10 comparison but I honestly didn't think there'd be a difference, so I never thought to pick up a better set.
Here are the wrenches in comparison:
HF vs SK Flare Nut Wrench by Jon Kensy, on Flickr
The SK have a little area of the chrome not sitting perfect but its in the opening of the wrench where wear is high - its not peeling and the B&W macro photo makes it look worse than it is. I am not that concerned. The handles and all over are perfect on every wrench. The 14mm is the only one with a little chrome acting up in the opening. Don't think I will bother returning.
They were $100 from Advanced Auto believe it or not and I used a coupon for $40 off! Not bad!
Oh well hopefully someone learned like I did that its not just the materials in use but the actual design - something as simple as a flare nut wrench can be made right and wrong - who would have thought!?
Enjoy guys
